The truth on aging skin, lifestyle and diet-Interview with Dr. Perricone
A revolutionary book, “The Wrinkle Cure” by Dr. Nicholas Perricone has changed the way most people look at skincare.
Below you will find snippets from an interview with Dr. Perricone found on www. medicinenet.com taken from a transcript on WebMD.
Moderator: What are the five worst things we do to our skin?
Perricone:
1. Sun exposure
2. A pro-inflammatory diet (That consists of sugar and starches)
3. Cigarette smoking
4. Lack of sleep
5. Excess alcohol consumption
Moderator: How does eating simple carbs affect your skin?
Perricone: Scientists have established that anything that causes a rise in our blood sugar results in inflammation on a cellular level. In addition, when our blood sugar goes up rapidly and continually, the sugar can actually attach to the collagen in our skin, making it stiff and inflexible. There is a scientific term for that: glycation. When we do not get enough sleep it results in elevation of a hormone called cortisol. It has a lot of negative side effects. For example, it can break down muscle tissue, thin our skin, decalcify our bones, and elevate our blood sugar. Of course, when blood sugar is elevated we are in an inflammatory state.
Moderator: What do the other things you mentioned (sleep deprivation, sun exposure, alcohol consumption and smoking) do to our skin?
Perricone: It is essential to get enough sleep. We should also mention that when we are getting adequate sleep, we release another hormone that is actually a youth hormone called human growth hormone. Human growth hormone does exactly the opposite of what cortisol does -- that is, it builds us up rather than breaking us down.
Looking at cigarette smoking, we know that by inhaling just one puff of one cigarette, we create three trillion free radicals in the lungs. In addition, cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to constrict, especially in the skin, resulting in lack of oxygen and nutrients, which accelerates skin aging.
Alcohol in excess results in a rapid and sustained increase in blood sugar, which... is pro-inflammatory and causes the glycation reaction. In addition, alcohol is metabolized by the liver to toxic chemicals called aldehydes and ketones, which are toxic to cells and are pro-inflammatory.
When we walk out into the noonday sun during the summer, within five minutes the sunlight creates free radicals in the skin. This results in an inflammatory cascade that accelerates the aging process, causing wrinkles.
Finally, eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and others can help protect us from free radical damage.
Moderator: It sounds as though diet is at the heart of caring for your skin. Can you please explain your "Three-Day Diet for Better Skin"?
Perricone: The diet consists of eating the following meal twice a day for three days in a row, with the remaining meal of the day following the concepts of staying away from pro-inflammatory foods.
The first important item in this anti-inflammatory meal is salmon. Salmon is important because it is high in protein and we need protein to repair our cells. Salmon contains high amounts of an essential fatty acid classified as an Omega-3 oil. Essential fatty acids nourish the skin, giving it a radiant and beautiful appearance.
One of the biggest mistakes that a person can make is to follow a low-fat or no-fat diet. You must have adequate amounts of essential fatty acids to be healthy and it should be understood that good fat helps burn body fat.
Salmon also contains another important nutrient called DMAE. Aging is characterized by wrinkling and sagging. DMAE, when eaten in larger amounts, can increase muscle tone and therefore decrease the appearance of sagging.
The second portion of this anti-inflammatory meal is a dark-green salad with olive oil and lemon juice as a dressing. The reason for this is that the dark-green lettuce contains antioxidants that act as natural anti-inflammatories...and also contain small amounts of essential fatty acids such as omega-6. The olive oil is recommended because it contains a larger amount of a fat called oleic acid. Oleic acid helps the cells absorb essential fatty acid more efficiently.
The dessert portion consists of a serving of mixed berries such as raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, and a slice of cantaloupe melon. These fruits are loaded with antioxidants, which act as natural anti-inflammatories.
Finally, we must drink eight to 10 glasses of pure water a day. When this meal is eaten twice a day three days in a row and the other meal consists of a good source of protein, essential fatty acids, and healthy fruits and vegetables that will not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, there will be a tremendous difference in your appearance and the way you feel.
You can find more information on Dr. Perricone’s diet as well as his book “The Wrinkle Cure” at: www.perriconemd.com
And his blog at: www.dailyperricone.com
-photo credit: www.allyou.com
