Tag: water

Hyaluronic Acid – What is it?

Today’s post is about hyaluronic acid. That ingredient that every skin care company is sprucing about in the media.

In this post we will look at what it actually is and is it worthy of all the media hype.

What is hyaluronic acid or HA?

HA is a humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. It is actually a substance that occurs naturally in the body where its primary function is to trap water inside tissue cells as well as lubricate the joints. The skin contains about half of the hyaluronic acid in the body. The HA binds to water molecules, which helps keep the skin hydrated and supple.

It also plays a crucial role in wound healing by controlling inflammation and redirecting blood flow to damaged tissue.

Hyaluronic acid levels in the body decrease as people age. This contributes to the physical signs of aging, such as the appearance of wrinkles, and to age-related conditions, including osteoarthritis.

Different uses and benefits

The most talked about use for HA is anti-aging and the skin. However, it is also used in some eye drops to help with dry eye symptoms. It has been found to assist with wound healing when used topically.

Hyaluronic acid injections are also used to treat osteoarthritis.

Research has also found that hyaluronic acid supplements may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

As a skin moisturiser, there are a variety of serums, creams and lotions which contain HA.

Studies have found that HA comes in different molecular sizes. The larger molecules, are the best at binding water and offering hydration, cannot penetrate into the skin. When applied topically (to the skin), these molecules sit on top of the skin. This will only Improve hydration at the very surface.

Much smaller molecules can penetrate deeper into the skin; however, these molecules bind less water. For a product to provide maximum surface hydration, it needs to contain HA molecules in a variety of sizes.

HA is also used in dermal fillers, many of which are composed of HA in an injectable gel form. HA fillers add volume by physically filling the area where they are placed, as well as by drawing water to enhance the filling effect. Hyaluronic fillers, can last anywhere from six months to 2 years before being gradually metabolised by the body, depending on their specific chemical makeup.

So, Hyaluronic acid is a really versatile substance and may be the solution you are looking for. As always, it is recommended to seek advice from your chosen health professional.

We hope you found this information interesting,

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

Sources: Harvard Health Publishing – Nation Library of Medicine – Web MD

All about Soda and Mineral waters

Today I’m writing about Soda and Mineral waters.

I was recently asked if I had read anything about carbonated water being bad for our teeth. I hadn’t, so I thought that this would make a good topic to research and write about.

There are very few scientific studies or research articles on this topic, however I will share what I found.

First, what is soda water?

Soda water or carbonated water (also known as sparkling water) is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas. This is either artificially injected under pressure or occurring naturally due to geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent quality.

What is mineral water?

Mineral water can be flat or sparkling and contains dissolved minerals such as potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, or potassium sulphate. These occur naturally in some mineral waters but are also commonly added to some manufactured waters.

Do the bubbles affect our teeth?

The School of Dentistry at University of Birmingham, conducted an investigation of mineral waters and soft drinks in relation to dental erosion.

The results concluded that the carbonation of drinks is not an important factor in regards to dental erosion. The main cause of dental erosion is the added sugars found in many carbonated drinks. Unsweetened mineral and soda waters are safe for our teeth.

The carbon dioxide and water actually react chemically to produce carbonic acid. This very weak acid stimulates the same nerve receptors in our mouth activated by spicy condiments, like mustard and horseradish. These nerve receptors create the burning, prickly sensation.

There are in fact some health benefits in drinking soda and mineral waters.

The health benefits
  • Studies suggest that sparkling water may improve swallowing ability by stimulating the nerves responsible for swallowing.
  • Carbonated water can trigger a greater sensation of fullness, which may help you to eat less.
  • The minerals that are in mineral water can be quite beneficial to our health. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which promote blood circulation. Magnesium and calcium also help with building and maintaining strong bones.
  • Soda or mineral water hydrates you just as well as still water. This makes sense, considering that these are just regular waters infused with bubbly carbon gas.
What about Tonic water?

Tonic water is also a carbonated water that contains minerals. However, tonic water also contains quinine, which gives tonic water a bitter taste. However, tonic water is also commonly sweetened with either high-fructose corn syrup or sugar to improve the taste. This makes it the least healthy of the carbonated waters.

(Sources: https://www.healthline.com/, https://science.sciencemag.org/, https://www.sciencedirect.com/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/, https://www.webmd.com/)

Well, I hope that this post answers any questions you may have had about carbonated waters.

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

Good skin starts with our diet.

Today I’m writing about diet and the skin. Our skin is the human bodies largest organ.

Many people spend thousands of dollars trying to preserve it, especially on their face. However, few people consider that our diet shows on our face.

Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within.

There are hundreds of steps involved in the cycle of skin renewal, of which the foods we eat are components. The body, skin included, is constantly under construction and it uses vitamins and nutrients from food to repair and rebuild, Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones and a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Eating the correct balance of foods feeds our skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and blemish-free.

That said, as much as we may try to resist it, our skin does naturally age. Wrinkles and age spots are the inevitable result of time, but this ageing may be sped up by overexposure to the sun, strong soaps and chemicals, as well as poor nutrition. Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking both also age the skin.

 Start with simple changes.

By eating a variety of antioxidant-rich, fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts, and a varied, balanced diet. This should give optimal levels of the nutrients that are crucial for radiant skin, including beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium.

Fruit and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that help to protect skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals along with smoking, pollution and sunlight, can cause wrinkling and age spots. Beta-carotene, found in carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin, and lutein, found in kale, papaya and spinach are potent antioxidants, important for normal skin cell development and healthy tone.

 Just add water

Skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even mild dehydration will cause it to look dry, tired and slightly grey. Water helps hydrate your body and leads to plump, healthy skin. Adequate hydration helps flush out toxins that can cause skin problems. It is also essential for skin metabolism and regeneration.

Drink plenty of water each day – all fluids count towards our daily allowance, but water is the best. We have all heard of the recommended 6 to 8 glasses a day. However, there is a simple scientific formula to work out how much water you need. Your weight in kilograms x .03 = daily requirement of water (e.g.; 60 x .03 = 1.8 litres).

Herbal, caffeine-free teas are good too. Some fruit and vegetables, such as watermelon and cucumber, also contribute fluids – the added benefit is that the minerals they contain will increase the rate you hydrate your body and skin.

Overall, promoting healthy skin with diet is all about adopting good nutritional habits.

So, while the Christmas season is a time of celebration with friends and family, it is also a time of food and drink. In order to put your best face forward for the new year, try to make good food choices.

Drink lots of water to counter act the effects of alcohol and remember to laugh.

To all my readers, thank you for your support and have a Merry Christmas.

I hope all my subscribers enjoy their Christmas recipe.

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

(Sources – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.  www.webmd.com.  www.bbcgoodfood.com