Green tea, multivitamins linked to younger age

By Tessa Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE CHINESE have been sipping its benefits for centuries. Now the lowly tea leaf is getting the attention it deserves from the rest of the world.

The green tea leaf, in particular, has been keenly eyed by nutrition experts. Its direct and indirect health benefits are sweeping, including its ability to reduce one’s risk of contracting colorectal cancer and heart disease, as well as promoting healthier bones.

Green tea contains plant compounds called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been found to block the action of an enzyme that breaks down noradrenaline. Noradrenaline regulates many metabolic functions, including the heart rate and the release of energy from fat. So by allowing more EGCG to stick around may actually boost metabolism, says certified nutrition specialist Jonny Bowden, PhD, in his book “The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth.”

Rich in flavonoids

Green tea leaves are rich in flavonoids and other compounds that may possess potent antioxidant properties. “Recent studies lend merit to the already substantial evidence that the polyphenols in green tea have anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties,” states certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch in her book “Prescription for Dietary Wellness.”

Recently, a more tantalizing study links green tea, as well as multivitamins, to gaining a younger biological age.

The article “Tea consumers may have younger biological age” by Stephen Daniells published online August 25 at nutraingredients.com states the Chinese University of Hong Kong reporting findings that cells of regular tea drinkers appear to exhibit a younger biological age than cells of non-drinkers (http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Tea-consumers-may-have-younger-biological-age).

The article states that the researchers, led by Ruth Chan, noticed the telomeres of people who drank an average of three cups of tea per day were about 4.6 kilobases longer than people who drank an average of a quarter of a cup a day. This average difference in the telomere length corresponds to “approximately a difference of 5 years of life,” according to the researchers.

Chinese green tea

Chan also told Nutraingredients.com that the data showed “a majority of Chinese tea consumed by our subjects were of green tea.” (The study’s findings are based on the telomere lengths of 976 Chinese men and 1,030 Chinese women aged over 65. The participants’ dietary habits were evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire).

Asked by Inquirer Health for his reaction, biochemistry, molecular and nutritional oncology specialist Doctor Romulo de Villa said the results of the study showed that longevity among green tea drinkers may, indeed, be due to the maintenance of telomere length and telomere sequence integrity of the DNA. He noted, however, that length and sequence were distinct.

“I agree with the experts that telomere length may be a marker of biological aging, meaning the shorter the length of the telomere the older the cell. However, there is no correlation of the length of the telomere with oxidative damage to the telomere sequence because length and sequence are two different things. Oxidative damage to the telomere may trigger early death of the cell or earlier apoptosis instead of a later time when the length of the telomere has been sufficiently shortened by successive rounds of cell proliferation, triggering apoptosis,” he said.

Green tea capsules

“It’s true that green tea contains 30 to 40 percent of water-extractable polyphenols. There are pharmaceutical-grade green tea capsules containing 97 percent polyphenols which I am personally taking daily,” he stressed.

De Villa, who is currently the dean of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Medicine, added: “The finding that telomere length was longer in regular multivitamin users encourages me to continue taking my multivitamin, multimineral and multiphytonutrient food supplement daily.”

Daniells’ article also cited that recent researchers from the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reported that telomere length was longer in regular multivitamin users in their cohort of 586 women aged between 35 and 74.

Cucumber, carrot, ‘ampalaya’ vs body toxins

By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HERE are some questions on wellness from readers.

How can I manage my weight effectively?

The easiest way is to cut back on food intake and combine cardiovascular workout with resistance training. If that’s not possible, do a brisk walk everyday.

NASA-inspired mobile treadmill-type machines called Viberex Lipo allow one to stand in various poses while they vibrate. Their soothing infrared dry sauna is relaxing and healing.

The therma massage bed and faradic slimming belt combine the best of infrared technology to melt the fat away and reduce swelling in the body. Dream Body Spa (tel. 7210002) is now on a money-back guarantee promo.

My father is recovering after a stroke. Apart from his doctor’s regimen, what natural approaches can you recommend?

According to Dr. Earl Mindell’s “Vitamin Bible for the 21st Century,” Ginkgo Biloba (60 mg) and DMAE (with club moss) help improve mental function and memory by boosting blood circulation to the brain cells.

Switch to the No. 1 brain food, fish and increase vegetable intake. Also consider pure Korean red ginseng extracts. Call Lizada Korean Red Ginseng.

What is the ideal breakfast?

There are so many nutritious elements you can include in a healthy breakfast.
Carbohydrates—Essential for energy and brain power. Take whole-grain bread, brown/red rice or old-fashioned oatmeal.

Protein. Eggs provide the perfect amount of protein to sustain you the entire morning. Eggs keep you trim because of its high lecithin levels which aid in fat assimilation. But more importantly, they raise HDL or good cholesterol.

Multi-mineral boosters. A glass of freshly juiced sugar beets, carrots, singkamas, cucumber, ampalaya will cleanse your blood and clear out the toxins. If it’s too tedious for you to drink a cup, one sachet of dried wheat grass from Easy Phamax (tel. 8901111.) will do. It’s packed with calcium, iron and magnesium.

What is the secret to great complexion?

Cleanliness – keep your face clean at all times. Invest in light cleansing soap.

Water – Drink up! The more water you take, the clearer your skin.

Sweat – You need to exercise in order to get your blood flowing freely.

Sun protection – The only gentle hours for skin are up to 7:30 a.m. (Some dermatologists say its 9 a.m.) and the hour before sunset (4:30 p.m.). Between these hours, wear sunblock SPF 25-30 to protect you from ultraviolet radiation.

Virgin coconut oil – Drink it, rub it. VCO has deep hydrating benefits more than any other oil. Try the Novu skin line with VCO vitamin E and extracts of white lily made by
Nutramedica (tel. 7233878, 3323864). It’s affordable yet effective.

VCO beauty scrub

Exfoliate the gentle way. Mix 2 tbsps of VCO with 2 tsps of sugar. Rub throughout the body and face. It’s the cheapest way to achieve smooth skin. Add a drop or two of calamansi for astringent effect.

Affirm: All is well and so am I.

Love and light!

3 tips on buying beauty products

By Ria Francisco-Prieto
Philippine Daily Inquirer

I HAVE learned the hard and expensive way that there should be no rush when it comes to buying makeup.

Last week, I had to go through the same painful reminder again. This time, I swore to myself that if my time was limited, I had no business buying makeup I was not familiar with. Here are three things we should remember when purchasing our beauty arsenal:

Open the box

After asking for your shade at the counter, a sales assistant usually hands you the product in a box. It’s unwise to go straight to the cashier. Open the box to check the case and product.

I rushed to pay for my fave Guerlain Meteorites compact. When I got home, I was saddened to discover the case was broken. Since I had no time to return the product, I’m using it despite the broken container. I have no one to blame but myself since I was in a hurry. Luckily for me, it wasn’t the product that was broken but just the case.

Read ingredients

Most skin problems are due to harmful ingredients in beauty products. On your visit to a dermatologist, ask what ingredients you should stay away from. Here are the top five harmful ingredients you should avoid:

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). Found in moisturizers, toners, cleansers and age spot removers. Potential harm: AHA are known to accelerate the exfoliation of dead skin but also makes our skin 50 percent more sensitive to the sun. It is safe if it is less than 10-percent concentrate.

Formaldehyde. Found in nail polish, shampoos, soaps and skin creams. Potential harm: This is a potentially irritating preservative which is already banned in Japan and Sweden for cosmetic use.

Propylene Glycol. Found in suntan lotions, lipsticks and other toiletries. Potential harm: Its humectant properties that keep products from getting dry has been linked to liver and kidney abnormalities. It may also irritate skin and eyes. Alternative ingredients are glycerin and sorbitol.

Check expiration date

Products are not meant to last forever. This especially applies to lotions and vitamins for skin and hair. Check expiration dates. If no expiration date is written, here is a guide:

Anti-aging and acne treatments: Three months to a year

Bar of soap: Two to three years

Bath products: Two to three years

Body lotions: Two to three years

Eye and lip pencils: Three to five years

Hairstyling products: Two to three years

Lipsticks and gloss: Two years

Mascara and liquid eyeliner: Three to four months

Nail polish: A year

Perfumes: About two years

Shaving creams: About two years

Products that can make skin rosy pink

By Kinny Salas

Philippine Daily Inquire

WHEN testing a foundation shade on my skin, I choose the pale yellow shades. As light-skinned as I may be, that (pale yellow) has always been my undertone.

The last time though, I was surprised when the sales reps of Lancôme, Shiseido, MAC and Shu Uemura commented that the swatches on my jawline did not blend in. They then tested pink undertones on my skin, which were a better match. It could be called a fluke if it were just one or two brands, but four?

I have come to the conclusion that L’Oreal’s Transparent Rosy Whitening Radiance Boosting Double Essence (P845) and Transparent Rosy Whitening Night Cream (P525) do work as I have been using them for about eight weeks on the face and neck. My exposed arms are still yellow-toned by the way.

Their additional secret ingredient, aside from their patented Advanced Melanin Block, is tourmaline stone in powdered form, which helps stimulate skin microcirculation.

This results in a rosy tinge on the skin that neutralizes the dulling yellow tones. Those with very dry skin may want to add extra moisturizer at night.

To counteract dull yellow tones, particularly on the face and neck, L’Oreal offers UV Perfect Advanced Fluid Face Protector SPF 50’s Anti-Dullness variant (P495) which gives the appearance of perfect lighter-toned but natural skin.

Once you have neutralized the yellow tones, switch to transparent or other tinted variants like porcelain. This does not feel greasy and acts as great makeup primer for normal and combination skin.

Neutrogena Wave

Those with active lifestyles, oily skin or dull complexion and those exposed to pollution will benefit from the deep cleansing action of Neutrogena Wave (P575), which penetrates 10 times deeper. The vibrating action revs up circulation, making skin glow.

It removes dead skin cells and other pore-clogging debris like blackheads so that skin is visibly smoother after each use. It may take longer before you go to facial cleaning sessions because of this.

It does not, however, clear out whiteheads, pimples and blackheads found deeper inside the pores, but it can prevent more from coming out. Use either first thing in the morning or before sleeping at night, which is my preference.

The gadget is waterproof so it can be used in the shower. It requires one AA battery. The 30-day supply refill pads are available for P400. The price is actually the same as, if not slightly cheaper than, that in the United States: $12.95.

Big pores are either caused by oily skin or signal skin laxity as part of aging. There have been three brands I have been using lately to combat gaping pores.

Cleansing: Avon True Pore-Fection Skin Refining Cleanser (P250) reduces the appearance of oily skin for up to seven hours of semi-matte finish; Avon True Pore-Fection Toner (P150) purifies skin, removes dead skin cells and reduces oiliness by a good 80 percent.

Treatment: Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Lotion (P1,450) contains Amazonian White Clay which absorbs toxins and excess sebum. It has antibacterial properties and it sloughs off dead skin cells. This is to keep pores clear of debris so their sizes are minimized.

Extra Cosmetic: Avon True Pore-Fection Soothing Treatment Compact (P375) penetrates pores to treat and prevent acne formation. Plus, it mattifies the T-zone.

The Face Shop’s Pore Minimizer Cover Up applied under or over makeup controls excess oil, minimizes large pores by covering them up and smoothens skin texture so the powder or foundation glides without effort.

Kiehl’s actually offers a whole line of the Rare Earth Pore products. The feedback I got from friends is that it does a great job of sucking up oil without dehydrating skin. The most raves are for the Tonic/Toner (P1,500) and Masque (P2,150).

Inner beauty

By R. Valencia, S. Bismark

Philippine Daily Inquirer

HE was well known throughout the world for his singing and dancing skills, but this celebrity didn’t really know what to do with his face. He craved for beauty not knowing the following important truths:

1. Inner beauty far exceeds beauty of the external body. It’s better to focus on inner quality than changes that are merely skin-deep.

2. Your face is not you. It’s better to be loved for who you are (and the soul within) than be worshiped for your external covering.

3. External beauty fades with the passing of time. You can never win over time.

Higher goals

4. Don’t compete with others who have a different skin color or facial features. Mother Nature has provided you with a body—use it for higher goals. Despite imperfections, your life can be perfect if you have inner treasures. In contrast, when your “perfect” face ages, you’ll have nothing to hold on to.

5. The paparazzi might hound you, but there’s no need to please them or be intimidated by them. They can take photos of your face, but they can’t see the real you.

To be truly attractive, you have to know who you are so you can shine with the treasures of inner beauty, love, wisdom, peace and happiness.

When you go to bed with a smile, the day seems so much better than it is too. You’d realize the day wasn’t so bad at all. Be thankful for that. Then look forward to the morning, when you’d wake up with a good sleep and a good smile. :)

Olive oil is best remedy for stretch marks

By Ria Francisco-Prieto

Philippine Daily Inquirer

AS MY BELLY grows bigger, I find myself staring at my legs and thighs and looking out for stretch marks.

I remember about a year ago I faced the same predicament. I don’t mind anything else about pregnancy but this. Everything else will fade after birth, even zits. Stretch marks stay on forever.

Luckily, I hardly got any with my first pregnancy. Thanks to olive oil. Yes, the one used for cooking. I would slather it on while my skin is still damp right after a shower. Although it was a bit thick and warm, it moistened my skin. Plus it was so much more less expensive.

When it’s too hot, I use Clarins tonic, which I fondly call my gold potion. I love the smell plus it leaves my skin supple. Not to mention, it’s formulated particularly for pregnancy like Phytolastil gel which I get from my OB gyne Dr. Greg Pastorfide. He told me his patients who’ve had twins used this and did not have a single stretch mark.

My fear of stretch marks is due to the white deep lines I have on my legs. These ones I got at pre-adolescence. It depressed me and it still makes me sad. Thus my vigilance toward these nasty lines.

Although our skin is fairly elastic, stretch marks happen when the skin is overstretched due to sudden weight gain or loss, growth or pregnancy. The best defense is always keep skin moisturized with lotion or oil. Applying shea butter on breasts, stomach, thighs and back area, they say, is the most effective remedy against stretch marks. Drinking water and taking vitamins daily keep skin healthy.

Treatments

There is so little that can be done once stretch marks appear. But there are treatments that can minimize their appearance.

Chemical peels are a common way to deal with stretch marks. A pretty high tolerance to pain is required, since there is a stinging sensation that comes with it. A dilute form of acid is used to remove the top layer of skin and give way to skin-cell production. More than one session is required and there is also a risk of additional scarring from the chemicals used.

Laser surgery is expensive and five to six sessions are needed. Also, it works best on stretch marks that are still reddish-purple. It stimulates skin growth and improvement continues up to six months after laser treatment.

Stretch-mark cream and ointment can be costly and rarely make stretch marks disappear. I have yet to find one or hear about one.

So as I stare at the pre-adolescent stretch marks on my thighs, I conclude the only way to win the war against stretch marks is by preventing them. Now I should stand up, hit the shower and apply oil while my skin is still damp.

Cures for post-acne mark, dry feet, cellulite

By Kinny Salas

Philippine Daily Inquirer

SUMMER is over and most of the problems that went with it have disappeared on its own. However, some remain or have been replaced by something else.

Post-acne marks

The acne is long gone but left us with brown spots that linger longer than pimples.

Solution: The Face Shop’s Clean Face White Post-Acne Brightening Serum contains ingredients that gently exfoliate skin to remove dead skin cells. Melanin formation prevents further darkening and speeds up the whitening/fading process. Apply all over face as it has a mattifying effect to hold back the shine. Its anti-inflammatory properties soothe skin and prevent red blotches from forming. For an extra boost, apply Post-Acne Nighttime spot eraser before bedtime which contains Triclosan, which annihilates acne bacteria, and Arbutin, the latest buzz word in potent skin whitening.

Cellulite

Cellulite gets more noticeable on the hips, thighs and butt. Kontur Cellulite Control Cream in 300g tube has three basic active ingredients.

L-Carnitine promotes the burning of stored fats and converts it into energy. Algae Extract works with L-Carnitine to moisturize skin and make it firmer, softer and smoother. Caffeine is a powerful antioxidant that aids in the prevention of the skin’s cellular damage. It breaks down fat, activates microcirculation and improves tissue firmness under the skin. Plus it does not have that intense cold feeling most cellulite creams have. Use twice daily after a shower. Also try Avon Cellusculpt and Clarins Stubborn Cellulite Control.

Dry feet, calluses, scraggly toe nails

If you are going to wear flip flops rain or shine, go for a pedicure twice a month. Those with rough skin, indulge in a foot spa.

If severe dryness is the problem, try Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment cream. It does not leave a greasy residue so there is no sliding in your shoes. Aside from the ultra-absorbent essential fatty acids for moisture boost, it contains Arnica which treats bruises and relieves swelling of feet. Myrrh hydrates skin around the nail bed, strengthens and restores its smooth surface often scuffed by shoes.

One big mistake is ignoring sunblock once summer ends. The rays we do not see or feel called UVA penetrate through clouds and windows to damage our skin, resulting in freckles and age spots which never go away.

Solution: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 50 + PA +++. It feels weightless and dries to a velvet finish so the face does not shine. It also does not cause breakouts. Also try SPF 50: Guerlain, Shiseido, Lancome; SPF 60: VMV.