When does the skin age?

It's easy to forget that the skin is an organ - just like our heart or liver - which performs a list of life-sustaining tasks. It regulates body temperature. It is the body's sensor, registering pressure, temperature and pain. It is a barrier against the elements and a shield against bacteria and viruses.

It is also the body's 'mirror'. When we're tired, not eating properly, or physically or emotionally stressed, our skin reacts.

Skin is also the body's first line of defence. As such, it is easily damaged both by external causes - sunlight, air pollution - and internal factors, such as cigarette smoke or a diet that lacks nutrients, particularly antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and E. It is the way we treat our skin - not the ageing process - that 'ages' facial skin the most.

20s

The skin begins to slowly and steadily age. Dead skin cells are not replaced as quickly, collagen production slows and our skin loses elasticity. Signs of this type of aging include:

• Thinner skin
• Fine lines
• Dry, itchy skin

All that time we spend in the sun working on our tan contributes heavily to this. The hectic lifestyle, coupled with an irregular diet and sleep schedule, can lead to more free radical damage, puffiness, and toxic overload.

In our 20s, our main priority is to protect our skin and help it repair daily damage to prevent the formation of premature fine lines and wrinkles.

Our skin’s rate of regeneration slows down dramatically, leading to a dull and uneven complexion.

30s

Our main priority is to help slow the degradation of collagen and elastin by fighting free radical damage, while also helping stimulate their production. To maintain a youthful and dewy glow, it is also important to help skin promote its natural exfoliation, allowing younger skin cells to surface.

The layer of adipose tissue starts to diminish during this time, leading to thinner and more sensitive skin. The moisture barrier also begins its decay, leading to noticeably dryer and less elastic skin. Freckles, sun spots, age spots, and spider veins starts to show.

40s

It is important that we boost our level of skin hydration and use ingredients that are mild and non-irritating, all while helping even tone, reduce redness, and increase firmness and elasticity.

Hormonal changes send the skin into overdrive. The most noticeable change is the level of hydration, which is due to a rapid deterioration of our skin's moisture barrier. To fight this, it is important that we treat our skin with highly hydrating ingredients that also work to help repair the barrier at the same time. The skin also becomes thinner, pores become larger, and the surface layer of immunity on the skin drastically decreases.

 

 

www.longevity.about.com/
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

Benefit of drinking green tea:

Drinking tea has been associated with health benefits for centuries, only in recent years have its medicinal properties been investigated scientifically. Tea's health benefits are largely due to its high content of flavonoids — plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting  oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties.   Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder. Additional benefits for regular consumers of green and black teas include a reduced risk for heart disease. The antioxidants in green, black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function.   Tips to get the most out of tea-drinking: Drinking a cup of tea a few times a day to absorb antioxidants and other healthful plant compounds. In green-tea drinking cultures, the usual amount is three cups per day. Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins. The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds. Tea can impede the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. Adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals will counteract this problem.

Sources:

www.WebMed.com

www.About.com

www.health.harvard.edu

Carrot Pancakes

Being Brenese

Brenese Care Products came about when I was writing a cookbook about how to make my babies favorite foods nutritious. In the course of researching for the cookbook, I realized that I have never found one single product or cream that I could use on my babies skin. My life took a detour and Brenese care Products was born. It became my 4th baby not counting my husband and the dog (Knuckles). I still cook great healthy foods and make healthy drinks for the boys, which I will share on this blog. Yes, the baby creams were experimented and tested on the boys and me. With everything I read about ingredients in baby products, what I chose to be in the baby cream was 110% safe. Even if they took a scoop and ate it (like all babies do) there would be no reason for me to worry. It is a cream I could use as my cooking oil.

Carrot Pancakes

1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour 1 Cup Carrot puree (have to be cooked and pureed)                    3/4 Cup Milk                    3 tbs Unsalted butter                    1 eggs                    3 I/2 tsp Baking powder                    1 tsp salt                    1/4tsp Cinnamon spice                    1 tsp salt

In a mixing bowl, flour, baking powder, and Cinnamon spice Lightly beat the eggs, add the carrot puree, milk, melted butter and mix. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until you have a smooth batter. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve warm.

Agnes