July 18, 2011
It’s important to fight inflammation from the inside out, but topical skin care that contains supercharged ingredients and proven antioxidants is an important piece of the anti-inflammation puzzle, too. There is a whole crop of inflammation-fighting ingredients in skin-care products today. While vitamins are some of the more noted anti-inflammatory agents, these key players also provide excellent skin benefits.
Ginger. Praised for its holistic healing abilities, ginger helps to mitigate the effects of inflammation because of its natural antioxidant properties, which reduce cellular stress.
Ginseng. Boasting more than 25 different antioxidants, ginseng works to regulate the release of enzymes that destroy the skin.
Vitamin C. Orally, vitamin C acts as an anti-inflammatory, and, when it’s applied to the skin, it helps to fend off free radicals while improving skin clarity, especially dullness, caused by sun damage. Vitamin C products and those that contain derivatives of the vitamin are especially beneficial for preventing sunburned skin.
Coffeberry. The fruit of the coffee bean is said to be one of the most potent antioxidants—three times more powerful than green tea.
Alpha Lipoic Acid. This rather small molecule packs a powerful punch. It affects how the cell is able to protect itself and helps get rid of scar tissue, a result of inflammation.
Mushroom Extract. Traditionally used in Eastern medicine, and becoming more mainstream, some varieties of mushrooms double as powerful antioxidants, scavenging off free radicals.
July 11, 2011
If you’re a classic Lipton lover, it’s time to make the switch to a tea with benefits that are becoming too numerous to count. We’re talking about green tea, of course. Lipton even sells it now, too. So you don’t have to feel guilty about the switch.
Recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a study measuring the effect of green tea intake on cholesterol found positive results. For the study, colleagues from Peking Union Medical College in Beijing went through research from 14 previous trials involving green tea and determined that participants who drank green tea had lower total cholesterol levels than those who didn’t. Now, the results weren’t big enough to suggest that we no longer need other treatments for high cholesterol (it was a decrease of about 2 percent), but every little bit helps.
November 2, 2010
As you probably know, coffee can stain your teeth, so if you’re thinking of switching to tea for the sake of your smile, make it green tea. Your teeth will benefit in more ways than just color.
A recent Japanese study shows that those who regularly drink green tea have significantly better periodontal health than those who don’t. Following about 1000 participants, researchers observed a measurable decrease in gum bleeding, clinical attachment loss of gum tissue and periodontal pocket depth for every single cup of green tea consumed.
The authors of the study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, believe this amazing ability could be due to catechin, an antioxidant that may help reduce the inflammatory responses linked to the three disease indicators in this analysis.
In addition to dental health, the condition of one’s gums is linked to overall health; so adding green tea to your diet is a wise idea for more reasons than just your mouth.
June 8, 2009
Summer is here and so is Aveda’s Sun Care After-Sun Masque.
This is an intensive cream masque that restores sun-exposed hair, moisturizes, and helps defend against free radicals.
* Part of a three-part defense and recovery system
* Morikue protein helps restore weakened hair
* Tamanu oil, certified organic shea butter, coconut and palm oils
* Anti-oxidizing blend of green tea extract, certified organic sunflower seed oil and Vitamin E help protect free radicals
* Light tropical aromo blend with 100% certified organic essences of neroli, ylang ylang and citrus
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