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The Secrets of Slowing the Aging Process

By: Brian Paul Peoples' preoccupation with anti-aging skin care products that claim to make you look younger is not surprising As we are living far longer than previous generations it is a good idea to look after your physical appearance. Skin is important so a great deal of effort goes into the preparation of beauty products especially those that increase the production of collagen, which is the primary protein in skin.

Collagen makes up approximately 25 percent of the total protein in the skin. Collagen is related to other natural substances which help to slow down the aging process; we call them antioxidants, they aid the repair of cell damage associated with cell damage.

You probably know many anti-oxidants by name, including vitamin C, the use of which is still, even now, hotly debated in the science and nutrition community. The main problem when using any skin care treatments which use vitamin C is that oxidization can occur as soon as they have contact with the air.

More stable skin care treatments are now available that are almost as efficient and actually cost less to manufacture. Although these products are good, they cannot actually compare with vitamin C but fortunately vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid are also anti-oxidants so can be used to gain the same effect.

The body uses vitamin E as an antioxidant and to increase the natural defense we have against sickness; it helps build resistance against infection like cancer for example. Another of these is lipoic acid which is found in every cell of our body to help generate energy for us to live; it can help reverse much of the damage caused to the skin by aging.

Another group of products used to reduce the visible signs of aging are phytochemicals which are compounds extracted from various plants and used in many anti-aging skin care products. Like lipoic acid, phytochemicals help reduce the occurrence of cancers; for instance prostate, breast and colon cancer. All three of these are on the increase in the world today.

It has also been discovered that there are anti-aging benefits to vitamins B5, B6 and B12. Although the area of anti-aging skin care products is huge, more is being learnt about the whole aging process and about natural products that can reduce the effects it has on our bodies as well as our skin. A great deal about the aging process has already been learned and the products available today are already far more advanced than ten years ago. With the number of genetic discoveries made in recent years, it is only a matter of time before conquering the effects of age is commonplace.

There may be many challenges still to overcome but in time scientists believe they will succeed in producing more effective anti-aging skin care products that are less expensive and available to more people. However, man-made skin care regimes should be used only as a supplement. It is doubtful if science can replace natural skin care remedies. Simple things that can make a difference in slowing the signs of aging. These include physical activity, restful sleep, maintaining good dietary habits and removing stress from your life.