Health News / March 2006

 

Body Beautiful

Toning, tucking and tanning may make a woman feel like she is doing something to look better but one of the most effective, most enduring beauty aids is good health.

Youth and genetics play an important part in good looks, but over a lifetime, what a woman chooses to ingest helps sculpt her entire being. That can be bad news for chocoholics and french fry freaks. But, the body has an incredible capacity to heal itself, and that is good news for women who are willing to feed their bodies the nutritional tools necessary for transformation.

Because of their antioxidant characteristics, fruits and vegetables play a crucial part in fighting off the damage caused by free radicals, the waste product generated during the body’s production of energy. Every human being produces millions of free radicals each day. Like cavalry to the rescue, antioxidants charge in to render them harmless.

With every year of age, the amount of antioxidants needed to keep a body cleansed of free radicals greatly increases. Without antioxidants, free radicals can contribute to dozens of disorders including cancer, heart attack, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, cataracts and Alzheimer’s Disease.

There may be as many as 4,000 components in food that act as antioxidants, but the most well-known studies have focused on Vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and selenium. Foods scoring high in an antioxidant analysis (ORAC, short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) have been found to protect cells and their components from oxidative damage.

Studies have also shown that eating foods high on the ORAC scale can raise the antioxidant power of human blood from 10% to 25%, and ingesting combinations of nutrients may have a greater effect than taking a nutrient all by itself. This vital piece of information means simply that women should eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, with several daily servings. Some women may find that adding a nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich supplement to their diet is a more convenient way to reinforce their immune system.

Although exotic creams of cucumber and flower petals may have antioxidants intended to improve skin, many of them occur in a form too large to be absorbed through the top layer of skin. The very expensive cream may just float on top of the face. Nourishing skin from the inside out is much more efficient and cost effective.

In addition to a diet rich in antioxidants and nutrient-dense foods, increased amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids can help to alleviate the appearance of dry skin caused by environmental pollutants and aging. Omegas 3’s are not only beneficial for skin, they may also strengthen bones and inhibit inflammation, enabling women to stay active and limber throughout the aging process. The essential fatty acid is a major component of cell membranes, which help to strengthen the elasticity of blood vessels and enable the body to maintain healthy circulation. Salmon, halibut, tuna and mackerel are natural sources of Omega 3’s, as are walnuts, but they can also be taken in capsule or liquid form.

Eating foods that contain high amounts of B vitamins, found in fish, chicken, meat, beans, wheat germ, bran, barley, eggs, vegetables and avocados can also help maintain a more youthful appearance. Adding a time released B Complex vitamin can work small wonders when a woman is overworked or stressed.

Every body is 50% to 70% water depending on the age of the owner, and up to 3 liters of water can be lost daily simply by sweating, breathing and visits to the ladies room. Exercising can result in the loss of up to three liters an hour. Replenishing bodies with water is a priority for good health in all seasons.
Nips and tucks aside, ageless beauty remains an inside job.

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