How to Protect Your Skin as You Age

Did you know that the average American woman spends about $300,000 on skin and beauty products in her lifetime?

We all want to look and feel younger, with healthier looking skin because let’s face it. Your outside appearance is one of your most noticeable attributes.

However, the problem is most anti-aging serums and products do not address the root of the problem. The real issue, and what should be a great concern for both women and men alike, is accelerated aging.

Most accelerated aging is primarily a result of chronic inflammation in the body, which is driven by oxidative stress.

The good news is that that the major contributing factors to accelerated-aging and aging disorders are somewhat controllable and can be mitigated by lifestyle, food choices, and the way we handle stress.

All of which can help minimize body inflammation caused by free radicals.

You may have heard the term free radicals, and that we should avoid them.

Technically speaking, here’s what free radicals are any atom or molecule that is missing an electron in its outer shell that attacks and destroys other healthy atoms to get the electron it’s missing.

These free radicals start to accumulate as we age and leave cells damaged through a process called oxidative stress. When left unchecked, this is what causes accelerated aging.

Accelerated aging from oxidative stress damages the collagen in our skin, especially in the face.

It is caused by a number of things, including:

✦ Excessive Sun Exposure

✦ Environmental Elements
✦ Smog
✦ Bad Diets
✦ Sugary foods
✦ Poor Sleep
✦ Alcohol✦ Cigarette Smoke

All of these factors are a skin-aging recipe. No wonder we are spending so much on skin and beauty products!

Skin damage caused by oxidative stress can include:

☛ Brown Spots
☛ Broken Blood Vessels
☛ Weakened Skin
☛ Loss of Skin Elasticity
☛ Wrinkles
☛ Uneven Blotches
☛ Blemishes

While the effects above are concerning, there are things you can do to minimize accelerated aging and oxidative stress on your skin, face, and body.

Squashing Free Radicals

One way to help squash free radicals and oxidative stress that give way to accelerated aging is getting more antioxidants!

Antioxidants are compounds that give an electron to a free radical so that the free radical doesn’t have to take the electron from the skin’s atoms.

Antioxidants assist in protecting and promoting the building blocks of collagen, but since antioxidants are destroyed and oxidized in the process, you have to keep feeding the body and skin fresh antioxidants to keep up with the free-radical damage.

Sound simple enough?

Well, in theory, reaching for antioxidant-rich foods such as berries, artichokes, herbs, spices and green teas that also include vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E and can be a great idea, but it is just too difficult to get all the antioxidants you need to prevent free radical damage from food alone.

Luckily, there is a much better way!

The number one free radical fighting supplement you can take is curcumin. If you haven’t heard about curcumin, it’s the amazing healing compound found in the turmeric root.

Antioxidant-rich, it’s a fantastic daily supplement for fighting inflammation that helps improve cellular health and helps reverse oxidative stress to prevent accelerated aging. It’s also great for managing your joint, digestive, brain, immune, and heart health, too.

If you’re spending money on anti-aging products and still seeing the signs of accelerated aging creeping in, then try adding a high-quality curcumin supplement to your daily routine today!

Is Inflammation Making You Fat?

**This Could Be the Real Reason You Can’t Lose Weight**

Do your pants immediately feel tighter after dinner?

Do you find yourself noticing extra fat around your midsection?

If this sounds familiar, you know how frustrating bloating and stubborn belly fat can be. While self-pity is unproductive, there are things you can do each day to improve these issues by addressing the real cause.

The Real Reason You Feel Fat

Inflammation could be one of the reasons you can’t shed those pounds or get rid of inconvenient bloating. This is great news if you haven’t seen the results you’ve wanted from diet and exercise alone.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a component of the body’s defense mechanism. For short periods of time, it’s a good thing.

For example, your body will induce a temporary fever to help ward off foreign pathogens when you’re sick.

This causes an intentional inflammatory response aimed at making you better.

However, long-term inflammation is different. Long-term inflammation is caused by food intolerances, stress, and poor digestion. When left unchecked, this can cause fat-storing hormones to be released excessively.

How to Lose the Fat Caused by Inflammation

Here are some of the top inflammation-fighting practices you can get started on right now:

1. Remove Inflammatory Foods

These inflammatory foods tax your body and immune system and can lead to increased body fat. Try to remove the following foods and ingredients from your diet and household:

✦ Gluten
✦ Dairy
✦ Corn
✦ Eggs
✦ Soy
✦ Nuts
✦ Nightshades

tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, eggplants

✦ Citrus
✦ Yeast

baker’s yeast, brewer’s yeast, and fermented products like alcohol

2. Remove Added Sugar

Sugar has an immediate effect on the body and causes widespread inflammation.

A little natural sugar found in fruits is okay, but added sugar or sweeteners should be avoided.

Added sugar can even be found in food that doesn’t taste sweet, such as soup, bread and salad dressing. Get in the habit of checking nutrition labels and steer clear of foods with added sugar.

3. Reduce Your Salt Intake

Sodium blocks normal hormone signals that make you feel full.

This is why salty foods tend to make you overeat even when you’re not hungry.

Check the sodium content of foods and sauces in your home and keep track of how much you consume each day. When possible, prepare your foods at home and use spices instead of salt.

4. Take Curcumin (Active component inside Turmeric root)

Curcumin is the powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient inside turmeric that has incredible healing properties known to fight inflammation and oxidative stress.

Lowering oxidative stress can help regulate the release of fat-storing hormones, which makes it easier to lose weight.

This is a must-have in your daily routine if you want to combat stubborn fat caused by inflammation.

5. Try Icelandic Sea Kelp

Icelandic Sea Kelp contains fucoidan, an anti-inflammatory complex carbohydrate that fights oxidative stress.

The fiber in sea kelp also helps you feel full, which can help promote weight loss.

6. Add a Little Ginger To Your Drinks & Meals

Ginger is an amazing anti-inflammatory agent that helps support healthy digestion. It’s great for upset stomachs and can easily be added to water if your tummy needs a pick-me-up!

7. Astragalus

Astragalus is an incredible plant that supports the immune system, also known as an adaptogen.

Adaptogens are activated by stress and help lower cortisol levels in the body. Maintaining low, healthy cortisol levels is essential for weight loss.

8. Eat More Pineapple

Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which helps break down protein and reduce bloating.

Pineapples are one of the only fruits that leave alkaline residuals in the gastrointestinal tract to help decrease inflammation.

With a little patience and these tips, you can fight bloating and stubborn belly fat caused by inflammation. It's never too early to start, and this might be the push you needed to finally fit into those skinny jeans!