Slow down the skin aging process

EGCG in green tea fights free radicals that damage skin cells and cause wrinkles. In the research comparing a group taking green tea supplement to a group taking placebo, histologic grading of skin biopsies showed significant improvement in the elastic tissue content of treated specimens.

Protect against sunburn

Green tea protects sun damage by reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals.

Control acne

EGCG is anti-bacteria and helps control hormonal activities which cause acne. This antioxidant also helps fight free radicals and prevent skin problems such as acne.

Lose weight and burn fat

Green tea raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation. Research studies from Japan claim that drinking five cups of green tea a day can burn 70 to 80 extra calories.

Prevent tooth decay

Catechins, the antioxidants found in green tea, inhibit the growth of bacteria that adhere to tooth surfaces.

Reduce the risk of cancer

The National Cancer Institute indicated that catechins inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Scientists have also found that the structure of EGCG is very similar to that of a cancer drug called methotrexate and that EGCG kills cancer cells in the same way as methotrexate does.

Lower cholesterol levels

Green tea lowers blood cholesterol by reducing its absorption in the digestive tract, while increasing its rate of excretion. A recent research found that drinking two cups of green tea a day lowered LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol) by 13 mg.

How to use green tea?

Apply a green tea cream under sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.

Make your homemade green tea mask by mixing green tea power, honey, and lemon juice. Apply the mask on your cleaned face and leave it for 15 minutes. Then rinse your facial with warm water and apply facial moisturizer. The green tea mask will improve your complexion and reduce inflammation.

Drink four cups of green tea a day to aid anti-aging process as Dr. Oz suggested on the Oprah show.

Take a supplement of green tea extract. A typical dosage is 100 to 150 mg three times a day of a green tea extract standardized to contain 80% total polyphenols and 50% EGCG.

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Split ends occur when the protective layer of cuticle is removed from the ends of hair fibers. There are many factors that cause split ends including:

    – Dry and damaged hair

    – Over brushing and back combing

    – Over coloring or perming

    – Brushing when your hair is wet. Wet hair is more vulnerable than dry hair

    – Use of uncovered elastic bands.

    – Repeated use of heat appliances such as blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons makes hair weak and dry.

    – Over exposure to the sun damages your hair and accelerate the development of split ends.

How to get rid of split ends

Split ends cannot be repaired. The best way to get rid of split ends is to have them chopped off.  Cut 1/4″ above the split to ensure a healthy end. However, your hair may split again as it grows because the natural oils from the scalp may not reach the ends. The real solution is to take care of your hair and not to split them in the first place.

How to prevent split ends

    – Get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks.

    – Dry your hair gently, by blotting and squeezing, not wringing or rubbing.

    – Use a wide-tooth comb with your wet hair.

    – Don’t brush or comb too often.

    – Don’t backcomb your hair.

    – Apply regular hair conditioner after your shampoo.

    – Use deep hair treatment once a week.

    – Don’t color/perm your hair too often.

    – Limit the use of heat appliances

    – Apply hair serum or leave-in hair conditioner that contains sunscreen.

    – Use fabric covered elastics or scrunchies rather than elastic bands.

    – Wear a hat to protect your hair from sun’s rays.

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    Water Retention

    Foods: Eating salty food can lead to water retention around the eyes.

    Dehydration: Lack of water inhibits the water flow around the eyes.

    Allergies

    Stress

    Sleeping position: Sleeping in your stomach can lead to puffy eyes because the fluids in your body go to the head and don’t circulate properly.

    Lack of sleep

    Heredity

    Crying: Crying causes more blood to flow through the eyes which leads to swelling.

Remedies

    Sleep with your head elevated so that fluids don’t go to your head.

    Drink a lot of water to trigger water flow and get fluids stuck under the eyes out.

    Avoid eating too much salty foods.

    Limit alcohol intake.

    Place cool cucumber slices, frozen spoons or cool tea bags over your closed eyes. The cool temperature stimulates circulation under the eyes.

    Put on de-puff eye cream or gel. Patricia Wexler’s Fastscription Instant De-puff Eye Gel is the 2008 best depuffing eye product voted by Allure.

    Eat low-carb diet to prevent water retention

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Sunscreen is important no matter what season it is. In summer, you have outdoor activities while in winter, the snow reflects the light so you get double the exposure. Sun’s rays damage the skin’s elastic fiber and collagen, causing brown spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. So every morning put on sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF 15 or above.

2. Drinking too much alcohol

Drinking a glass of red wine a day provides antioxidant s that is beneficial to your skin but drinking too much alcohol doesn’t.  Alcohol dehydrates your skin, causing skin dryness and magnifying skin irregularities such as wrinkles.

3. Skimping on sleep

Lack of sleep causes your body to produce stress hormones. This can cause break out, dull skin, dark under-eye circles and puffiness.

4. Smoking cigarettes

Smoking increases free radicals and decreases the flow of oxygen, speeding the aging process. The complexion becomes dull and the skin looks shallow. Smoking also causes lines around your mouth as you have to pucker your lips over and over. Smokers will eventually look around 10 years older than non-smokers of the same age.

5. Sleeping with your makeup on

Going to bed without washing your face leads to clogged pores and breakouts.

6. Exfoliating too often

Exfoliating your skin once a week is good but more often than once or twice a week? No!  Scrubbing your skin too often causes irritation and makes your skin slick as your skin produces extra natural oils to compensate the oils your skin has lost.

7. Eating the wrong foods

Too much salt dehydrates your skin. Too much sugar can cause wrinkles and skin inflammation.  So switch from processed food such as cookies and chips to fruits and vegetables. Extra bonus of eating a well-rounded diet is that your skin will look more glowing.

8. Gaining or losing weight too fast

Gaining or losing weight too fast weakens the fiber of your skin, causing premature sagging, stretch marks, and lines.

9. Squeezing pimples

Picking your pimples causes bacteria to spread and therefore leads to even more breakouts. Popping pimples also leads to scars and large pores.

10. Overacting Facial expressions

Repeated facial movements such as frowning, puckering, and laughing cause the contraction of the muscles and can lead to wrinkles. So, it is best to minimize excessive movements and facial expressions.

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Antioxidants fight free radicals that damage cells, prevent wrinkles and keep your skin youthful. Antioxidant vitamins are A, C, and E.

     - Vitamin A helps repair body tissue, reduce fine lines in the skin and fade age spots.

Sources of vitamin A: liver, cheese, milk, eggs, carrots, squash, broccoli, tomatoes, kale, and other bright-colored fruits and vegetables.

If you want to take vitamin A supplement, limit the supplementation to 2,500 IU. Vitamin A is fat-soluble so overtaking vitamin A can be toxic.

     - Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen and reduces skin damage caused by free radicals.  

Sources of Vitamin C: orange, kiwi, and lemon, green peppers, broccoli, and strawberry.

Vitamin C is water-soluble so you can take it daily. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 60 mg per day but this amount will only prevent you from picking up scurvy. Recent studies suggest that an intake between 200-500 mg per day may be the most beneficial for healthy people.

     - Vitamin E helps protect skin cells from ultra violate light and pollution and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Sources of Vitamin E: nuts, seeds, whole grains, and avocado.

The RDA for vitamin E is 15-20 IU per day but many research studies show that 100 to 200 IU per day provides more benefits and that any dosage in excess of this amount provides little additional value. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids help promote healthy skin. Omega-3 fatty acids also prevent sagging skin by regulating cellular function and maintaining elasticity and suppleness in the skin.

Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acid: flaxseeds, walnuts, tofu, soybeans, and cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines.

There is no RDA for Omega-3 Fatty Acid but the American Heart Association suggests that “taking EPA+DHA ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 grams per day (either as fatty fish or supplements) significantly reduces deaths from heart disease and all causes.” So for healthy people, .5 to 1.8 grams of EPA and DHA a day is sufficient.

Zinc helps heal wounds and improve skin conditions such as acne and eczema.

Sources of Zinc: oysters, beef, lamb, pork, crabmeat, turkey, chicken, lobster, clams, and salmon.

The RDA for zinc is 11 mg for males and 8 mg for females.

Green tea helps fight free radicals, neutralize UV light, rejuvenate skin cells, and reduce inflammation.

Many studies recommend drinking 4 cups of green tea a day.

Food you should avoid

Sugar-based food. Sugar causes skin inflammation and speeds the aging process, causing wrinkles.

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For more information about beauty and health, please visit http://www.beautyandhealthanswers.com/

For more information about beauty and health, please visit http://www.beautyandhealthanswers.com/