Fit and Youthful Life

Guest Author: Richard Williams


The old saying goes, “Everything old is new again.” When it comes to aging and your health, that’s not such a bad thing, is it? The Ancient Romans had a secret weapon in the fight to stay young and healthy. Twenty odd years ago, modern scientists discovered the so-called French Paradox, where despite diets significantly higher in fat and calories, the French had significantly lower rates of heart disease and cardiac arrest than the rest of Western culture. Now, thanks to research into resveratrol and the development of resveratrol supplements, that same secret is available to everyone.

The Secret of Resveratrol   

What the French and Ancient Roman diets have in common is red wine. The Romans even had a saying – In Vino Sanitas – “In wine there is health.” That’s because red wine contains some of the highest naturally occurring amounts of resveratrol, a powerful anti-oxidant. Grapes, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates and other fruit produce resveratrol as protection against sun damage and fungal diseases. It helps prolong the life and health of the fruit. Something in the fermentation involved in turning grapes into red wine intensifies the amounts of resveratrol released. This magic of nature provided all those Romans and Frenchmen with a veritable fountain of youth. You simply can’t consume enough red wine anymore, however, thanks to pesticides that prevent the grapes from producing large amounts of resveratrol. Naturally derived resveratrol can be found safely and effectively in dietary supplements, providing you with all the anti-aging health benefits of red wine without the hangover.

Resveratrol and Your Heart

Resveratrol will not keep you young and healthy forever. It has been proven, in various studies, that it is good for the heart and circulatory system. And that can help keep you feeling younger and healthier longer. It acts as an anti-coagulant, inhibiting the formation of dangerous heart attack and stroke inducing blood clots. It may even lower blood pressure. Resveratrol has also been proven to slow cardiac aging. It acts on the cells to prevent the damage caused by natural aging. Preventing the damage slows the aging process. Thus, resveratrol leaves your heart younger and healthier than it found it.

Resveratrol and Cancer

Studies have shown that resveratrol may be effective in the treatment of some cancers. Resveratrol targets the cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. It may also injure the cells internally, decreasing their ability to function as they would like. Resveratrol has a detrimental effect on the internal energy source of cancer cells, slowing their growth.

Resveratrol and Diabetes

A study released in 2008 showed that resveratrol was significant in improving the overall health of diabetics. Resveratrol prevents damage to blood vessels caused by the high level of glucose in a diabetic’s blood supply. By preventing this damage, resveratrol can actually prevent heart and kidney disease, as well as possibly preventing diabetic glaucoma. Resveratrol was shown to not only prevent blood vessel damage in some patients, but to actually mend and reverse vessel damage, as well. Healing this blood vessel damage may end diabetic neuropathy in hands and feet. Early research shows resveratrol may also help lower blood glucose amounts, and further study into this effect/benefit is underway.

Resveratrol and Other Ailments

Resveratrol can act as an anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce the effects of arthritis. Some studies have shown that resveratrol may help prevent or at least aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol seems to elicit the same effects on the body as a long-term reduced calorie diet – producing better cardiac and joint health, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and lower blood pressure. Overall, resveratrol may just be one of the most powerful anti-aging anti-oxidants known to man. Most of today’s resveratrol supplements are derived from a Japanese plant, knotweed, shown to be almost as high in resveratrol as red wine. It is important when choosing a supplement to ensure that your source of resveratrol contains no “fillers” – sugars, gums, colors and the like – other than those ingredients needed to produce the pill or powder, as these added ingredients can have effects of their own, as well as decreasing the effectiveness of your supplement.

Resveratrol and Side Effects

No supplement, natural or otherwise, comes without some risks or dangers. While studies have shown that resveratrol carries few harmful side effects, a few precautions should be noted. Resveratrol’s anti-clotting properties make it vital that resveratrol not be taken with other medications or supplements that also serve as anti-coagulants. Since resveratrol is a plant-based phytoestrogen, women who are pregnant or nursing should not take resveratrol. Those on estrogen-based contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapies should not take resveratrol without first consulting with their obstetrician, as resveratrol may affect the way these other estrogen containing medications work. Likewise, women at risk for or survivors of breast cancer should not take resveratrol, either, as it has been shown to actually increase the risks of breast cancer. Taking high doses of resveratrol (greater than 500 mg daily) has been shown to cause joint stiffness and discomfort, especially in the hands and feet.

Resveratrol and You

Resveratrol, therefore, may not be for everyone. If you, like the Romans and French, want to experience the same anti-aging benefits of resveratrol, scientists recommend a daily dose between 300 and 500 mg. It may not be a fountain of youth, but resveratrol supplements may be the next best thing. And you can stay sober in the bargain.



Instant Wrinkle Reducer

Guest Author: Jayesh Bagde


A lot of women use wrinkle creams. These wrinkle creams have limitations when it comes to wrinkle reduction capabilities. You need to know the most important facts about these wrinkle creams before buying one to successfully reduce those wrinkles without any harmful side effect.

Skin wrinkles naturally appear as an effect of aging processes such as glycation or temporarily as the result of long-drawn-out immersion in water. Wrinkling in the skin is brought about by regular facial expressions, sun damage, aging, poor hydration, smoking, and several other factors. With prolonged water exposure, the outer layer of skin starts to absorb water. However, the skin does not expand uniformly. This makes the skin wrinkle in certain spots.

Water depletion in your body happens with dehydration. This can also can bring about skin puckering. Chronologically aged skin looks almost identical to normal, non-aged skin where the only difference is the loss of adipose occurring with age. This means we do naturally lose some of the fatty layer beneath our skin as we age, and the skin will tend to sag more.

However, the skin itself looks almost perfect. This means wrinkling and aged-looking skin are possibly caused almost exclusively by the sun. Wrinkle creams will soften the wrinkles and some will, in time, reduce them.

Ingredients of Wrinkle Creams

? Retinol – this is a vitamin A complex and is an antioxidant.

? Hydroxyl acids: these acids are exfoliates that can remove the top layer of the skin, which usually consists of dead cells, and it does this for new skin to develop in its place.

? Coenzyme Q10: nutrients that normalize the energy growth in cell production.

? Copper peptides: these improve the wound healing capabilities of the skin and increase the production of collagen.

? Kinetin: this is a plant growth factor that may improve wrinkles.

Keep in mind that when you do get wrinkle creams, the over-the-counter ones have lower doses of the ingredients above than any prescribed medicine. Consequently, the outcome will not be as fast or long lasting than what you’ll get from wrinkle creams prescribed by your dermatologist. You should determine what you have to look for as far as the ingredients are involved. Here is a list and what they do so you know precisely what you want with your wrinkle cream:

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) – this assists in exfoliating the skin and decreasing wrinkles

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) – this are counteracting free radicals

Argireline – this loosens up facial tension

Copper Peptides – this regenerates’ damaged tissues

CoQ10 – this is an effective antioxidant

Hyaluronic acid – this is a moisturizing agent that can help the skin stay fresh and tight

Matrixyl – this stimulates to help heal

Retinol – this is another antioxidant

Tretinoin – this is for exfoliation.

The components above have been recognized by dermatologists across the globe as helpful agents for reducing wrinkles. This means you should pay attention to these ingredients when buying over-the-counter wrinkle creams. Better yet, consult your dermatologist for advice on the most effective concentrations of such components that correspond to the condition of your wrinkles.

Steps to Prevent Wrinkles

If you’re serious about getting rid of wrinkles, you should stop smoking right now. Cigarettes cause harm to your body. Cigarettes slow down the amount of collagen your body makes to restore wounded skin and repair damaged skin, which can result in deeper wrinkles. In addition, cigarettes hamper your body’s circulation, which indicates that blood may not possibly reach the skin capillaries of your face. This means more dead skin, wrinkles, and less color in your cheeks.

Staying out of the sun is supposed to help you get free of wrinkles. If you’re a sun worshipper, you should be painfully conscious by now about the bad effects the sun has on your skin, especially with the depletion of the ozone layer. You should make it a point to use suntan lotion if you’re going to be around between the peak hours of sunlight (10:00 am – 3:30 pm). Also use sunglasses when stepping outside during these hours to avoid wrinkles that can form around the eyes.

Avoid scalding water and strong soaps if you want to reduce wrinkles. Many dermatologists have reported that harsh soaps can further escalate wrinkle problems.



The Real Youth Potion