Spf Inside-Out
Páginas: 6 (1372 palabras)
Publicado: 7 de diciembre de 2012
SPF Inside-out
Much to our regret, and thanks mostly to the high concentrations of man-made pollutants in the environment, the Earth´s stratosphere has experienced a steady decline of approximately 4% per decade (1).
Such depletion in the ozone layer has translated into more and more harmful ultraviolet radiation passing through the Earth´s atmosphere and thus reaching the planet´s surfacewhere it can wreak havoc on our health, including that of our skin.
As if medium-frequency rays weren´t enough, we also need to keep in mind that fluorescent lamps, TVs and computers monitors also emit UV radiation, albeit low intensity.
Shielding ourselves from any type of radiation is a wise idea, considering that the cumulative effects of long-term exposure is what causes more concern.Despite the fact that we have been religiously applying sunscreen every two hours, seeking shade and wearing protective clothes, UV damage is still taking its toll on us. This is not surprising if we take into account the aforementioned factors.
Luckily for us, science has found an “unexpected”, readily available and extremely effective source of extra UV protection: antioxidant-rich foods.They way antioxidants provide protection can be best described as a suicidal mission.
When skin is exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet radiation (UV) is absorbed by skin molecules that then can generate harmful compounds, called reactive oxygen species or ROS, which are highly reactive molecules that can cause "oxidative damage." For example, ROS can react with cellular components like cell walls,lipid membranes, mitochondria and DNA, leading to skin damage and increasing the visible signs of aging (2).
Antioxidants will neutralize the ROS molecules by either yielding and electron (s) to stabilize them or by destroying these free-radicals. The more antioxidants we eat, the greater chance we have of preventing UV rays from causing wrinkles, laxity, hyperpigmentations and/ordegenerative diseases like cancer.
Antioxidants abound in nature, but among those that have been scientifically proven to considerably boost our UV protection from within we find the following (aim at eating at least one serving per day):
- Cacao (dark chocolate): contains 4 times as much phenols and catechins (flavonoids) as tea. A study carried out by the Jornal of Nutrition indicates thatpeople who consumed high levels of these antioxidants “showed decreased sensitivity to UV light, increased cutaneous and subcutaneous blood flow, skin hydration and thickness, as well as reduced roughness and scaling." Milk should not be added to the chocolate as it interferes with the absorption of its antioxidants (3). Recommended dose: 2 ounces of dark chocolate daily.
- Green andblack teas: rich in polyphenols which are one of the most powerful botanical antioxidants known today. The American Academy of Dermatology published a study stating that drinking two or more cups of either black or green tea per day reduces the risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 30%.
- Micro-algae: like chlorella and spirulina, contain a carotenoid called Astaxanthin.Astaxanthin is, perhaps, the most powerful antioxidant present in nature and has the ability to work as an internal sun protectant. It increases the amount of time you can spend in the sun without getting burned and reduce the risk of developing photo-damage (4).
- Lycopene: a red carotenoid that has a natural SPF of about 3. A study presented by the British Society of Investigative Dermatologyshowed that “people who consumed around 55 gr. of tomato paste on a daily basis for 12 weeks had 33% more protection against sunburn - the equivalent of a very low factor sun cream - and much higher levels of procollagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and keeps its firm.” Foods high in lycopene include watermelon, tomatoes, papaya, pink guava, red bell peppers and pink grapefruit....
Much to our regret, and thanks mostly to the high concentrations of man-made pollutants in the environment, the Earth´s stratosphere has experienced a steady decline of approximately 4% per decade (1).
Such depletion in the ozone layer has translated into more and more harmful ultraviolet radiation passing through the Earth´s atmosphere and thus reaching the planet´s surfacewhere it can wreak havoc on our health, including that of our skin.
As if medium-frequency rays weren´t enough, we also need to keep in mind that fluorescent lamps, TVs and computers monitors also emit UV radiation, albeit low intensity.
Shielding ourselves from any type of radiation is a wise idea, considering that the cumulative effects of long-term exposure is what causes more concern.Despite the fact that we have been religiously applying sunscreen every two hours, seeking shade and wearing protective clothes, UV damage is still taking its toll on us. This is not surprising if we take into account the aforementioned factors.
Luckily for us, science has found an “unexpected”, readily available and extremely effective source of extra UV protection: antioxidant-rich foods.They way antioxidants provide protection can be best described as a suicidal mission.
When skin is exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet radiation (UV) is absorbed by skin molecules that then can generate harmful compounds, called reactive oxygen species or ROS, which are highly reactive molecules that can cause "oxidative damage." For example, ROS can react with cellular components like cell walls,lipid membranes, mitochondria and DNA, leading to skin damage and increasing the visible signs of aging (2).
Antioxidants will neutralize the ROS molecules by either yielding and electron (s) to stabilize them or by destroying these free-radicals. The more antioxidants we eat, the greater chance we have of preventing UV rays from causing wrinkles, laxity, hyperpigmentations and/ordegenerative diseases like cancer.
Antioxidants abound in nature, but among those that have been scientifically proven to considerably boost our UV protection from within we find the following (aim at eating at least one serving per day):
- Cacao (dark chocolate): contains 4 times as much phenols and catechins (flavonoids) as tea. A study carried out by the Jornal of Nutrition indicates thatpeople who consumed high levels of these antioxidants “showed decreased sensitivity to UV light, increased cutaneous and subcutaneous blood flow, skin hydration and thickness, as well as reduced roughness and scaling." Milk should not be added to the chocolate as it interferes with the absorption of its antioxidants (3). Recommended dose: 2 ounces of dark chocolate daily.
- Green andblack teas: rich in polyphenols which are one of the most powerful botanical antioxidants known today. The American Academy of Dermatology published a study stating that drinking two or more cups of either black or green tea per day reduces the risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 30%.
- Micro-algae: like chlorella and spirulina, contain a carotenoid called Astaxanthin.Astaxanthin is, perhaps, the most powerful antioxidant present in nature and has the ability to work as an internal sun protectant. It increases the amount of time you can spend in the sun without getting burned and reduce the risk of developing photo-damage (4).
- Lycopene: a red carotenoid that has a natural SPF of about 3. A study presented by the British Society of Investigative Dermatologyshowed that “people who consumed around 55 gr. of tomato paste on a daily basis for 12 weeks had 33% more protection against sunburn - the equivalent of a very low factor sun cream - and much higher levels of procollagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and keeps its firm.” Foods high in lycopene include watermelon, tomatoes, papaya, pink guava, red bell peppers and pink grapefruit....
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