The Wrinkle-Reducing Okinawan Anti Aging Diet

by Marcus Ryan

There is no denying that the residents of Okinawa, Japan, are among the healthiest and longest-lived people in the world, with an occurrence of heart disease less than 20%, and cancer rate that's less than 50% of that in Americans, and skin which simply refuses to show signs of aging.
Okinawans look young and great skin even when they have no chronological right to do so, and the Molecular Neurobiology Department of Daegu Haany University has done research on the Okinawan diet which explains why.

If you'd like to maintain the same youthful appearance throughout your life as the Okinawans, adopting the Okinawan diet will be a great way to start for sure!

How can you begin?

Well, this 5 year study by Western doctors who went to live among the Okinawans for that time, discovered diet and lifestyle practices which helps explain their extraordinary health and longevity.

Let's go through six of the main principles of the Okinawan diet that you can apply and begin to experience greater health and wellbeing.

First, you'll have to load up on the vegetables and fruits; Okinawans average ten - yes, ten - servings of vegetables and at least two servings of fresh fruit each day.

Vegetables and fruits are known to be antioxidant powerhouses, and antioxidants are essential in battling the free radicals that cause oxidative stress and signs of aging. Even the best Western diets call for only five servings of vegetables each day.

Second, you'll have to begin adding lots of whole grains to you meal plans; they contain the fibre necessary to keep your digestive system moving along and clean of toxins, and are also low glycemic. They also fill you up so you are not tempted to reach for unhealthy snacks between meals.

Start eating brown rice or Japanese short grain rice, whole wheat or rye bread, and oatmeal and other whole grain cereals.

Third, drink your milk, have your yoghurt or find other good sources of low fat calcium and consume them three times daily. If you don't like dairy products, try calcium fortified soy milk, soy cheese, or tofu.

You can also increase your calcium intake with broccoli or beans which contain moderate amounts of calcium.

Fourth, you should find room each day for two foods like salmon, mackerel, tuna, or sardines, which are rich in omega-three fatty acids. If you're not a nut about fish, flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega-threes.

These omega-threes are excellent for heart health as well as mental health.

The fifth thing you should do is stay hydrated with clean water and tea all day long, because you body simply cannot operate without water, and tea is a terrific source of both antioxidants and flavonoids.

Japanese green or roasted green tea are examples of teas that you can have.

Finally, stop eating before you feel completely full.

The Okinawans recommend stopping when they are 80% full. If you push way from the table when you are still just a little hungry, you'll experience more energy, less weight gain, and better health.

The secret to the Okinawan diet is simple enough, yet have profound effects on your health.

By eating fresh, nutrient-rich foods, you'll be giving your body everything it needs to take of the free radicals and keep you feeling and looking younger and healthier.

But the Okinawans also get plenty of exercise and sleep; have strong family ties; and a relaxed attitude toward life. All those things are also important in reducing the aging effects of stress.

When the Okinawans moved to the Unites States, their disease profile became that of Americans, so it wasn't their genes that gave them these benefits, it was their dietary and lifestyle secrets.

The Okinawans have important lessons to teach us if we're interested in health, longevity and youthful looks.

So what should you do now?

Start with the Okinawan diet looking carefully at the steps above, work on the other lifestyle changes you need to make, and you'll be on your way to better health and terrific skin!

See, anti aging creams do have a role too, but when you combine a great anti aging cream with a great anti aging diet, that's when you start to get real results.

So go for it and get great skin!

About the Author
Find the best ranked face and eye anti wrinkle cream serums that work in minutes at Marcus Ryan's review site. And learn how to get your free samples of these top wrinkle creams sent to you to look 10-20 years younger in less than 10 minutes.

What Can I Do About My Wrinkles?

Submitted By: Richie Mont

Although I'm a vegetarian, I'm on statin drugs because I had a very high cholesterol level. When I started a year ago, my face was totally unlined. Now my cholesterol level is right down but my cheeks have lost their fullness and wrinkles have set in. Do statins affect collagen? And is there anything you can suggest?

AFats are essential for our bodies. They provide us with an energy source, form the raw material for hormones, constitute cell membrane, act as insulation against heat loss, give contours, protect heart, kidneys, intestines and other organs from physical shock, and help to 'fix' organs in the chest and abdomen. Fats dissolve fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, which are important for keeping the skin firm and for lubricating joints; fats are also essential for eyesight, to fortify bones, regulate hormones and control the blood clotting system. So they're not all bad!

Cholesterol is an important fat: it is needed for cell growth and cellular division, and the maintenance of cell membrane. It's involved in the functioning of oestrogen, testosterone, the corticosteroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands, and cortisol, which controls calcium absorption.

Cholesterol is also important for the digestive process, as bile salts are derived from it.

Cholesterol is either absorbed from your diet (particularly egg yolks, cream and meat) or synthesised by the liver. Usually genetic factors keep cholesterol within acceptable bounds. So if you have a high cholesterol level, controlling your dietary sources may not be enough to lower it.

Because high cholesterol levels lead to an increased risk of heart and/or vascular disease, doctors prescribed statins to reduce them. Statins have many side effects, from tingling in the body to skin sagging problems, as in your case. They don't affect collagen but I think your problem is due to the drugs. Cholesterol is vital for sealing moisture into the skin and the elasticity of skin depends on it. The fat layer under the skin makes the surface smooth; the drugs have flushed that out, so wrinkles have appeared.

Vegetarians are often deficient in the fat-soluble vitamins I've listed above.

Vitamin E particularly helps skin texture and the lack of it can contribute to wrinkling.

Now that your cholesterol level is down, I suggest you ask your doctor if it's possible to reduce your dosage of statins. He or she may agree if you undertake to do everything you can to control your cholesterol level naturally. (Always let your doctor know about other measures that you are taking.) . Eat lots of fresh non-citrus fruit and vegetables, oats and garlic; drink fresh pomegranate juice and make a daily infusion of one teaspoonful of fenugreek seeds in a mug of boiling water, leave to soak for ten minutes or more, then strain and drink.

. Exclude fried food, peanut butter, nuts and seeds, avocado, crisps, cakes, biscuits, coconut milk and (for non-vegetarians) cream, ice cream, cheese, butter, curries.

. Don't snack on oily, fatty and/or processed foods. Take care to make energising, balanced meals. If you can include grilled fish and chicken, it will help you not to snack.

. If you eat bread, oatcakes, rice cakes or crispbread, top them with a little manuka honey or pure fruit preserves instead of butter or cheese.

. You must get out every day for at least 30 to 60 minutes in the fresh air, and do moderate exercise you enjoy. Yoga is always helpful: I recommend therapeutic Iyengar yoga.

. Take Bioenergy (Biotique, Pounds 12 for 120 tablets) or Ashwagandha (Himalaya, Pounds 10 for 60 capsules): one twice daily, to help keep cholesterol levels balanced, especially if you are trying to come off the statins.

Here are my suggestions Diet Supplements For your skin . In the morning, massage Saffron Dew Youth Cream (Biotique, Pounds 8 for 65g) upwards into the skin. Massage for five minutes each day for a month, then twice a week until the skin texture improves.

. At bedtime, massage pure almond oil into your face for five minutes. Wipe any excess away using a towel dipped into hot water with a few drops of fresh lime in it.

. Buy an aloe vera plant and cut off a quarter-inch piece of the leaf, then squeeze out the sticky juice and apply it to your skin. This is the best treatment you can put on your face, either to tone and moisturise or to treat acne, eczema or any skin rash.

Exercise . Take aloe vera capsules (Vega, Pounds 7 for 60): one twice daily for three months.

About the Author:
Richie Mont writes for http://www.clinika.org where you can find out more about wrinkle creams and other topics.

Wrinkle Cream: Fact or Fiction

by Geoff Hopkins

Over a billion dollars are spent each year on anti-aging serums and wrinkle creams in North America, You have asked the questions: Is it fact or fiction? Everywhere you go products like anti aging skin cream, wrinkle cream, and similar cosmeceuticals are constantly being advertised on television, in print, and any other media imaginable it is an unbelievable and overwhelming phenomenon. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of millions of dollars are invested in advertising every year. It is not unreasonable to question the fact or fiction behind these products, because it is such an increasingly large business, that there has to be a high success rate in wrinkle creams, correct?

For as long as women have existed they have always desired beauty above all else. Perhaps not every woman will admit it, but somewhere everybody, deep inside wants to look beautiful, and unfortunately some people can not even see their own beauty because of this. Rightfully, everybody wants to avoid aging, and that includes the men. Again, males may not want to come to terms with it, but deep inside they know, just as we all know, nobody wants to age.

There has been a lot of research done in this field. One popular researcher's name is Dr. Nicholas Perricone he has found that internal inflammation is the largest factor in wrinkling and aging. When a skin cell ages, it becomes inflamed. This is not something regularly detected by the human eye. Only if the inflammation is unusually extreme, can you see it. The person may have a tendency towards having a redder face than most.

In aging, the process can typically be described as: the skin ages because the cells are internally inflamed, and the inflammation is normally created by sun exposure or an influx of increased sugar levels within the bloodstream. Best advice out there, avoid getting too much sun, and don't binge on foods high in sugar. Doing that as well as taking your cosmeceuticals is your best bet on fighting the signs of aging. Dr. Perricone is the preeminent authority in this arena and has dedicated his entire life to study anti-aging, wrinkle creams, and other natural treatments.

Let's summarize Dr. Perricone's finding in the next few paragraphs. Either that or you can choose to listen to his many lectures on tape, read his countless array of books and other study materials, or watch his DVD's but given the scientific nature of his findings, it would probably be best to just recap what we have found out so far.

Wrinkle Creams: Fact or Fiction. The answer is FACT. Dr. Perricone's, but you do need to get the right types of creams. Wrinkle creams work, as long as they help the body to fight inflammation. They need to contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as antioxidants and Omega-3, and equally important is maintaining a natural diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3. Getting enough sleep and a good workout in is also the best way to help this process. Combine these rituals in your life together with quality wrinkle and anti-aging creams and you will definitely see results.

Having a wrinkle cream that is formulated for a primary purpose such as, moisture will not be as beneficial to you because it makes the skin dependent on an outside moisture source. The same can be said about trying to moisturize your skin by excessive quantities of water, such as frequent swimming, baths, or hot tubing. Wrinkle creams, of an older nature, may actually make your skin have a rubbery feel, not a good thing!

It's a good thing that most consumers out there today are aware such products are they are becoming more unpopular. Going to a local health food store, most cosmetic stores, or shopping on the Internet, is now very easy to get the high-quality products that you are looking for that will really work to maintain youth, fight aging, and make your skin feel beautiful. There is plenty more information about this on this website. There is no better place on the Internet for this information; you've come to the right place!

About the Author
Geoff Hopkins has worked in the facial wrinkle cream industry for years. He maintains websites about facial wrinkle cream and eye wrinkle creams. If you want to contact him, you can use the contact for at one of his sites.

Don't Wait For Wrinkles To Appear

by Linda Raye

She looks so young! Why on earth would she be buying anti aging skin cream?

She's smart! By starting now, at a young age you can insure against those premature signs of aging like fine lines and subtle skin damage. Those crow's feet and eye wrinkles don't just pop up overnight. It takes years of exposure, bad habits and neglect.

So naturally, the sooner you begin your anti aging battle against nature the easier it will be later on down the road.

You can start your wrinkle prevention program by implementing a few simple steps. Make a habit of daily cleansing, moisturizing and at bed time applying a rich formula night cream.

You can't be too cautious when it come to choosing facial cream products that are suited for you, whatever your skin type - dry, oily or sensitive. You will be wasting your precious time and money if the product is not a match for your skin type. One of the most common wrinkle prevention tips is to use a high SPF sunscreen. Don't ignore it!

Too much sun exposure, especially towards midday, can cause real skin damage over the long term. Use whatever protection necessary to avoid that exposure. One more thing, besides the obvious ill effects of smoking it can actually cause wrinkles too!

Too much alcohol consumption, coffee and other caffeine rich drinks can change your body chemistry resulting in facial fine lines. Even something as innocent as sucking through a straw, dirty pillowcases and lack of adequate sleep can predispose one to wrinkles.

Sipping through a straw uses the same lip-pursing motion as smoking and can also cause wrinkles. Change pillowcases weekly to avoid re-exposing your face to dirt and natural oils.

While you sleep at night, new skin cells are being produced, so make sure you get a good nights rest. Keeping late hours is not good for your facial skin. Smart anti wrinkle care is best started early and continued throughout your adult life.

Don't think you are too young to start your own wrinkle prevention program. You may not see any heavy lines yet, but in the case of wrinkles..an ounce of prevention is really worth it.


About the Author
About Linda Raye: Linda Raye - Read more at visit her Squidoo lens on Wrinkle Prevention or visit her BestWrinkleCreamReviews review website.