N u t r i t i o n   N e w s l e t t e r
"equipping you for better health choices"

Spring 2007

                         Nutrients to protect the skin

  Every women and even men these days, want great looking skin. Vitamins and other nutrients can tell a story on your face. Usually people, who eat a high plant diet, seem to have a more radiant glow.  I know this sounds funny, but after working with clients for more than twenty years, I can say your face rarely lies. It has been documented than a diet high in sugar low in photo-nutrients causes skin to wrinkle. Read the, "The Wrinkle Cure, " for more data on aging and eating. So what's a face to do? Vitamin C, for example is essential for the body production of collagen, which is needed for maintaining elasticity of skin and even more crucial for the healing of wounds. But there is more evidence that some supplements when taken orally (along with a healthy diet, stress-controlled, a level of fitness, and sound sleep), can prevent certain skin conditions, possibly prevent disease, such as skin cancer, and may even make you look younger than your age. We all like that one! Ready to explore a little science on skin and supplements? A recent clinical study using coca extract (yes, coca extract), study 24 women, each day, the women consumed a cocoa drink, rendering 326 mg/ day or 27 mg of flavanols.

  Interesting, these flavanols,were the same found in green tea (epicatechin and catechin). When these women were tested for photo protection tests and other skin issues, such as skin roughness and scaling, ( American Academy of Dermatology. Vitamins to protect against and reverse aging: the truth vs the tales. http://www.aad.org/public/ News/ News Release), both conditions benefited. The sun protection of UV-induced erythema was reduced to 15 % after six weeks, and 25% after 12 weeks, in women taking the high-flavanol extract compared to their baseline measurements. So do we take an high flavanol coca product with us when wego tanning? Maybe. And don't forget the sunscreen too.Carotenoids, especially lycopene, and beta-carotene, show strong evidence in protection against UVdamage. A study using lycopene (found in tomato), using 10/mg of natural lycopene extract provide deffective UV protection, compared against the synthetic supplement of lycopene (Aust O, et al.Supplementation with tomato based product increase lycopene, phytofluence, and phyoene levles inhuman serum and protects against UV-light-induced erythema. Int Vitamin Nutrition Res 2005;75(1):5460).So we have coca and tomato foods or extracts, what's next? 

 How about mercury and toxic metal free fish? The reason I state it this way, is it is most important to make sure you understand what you are eating. And if you don't eat fish, or can't find the lowest mercury fish, you may want to take supplements. Like I do. Omega 3 fish oils have been cited for conditions such as joint pain, heart health, even natural Co2 inhibitors. And maybe, dry skin, but there is more. In a double-blind randomized clinical study published in 2003 (why haven't we heard about this one?), 42 healthy volunteers took a dose of 4 grams (that's 4,000 mg), of purified (that's free of heavy metals), omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (containing 95 % EPA) or oleic acid (a monounsaturated, omega-9 fatty acid) for three months. They found great reduction in the sensitivity to sunburn as well as UVR-induced expression DNA damage (Rhodes LE,et al. Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid,omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, on UVR-related cancer risk in humans. Carcinogensis 2003: 24(5):919-25).So here are some guideline that may help in healthy adults for sun protection: Try and target these food sources mentioned in your daily diet. And if unable to do this or want toaid in this protection, food base supplements are a good option. Cocoa Extract 326mg of flavanols (61 epicatechin and 20 mg catechin). Study cited in newsletter.Beta-carotene 24 mg (Heinrich U, et al. Supplements with beta-carotene or a similar amount of mixedcarotenoids protects humans form UV-induced erythema. J Nutr 2003;133(1);98-101.EPA 4 grams omega 3 PUFA, 95% EPA. (study already cited in newsletter) Lycopene 10 mg to 24 mg. (study cited in newsletter).

ALWAYS MAKE INFORMED HEALTH CHOICES, WITH CREDITABLE STUDIES, WITH REAL SCIENCE DATA,

TO LIFE MORE HEALTHIER AND WISER! I still believe we are what we eat, or bottom line we are what we break down in our bodies and ingest.

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but
will interest his patients in the care of the human
frame, in diet, and prevention of disease."
Thomas Edison 1874-1931