Anti-Aging With Antioxidants:

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Anti-Aging with Antioxidants

 

By Patricia Woods

 

 

We all know that beauty comes from the inside, but who among us doesn't

want to hold on to the radiance of their youth? Smooth skin, shiny eyes,

and glossy hair are the marks of beauty in our culture and some people

will do anything to hold onto them. Just take a look at the troubling

trend of Botox parties, where participants knowingly and willingly

inject themselves with toxins, just to remain youthful.

 

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were more

than seven million cosmetic surgeries performed in 2000, the majority

being on women between the ages of 35 and 50.

 

Aside from eating right and exercising, what can you do to combat signs

of aging such as memory loss, wrinkles, arthritis, vision loss, even

premature gray hair?

 

Antioxidants are the key.

 

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

 

It's common knowledge that antioxidants are good for us but still, you

may not know exactly how they work and why they're good. Dr. Ronald

Klatz, founder and president of the American Academy for Anti-Aging

Medicine, explains why in this simplified manner:

 

" Our bodies need energy to live. We're chemical machines and we burn

oxygen and sugar to produce energy. The mitochondria of the cells are

like little furnaces in that they produce heat, which is like gasoline

for the cell. In the process of burning sugar, we also make free

radicals.

 

" Free radicals are like a biological acid in that they'll damage

anything they touch. They're very nasty items desperate for an electron

so they can be chemically complete. For example, if you have a squirt

gun filled with acid and you squirt it from your desk, as soon as it

hits the floor, it will eat a hole in the carpet. In the same way, every

time the mitochondria burn sugar, they squirt out thousands of free

radicals. These free radicals then take electrons from anything they

touch. If they touch a cell wall, they'll weaken it. If they touch a DNA

molecule, it will cause it to mutate, which causes cancer.

" When we're young, we have natural free radical fighters known as

antioxidants, which our bodies produce. The problem is, when we get

older, our bodies produce less antioxidants and, therefore, the free

radicals produce more damage. "

So basically, free radicals are like vicious outlaws running around in

our bodies, wreaking havoc wherever they go. That's why antioxidants are

so important, because they can help prevent all of that damage which can

lead to heart disease, cancer, and diminished immunity. But antioxidants

also help with a whole other class of symptoms: the physical signs of

aging.

 

DELAYING THE INEVITABLE

 

" We all age, it's just how fast we do it, " says Dr. Patrick Mooney,

founder of SuperNutrition. " There are a plethora of antioxidant studies,

and they fall into two categories, practical and theoretical. Magic

bullets are wonderful, but they belong in the realm of science fiction. "

According to Mooney, most people will not change their bad habits right

away or necessarily stick to good habits. So, while it would be great to

get an array of antioxidants from food sources, it's very difficult for

most people. In the case of the first signs of aging - wrinkles - skin

care products with antioxidant ingredients may help.

 

While oral supplements work from the inside out, " cosmeceuticals " can

slow aging from the outside in. Today, it's easy to find creams,

lotions, lip balms, cleansers, and masks with an array of antioxidants

listed in their ingredients.

Yasoo Health Inc. recently released its Callisto Vitamin E Facial

Crème, which is said to contain the full spectrum of vitamin E

compounds. This, according to the company, is to enhance the skin's

ability to retain moisture, while neutralizing free radicals.

 

Jason Natural Products has several product lines, including Ester-C,

Skin-Amins, New Cell Therapy, and Super Anti-Aging, for the customer who

seeks beauty products with healing actions. " The tremendous baby boomer

population is aging. They are looking for ways to slow down the aging

process, " says Angella Green, marketing and media coordinator for Jason.

" Education is the best tool to help consumers choose the right products

for them. Many manufacturers like Jason offer samples, in-store

training, and product literature, which would help to increase sales and

help each customer get the proper product for them. Knowing what each

type of vitamin and antioxidant [does] is key. "

 

With that in mind, here's a look at some of the more notable and

effective antioxidants found in many products:

 

Vitamin C. Research has shown that vitamin C reduces the risks of

cardiovascular disease and cancer, and that it benefits the immune

system. And when it comes to anti-aging, this vitamin is a strong

leader. It helps strengthen tissues and blood vessels because of its

action in the synthesis of procollagen, which is then converted to

collagen, a protein that is a main component of the skin's connective

tissue. Many antioxidant formulas, such as Doctor's Choice Antioxidant

from Enzymatic Therapy, contain vitamin C.

 

Vitamin E. Most of your customers will probably equate vitamin E to

healthy skin, and rightfully so. Factors such as exposure to pollutants,

smoking, sun damage, and poor nutrition all lead to skin that can age

prematurely. Vitamin E has photoprotective qualities, meaning it helps

protect against UV oxidation. But what your customers may not know is

that vitamin E has been shown to protect against the free radical damage

that leads to cataracts. Not surprisingly, most antioxidant formulas

contain vitamin E, such as Super 10 Antioxidants from Country Life

Vitamins.

 

Beta-carotene (Pro-vitamin A). One of the carotenoids (those

phytochemicals that you get from yellow, red, and orange fruits and

vegetables), beta carotene has been shown to have immune-enhancing and

cancer-preventing qualities. Additionally, beta-carotene is important in

maintaining eye health. Because our eyes come in direct contact with

oxidants such as cigarette smoke, pollution, radiation, sunlight, and

chlorine, it's important to protect them early on in life.

 

Zinc. A trace metal, zinc is important for the eyes, skin, hair, and

joints. It has been shown to not only fight free radicals, but prevent

them from forming as well. In addition, zinc helps prevent macular

degeneration and prevent cataracts. Like vitamin C, it is also required

for collagen synthesis, and has been shown to help with eczema and acne.

Zinc is also an anti-inflammatory, and is often used to ease the

symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. InterHealth Nutraceuticals Inc. offers

L-OptiZinc, a patented source of bioavailable zinc, as an ingredient for

dietary supplements.

 

Copper. This trace mineral was once thought of as a folk remedy for

arthritis, and for good reason - antioxidants can help reduce

inflammation associated with this condition. In addition, copper is

involved in the melanin process, the reduction of which can result in

the graying of the hair, one of the first visible signs of aging. One

product that contains copper, as well as several other antioxidants, is

Natrol's Ultimate Antioxidant, which includes vitamins C and E, niacin,

zinc, selenium, and copper.

 

CoQ10. It is believed that, as an antioxidant, CoQ10 works by

strengthening and revitalizing cells. That, in turn, gives the body more

energy. As far as anti-aging is concerned, CoQ10 has been observed to

reduce bleeding and improve the health of gum tissue. Look for it in

products such as Antioxidant Formula with CoQ10 from Nature's Way. In

addition, preliminary studies have suggested that CoQ10 may play a role

in preventing Alzheimer's disease.

 

Green Tea. The spotlight has been shining on green tea for the past few

years and with good reason - its concentration of cathechins has been

shown to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke, among other

conditions. And when it comes to anti-aging, green tea can be a

powerhouse. It has been studied for the prevention of Alzheimer's

disease and Parkinson's disease because it aids in memory retention by

reducing the breakdown of neurotransmitters. Additionally, green tea can

help those pearly whites; the antioxidants in the tea have been shown to

inhibit the growth of oral bacteria.

 

Green Foods. The power of " green " antioxidants is continually being

researched, and a recent study from China (Diabetes and Metabolism,

2002) shows promising results from barley grass supplementation. In the

study, 36 randomly selected type 2 diabetics were given daily

supplements of barley grass (provided by YH Products Co. and distributed

by Green Foods Corporation), a combination of vitamins C and E (from Jen

Sheng Pharmaceutical Co. of Taiwan), or a combination of barley grass

and vitamins C and E for four weeks.

The researchers found that supplementation with barley grass reduced the

levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and oxygen free radicals,

in addition to protecting LDL-vitamin E content and inhibiting LDL

oxidation. The barley grass taken in conjunction with the vitamins even

more effectively reduced the levels of free radicals. The researchers

concluded that supplementation with barley grass " in combination with

antioxidative vitamins can reduce some major risk factors of

atherosclerosis. This may protect type 2 diabetic patients from vascular

diseases. "

Pycnogenol. This extract of French maritime pine bark is a mixture of

bioflavonoids from the proanthocyanidin family. Distributed in North

America by Natural Health Science, on behalf of Horphag Research,

Germany, Pycnogenol as a dietary supplement is available from companies

such as Solgar Vitamin & Herb and Nature's Plus. The extract has been

shown to improve memory and learning ability by shielding neuronal cells

from oxidative stress. Studies have also shown that Pycnogenol is

beneficial for eye health by improving visual acuity and halting the

deterioration of retinal function. In addition, it is known as an

anti-aging supplement because of its ability to improve skin elasticity.

 

THE NEW FRONTIER

 

As more studies are performed, researchers are finding out more

information about the benefits of antioxidants. In addition, they're

finding other sources, too.

 

In April, Applied Food Sciences (AFS) of Austin, Texas, began shipping a

green coffee bean extract, Green Coffee Antioxidant (GCA), which

contains a number of polyphenols called hydroxycinnamic acids. The two

most prominent of these are chlorogenic and caffeic acid. The company

claims that chlorogenic acid has been shown to protect against LDL

oxidation as much as 14 times greater than green tea. " GCA provides a

neutral taste profile, high solubility, and high activity level, " says

Chris Fields, AFS technical director. " It's an ideal ingredient for

functional foods and beverages, as well as bars, chews, and dietary

supplements. "

 

Another new finding looked at the antioxidant properties of culinary

herbs. Researchers found that certain dried herbs, including oregano,

sage, peppermint, garden thyme, allspice, lemon balm, clove, cinnamon,

and the Chinese herbs Cinnamomi cortex and Scutellariae radix, had

significant amounts of antioxidants - so much so that the researchers

concluded that these herbs may be a better source of antioxidants than

some fruits, berries, cereals, and vegetables.

 

However, when it comes to anti-aging regimens, Bob Terry, Ph.D.,

nutrition advisor for Green Foods Corporation, points out that people

can often get too focused with one particular supplement and forget

about other necessary building blocks such as protein or good fats.

" It's not like antioxidants are cure-alls, " he says. " They're one part

of the nutritional puzzle. "

 

Just as there is no Fountain of Youth, there are no quick fixes in life,

either. Aging is inevitable, but how well we do it is up to us. We can

choose to let daily stressors such as pollution, smoking, sun damage,

and food preservatives create chaos within us, or we can do something to

allow our bodies to age in a safe and healthy manner. By thinking ahead

and choosing a diet that is rich in antioxidants, as well as other

essential nutrients, the glow of youth does not have to diminish so

quickly for many of your customers.

Patricia Woods is a freelance writer based in Stratford, Conn. She is

the former managing editor of Better Nutrition. Her work has also

appeared in Alternative Medicine and Delicious Living.

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