National Nutrition Bulletin

Wrinkling of the skin is inevitable, but by taking antioxidants you can reduce the onset and severity of wrinkles... If you live long enough you will eventually develop some skin wrinkling. But what can we do to minimize the appearance of wrinkles? Let’s look at the causes. A wrinkle forms when the skin loses its elasticity and maintains a permanent crease. It usually happens around the eyes, cheeks and lips because these areas repetitively form facial expressions like smiling or frowning. The most important factor in the development of wrinkles is sun exposure. Damage from UVA rays, which are present all year round, can attribute to up to 90 percent of skin aging. As the skin is damaged, little by little each day, it loses its elasticity. A wrinkle is one of the end results of this damage. Other factors that contribute to wrinkled skin are nutritional status, habitual facial expressions, stress, skin care, environmental pollutants, smoking and heredity. To fight wrinkling topically, use a natural moisturizer with sunscreen protection everyday. Try to stay out of direct sunlight. Avoid harsh cleansing products; alcohol based toners, chlorinated tap water for drinking and bathing, perfumes and colourings in laundry and personal hygiene products. Use glycerin and natural soaps to wash your skin. Invest in high quality natural cosmetics. Add a capsule of vitamin A or vitamin E oil into your moisturizer to protect the skin from free radical damage. Dry skin brushing is a wonderful way to exfoliate the skin, increase circulation to the skin and invigorate the body. Use a natural bristle brush. Dietary change is important for nourishing the skin. Water. Water. Water. Drink about 2 L daily. Eat foods high in zinc such as whole grains, sunflower seeds and raw nuts. Eat lots of fruit, especially mango and apricot, for its water content and alpha-hydroxy acids. Sulphur rich foods like garlic, onions, eggs and asparagus, provide raw material for building skin proteins. Essential fatty acids are a source of the good fats for the skin. Use cold pressed oils like flax, olive, sunflower and safflower. Avoid hydrogenated fats, fried foods, soft drinks, sugar, chocolate, junk foods, cigarettes and alcohol. What you can do to help: -Take grape seed extract or Pycnogenol -Collagen supplements help to maintain the skin's elasticity -Take supplements & herbs to help detoxify your body -Ensure proper digestion -Ese good hygiene -Drink lots of good quality water Did you know? (Wrinkle Facts) -Sun exposure is the major cause of wrinkles -Taking antioxidants can have an anti-aging effect on the skin -Detoxifiction on a regular basis brightens the skin