Am I the only one who sighs when they look in the mirror and see sagging jowls looking back? If I stand on my head, everything goes back into place. Nice, but not a solution.
The reason our skin sags is the loss of elastin and collagen. Bad habits over the years have bankrupted our skin's supply of these vital proteins.
The five big offenders are smoking, poor diet, too much sun, rapid weight loss, and stress. We can't turn back the clock, but it's never too late for an intervention.
Today there are many ways to increase the collagen in your body. The astonishing thing is, the more collagen you have, the more your body can produce and maintain those levels.
Here are three ways to increase collagen:
One: eating foods high in vitamin C helps your body produce hyaluronic acid, which allows the body to boost your collagen levels.
Two: antioxidants are another essential part of the picture when it comes to collagen. They help rid the body of free radicals. With the free radicals gone, the collagen in your body can now work to it's fullest advantage. You can find antioxidants in many foods, such as cinnamon, blueberries, and green tea.
Three: This is my favorite, red light therapy. It was initially discovered by NASA to grow plants in outer space. The scientists soon realized the healing benefits of the red light.
When used to treat the skin, the light penetrates deep into the skin and cells. The mitochondria in the skin cells can absorb these light particles. This can help the cells produce more adenosine triphosphate, which is the energy source for all cells. With this extra energy, the cells can repair themselves: the result, collagen production. For more information on the many benefits of red light therapy, read the article by Well and Good.
You can find red light therapy at a Dermatologist's office, spas, and there are also devices to be used at home. I like the medical-grade face mask by Dr. Dennis Gross. I have purchased one and use it for three minutes each morning. You can find this mask at Nordstrom.
Here's to looking good!
Gigi Lori
“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” ~Franz Kafka
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