Skin AntiAging Supplements

Why Your Skin Needs Supplements

Can vitamins and herbs improve the look of your skin and slow the aging process?

Some doctors will tell you that you may as well take the pills and flush them down the toilet; because that's just about what you're doing when you take more supplements than your body can use.

However just as many doctors take the opposite position and, not only recommend supplements to their patients but, take supplements themselves. Further, studies continue to show the benefit of various supplements.

Supplementation is especially important in light of the fact that much of the earth's soil has been depleted of vital nutrients by over-farming.

"Foods we ate as little as 100 years ago had 10 times the nutrients they do today," says New York-based nutritionist Esther Blum, author of Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous.

After interviewing medical proponents of supplements for antiaging including Dr. N. V. Perricone, author of The Wrinkle Cure, Marie Claire magazine (November 2006) came up with this list of antiaging recommendations.

• 1. Take antioxidants to fight free radical damage. Alpha Lipoic Acid and Coenzyme Q10 are the most potent
• 2. Take B vitamins for strong nails and firmer skin
• 3. Omega 3 and 6 Essential Fatty Acids promote calm well-behaved skin. There is evidence they even minimize psoriasis, eczema and acne
• 4. Hydrate your skin with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) supplements
• 5. If a dull complexion is a reflection of excess yeast in your system, probiotics like the active lactic acid bacteria cultures found in some yogurt can help get everything back in balance

The suggestion to take hyaluronic acid supplements surprised me. I know that HA is the most effective topical moisturizer, but I haven't seen any research that has shown the body can utilize it when taken orally. However, read my findings on Hyaluronic Acid as Antiaging Supplements for Your Skin.

The suggestion to take probiotic bacterial cultures makes sense, since they are intended to assist the body's naturally occurring intestinal flora to reestablish themselves. They are sometimes recommended by doctors after a course of antibiotics, or as part of the treatment for gut related candidiasis.

According to Marie Claire, vitamins and supplements are now the fastest-growing' segment of the antiaging-skincare market. Since supplements are classified as dietary supplements rather than as drugs, manufacturers are not required to prove their safety or effectiveness to the FDA.

Be sure you stick with reputable brands for pure products that actually contain the potency stated on the label. You can read some interesting information about supplement potency analysis.

More on AntiAging Vitamins & Supplements

Dietary Sources for Vitamins and Minerals
Why Take AntiOxidants
The Major AntiOxidants
Other Important AntiOxidants
Other Essential Vitamins & Minerals
Hyaluronic Acid as Antiaging Supplements for Your Skin

This article is for information only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.