Food For Thought

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are compounds that are taken from sugars found in milk and fruits. Alpha hydroxy acids are known to be effective in rejuvenatind the skin and fading wrinkles, while healing damaged caused by photoaging skin.  AHA exfoliates dead cells off the skin, encouraging the skin to grow cells to replace the old ones. AHA also induces the production of elastin and collagen, the compounds responsible for the reduction of wrinkles and the suppleness of the skin.

AHA can be found a variety of beauty products, but should be used in moderation. If used incorrectly or if you use too much, it can irritate the skin. Pigment scarring has also been associated with the use of too much AHA.

Be very careful when applying alpha hydroxy products on your skin. The best way to do it is to choose one or two products out there containing AHA (as your exfoliant and moisturizer), then use other beauty products that do not have AHA – so you don’t overdo it.

Always remember to use sunscreen when using a product with an active alpha hydroxy acid ingredient. AHA increases the skin’s sensitivity to damage from sunlight. Because too much alpha hydroxy acid can be dangerous to the skin, make sure to use a product with only the right levels of AHA in it. The ideal AHA concentration in any product should be around 5 to 8%, with a pH level of three or four. Any more can do more damage than good!

Look and feel younger

Great episode on Oprah. To sum it up, we need antioxidants to prevent aging. Think of an apple when you cut it and the “rust” that forms due to oxidation. Squeeze lemon juice on it and it preserves it. We need the same for our bodies.

According to Dr. Oz:
Food
Antioxidants (5 servings a day)
In brightly colored foods like blueberries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes and acai
Green and white tea (4 cups a day)
Red wine or Concord grape juice (1 glass a day)
Fiber (25 grams a day)
In fruits, vegetables, beans, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, “100 percent” whole grain bread and chia
Omega 3 fatty acids
In roasted or ground flax seeds, walnuts, hemp, salmon and spirolina algae
Olive oil (1 to 2 tablespoons a day)
Do not heat this delicate oil to smoking point or it will be damaged and lose its benefits

Exercise
Get your heart rate up (3 times a week)
Find your target exercising heart rate: 220 – [your age] X .80
Do strength training (30 minutes a week)
Meditation
Yoga, prayer or meditation (5 minutes a day)
Releases nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels

Sleep and Sex
Sleep (7 to 8 hours a night)
Monogamous sex (2 to 3 times a week)

Vitamins
Vitamin D (1,000 units a day)
Calcium (600 mg twice a day) with Magnesium (200 mg twice a day)
DHA Omega-3 (600 mg a day)
Baby aspirin (2 a day, for a total of 162 milligrams)
Multivitamin (Take half in the morning, half in the evening)
Pre-menopausal women need a multivitamin with iron and 5,000 units of vitamin A. Men and postmenopausal
women need just 2,500 units of vitamin A.