12 beyond beauty benefits of collagen

MANILA, Philippines — When it comes to health, the big C’s are usually Vitamin C, cancer and lately, medicinal cannabis.

Often, people forget another important C: collagen.

This summer, increased sun exposure leads to aging and depletion of collagen, the building blocks of protein and the skin’s main structure that is also found in the eyes, heart, kidneys, tendons, ligaments, liver, and even in stomach and hair, said esthetics and rejuvenation expert Dr. Cecilia Catapang.

“At a certain point, the body stops producing collagen,” the doctor warned during the recent launch of food supplement Novuskin Lift, claimed to be the first in the market to have 18 natural ingredients, including marine fish collagen.

Collagen comprises 80 percent of skin, but due to free radicals, when one reaches 20, one loses collagen at the rate of is 1.8 percent per year, and 20 to 25 percent annually by age 30, said Catapang.

If you are feeling sluggish and having many wrinkles by age 40, that is because collagen has rapidly depleted in one's body, she said.

Since collagen is in over 100 parts of the body, 14 of which are the most important. Catapang stressed the value of taking collagen supplements not only for beauty but also for health.

According to her, here are other beyond beauty benefits collagen can give:

    Bone healing
    Anti-aging
    Wound healing
    Increased protein intake
    Antibacterial
    Collagen has aspirin-like properties that can prevent heart attack and stroke
    Marine fish collagen and peptide are widely used as supplements because of their similarity to human collagen. These have a good safety profile and high bioavailability through the gastrointestinal tract, promoting skin repair. The intake of this must be combined with antioxidants.
    Marine fish collagen is absorbed up to 1.5 times more effectively into the body and has superior bioavailability over bovine or porcine collagens, thus, fish collagen is considered the best collagen for medicinal purposes.
    When completely digested, fish collagen stimulates cells in skin, joints and bones, leading to collagen synthesis through cell activation and growth.
    Other fish collagen benefits include anti-aging, bone healing and rejuvenation, wound healing, increased protein intake and antibacterial properties.
    Fish collagen is high in essential and non-essential amino acids.
    Every 10 grams of fish collagen has protein, potassium, sodium and iron

White sugar, said Catapang, weakens collagen, so she suggested using other healthier sweeteners like muscovado or brown sugar.

“To effectively slow down aging, do measures that will have a lasting impact not only to skin but the entire well-being,” she noted.

source: philstar.com

The best and worst countries to grow old in? Philippines ranks 44th out of 91 surveyed nations

GENEVA - Rankings of the best and worst countries to grow old, according to the UN-backed Global AgeWatch Index 2013 released on Tuesday, the first survey of its kind to collect global data on the wellbeing of the elderly in a rapidly ageing world.

The index, compiled by the HelpAge International advocacy group and the UN Population Fund, ranks 91 countries by comparing data from the World Health Organization and other agencies on older people's incomes, health, education, employment and their environments.

Top 10

1. Sweden

2. Norway

3. Germany

4. Netherlands

5. Canada

6. Switzerland

7. New Zealand

8. USA

9. Iceland

10. Japan

Britain came in at 13, ahead of Australia (14) and France (18).

Lower down in the rankings were the emerging economies of Brazil (31), China (35), South Africa (65), India (73) and Russia (78).

Bottom 10:

82. Honduras

83. Montenegro

84. West Bank and Gaza

85. Nigeria

86. Malawi

87. Rwanda

88. Jordan

89. Pakistan

90. Tanzania

91. Afghanistan

Literally midway between the best and the worst is the Philippines, which was ranked 44th out of the 91 surveyed countries. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked just behind Thailand (42) and ahead of Vietnam (53), Indonesia (71), and Cambodia (80) - although Malaysia and Singapore were notably absent from the list, with Global AgeWatch citing insufficient data.

Global AgeWatch had this to say about growing old in the Philippines:

"While older people still face challenges in achieving income security and health status, the government is taking positive action, such as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. A targeted old age allowance is still too limited to make any difference.

"There are also policies and programmes that recognise older people's contribution, provide entitlements to access social services, promote their full employment and maximise opportunities for their participation in national development. The government also recognises the need to address older people's specific needs in terms of healthcare, housing and income security."

source: interaksyon.com

Memory decline may be earliest sign of dementia

BOSTON — Memory problems that are often dismissed as a normal part of aging may not be so harmless after all.

Noticing you have had a decline beyond the occasional misplaced car keys or forgotten name could be the very earliest sign of Alzheimer's, several research teams are reporting.

Doctors often regard people who complain that their memory is slipping as "the worried well," but the new studies show they may well have reason to worry, said Maria Carrillo, a senior scientist at the Alzheimer's Association.

One study found that self-reported memory changes preceded broader mental decline by about six years. Another tied these changes to evidence on brain scans that dementia is setting in.

"Maybe these people know something about themselves" that their doctors don't, "and maybe we should pay attention to them," said Dorene Rentz, a Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist. She helped run one of the studies, which were discussed Wednesday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Boston.

About 35 million people worldwide have dementia, and Alzheimer's disease is the most common type. It causes a slow decline in thinking and reasoning ability. Memory trouble that disrupts daily life is one symptom.



Don't panic, though: The researchers are not talking about "senior moments," those small, temporary lapses most everyone has, said Creighton Phelps, a neuroscientist with the U.S. National Institute on Aging. They are talking about real memory loss, in which the information doesn't come back to you later, not even when people remind you of what you forgot, he explained.

A true decline is a change in your normal pattern. "You're starting to forget things now that you normally didn't — doctor appointments, luncheon engagements, the kids are coming over ... things that a year or two ago you wouldn't," said Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Pati Hoffman, of Carol Stream, Ill., near Chicago, used to design menus and organize events for restaurants but began forgetting where she filed things in her computer.

"I really just kind of started struggling. Something wasn't right. I would have to bring my work home, spread it all over the floor, sort it and then try to get it done so that nobody at work would know I was having this difficulty," she said. Driving to familiar places, "I would think, 'I know where I am, but I don't know how to get out of here.'"

Two neurologists said it was just stress and anxiety, and one prescribed an antidepressant. A third finally diagnosed her with early-onset Alzheimer's disease four years ago. She was 56.

The new studies were on "subjective cognitive decline" — when people first notice they are having trouble, even if they test normal on mental ability tests:

— Richard Kryscio at the University of Kentucky led a study of 531 people, average age 73. Those who reported a change in memory or thinking abilities since their last doctor visit were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment about six to nine years later.

— Researchers from the French government's health agency and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston studied 3,861 nurses at least 70 years old who were asked about memory symptoms and periodically tested for them later. About 900 of them carried a gene that raises their risk for dementia. Among the gene carriers, worry about a single memory symptom predicted verbal memory decline on tests over the next six years. In the others without the gene, worry about three or more memory symptoms was linked to memory decline on tests.

— Rebecca Amariglio and other Harvard researchers found that complaints about memory decline matched how much sticky plaque researchers saw on brain scans of 189 people 65 and older. This confirms an earlier study of 131 people that tied memory complaints to these brain plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

— Reports of memory impairment were closely tied to a decline later in the ability to recall events in a study of 2,230 people, average age 80, by researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany.

— Petersen said that a study he and others soon will report shows that complaints about memory predicted who would later develop mild cognitive impairment — what used to be called "pre-Alzheimer's" — in a random sample of 1,500 people in the community near the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

"If you notice a change in your pattern of either yourself or a loved one, seek a health care professional's evaluation," said Heather Snyder, the Alzheimer's Association's director of medical and scientific operations. "It could be a lack of sleep or nutritional, but it may be something more than that."

But don't worry about small, common memory slips, said Dr. Reisa Sperling, director of the Alzheimer's center at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"Every time you forget someone's name, you don't need to go running to the doctor," she said.

The Alzheimer's Association lists 10 warning signs of the disease:

— Memory changes that disrupt daily life.

— Challenges in planning or solving problems.

— Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.

— Confusion with time or place.

— Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

— New problems with words in speaking or writing.

— Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

— Decreased or poor judgment.

— Withdrawal from work or social activities.

— Changes in mood and personality.

source: philstar.com

And the anti-aging vegetables are…

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Six beauty rules for 2013

Knowledge is power, I like to tell my dog. (He is the only one who truly listens to me.) For 2013, arm yourself with the knowledge that not all products or beauty rules are there to help you. While wading through the bogus and the bananas, I’ve come to the conclusion that some myths and conventions deserve to be sent to the retirement home stat, while some common sense rules are prevalent simply because they are good for you.







1. Your lady parts don’t need bleaching

Is there nothing more infuriating than corporations hawking whitening products to prey on consumers’ vulnerabilities? The latest ignoble product to hit the market is Lactacyd White Intimate, which promises to safely lighten your vagina in four weeks. When the commercial first aired, I thought: This is a joke, an elaborate hoax that involves millions of pesos poured into a marketing strategy designed to exploit our notions of beauty and perfection and sexual objectification. But, no. Based on my last tour of the supermarket, this actually exists.

I didn’t know my vagina needed whitening. But then I don’t cater to a market of mysogynistic corporate douchebags.

Even the folks at HuffPo were astounded by the debut of the product, with Sara Nelson writing: “Online literature for the product ominously informs us: ‘Sweat and excessive friction from tight clothing can darken the skin around the intimate area, causing self-consciousness, decreased confidence or inhibiting intimacy.’ So far so absurd, but in a world where cosmetics companies promise to ‘brighten’ and even tighten our vaginas, little white vulvas appear to be big business.”

So, ladies, a word of advice. Don’t fall for the hype. To paraphrase Bruno Mars: You (and your vagina) are beautiful, just the way you are.


2. Washing your face can help slow down aging

It’s a no-brainer but everyone needs to be reminded of the fact: Free radicals often cling to makeup — or even just the top layer of skin –– which can age any complexion. Cleansing skin of elements that can age is a key step. Not to mention that leaving oil buildup and leftover makeup overnight can cause clogged pores and breakouts. If you’re the kind to fall asleep in your makeup, keep a container of makeup remover tissues by the bed so you can simply wipe it off before you pass out like an ungraceful lump.

3. Sharing is not caring

The next time your friend asks to borrow your newest collection of eyeshadow, firmly but kindly tell her “Bitch, no.” Bacteria often flourishes in makeup tins and creamy formulas. Sharing them — like mascara or blush — can cause infection. Best to share products that come in share-friendly containers like pump bottles.

4. Thick makeup can age you

Is there nothing more aging than the overly-thick padded faces after a layer of heavy foundation and primer? At Milan Fashion Week, I glimpsed makeup masters like Tom Pecheux apply makeup with a light hand, informing me that for spring-summer “makeup must be dewy, fresh. Foundation doesn’t have to be heavy.” He spent roughly five to 10 minutes prepping the skin by massaging moisturizer and then skipped primer and base, lightly dotting the face with foundation where it was needed. Brushes can be heavy handed so using a damp wedge sponge to blend foundation offers a sheer finish that keeps skin young-looking and dewy.

5. Mo’ products, mo’ problems

To (mis)qoute Norman Bates: We all go a little crazy sometimes. Particularly in the beauty aisle of the supermarket or department store. For the product hag who likes to boast of a 12-or 20-step regimen: the joke’s on you.

Layering numerous products without double-checking to see if they’re compatible can often result in breakouts or irritation. Active ingredients can cancel each other out, while skin damage can occur from harsh ingredients that are incompatible. Treating one skin condition like acne, while tending another skin problem like sunburn or wrinkles at the same time can be counterintuitive, particularly if the chemicals in various formulas react negatively to the each other.

Want to avoid doubling products? Streamline your regimen. You’re more likely to keep to it, especially when traveling if it’s a workable process that involves the key trifecta: cleanse, tone, moisturize. And double check for ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, glycolic acid which shouldn’t be layered on top of the other.

6. Disinfect your cellphone

Your iPhone may be your access point to the world but it’s also a great bacteria carrier. I tend to place my phone willy nilly — from public restaurant tables to my pillow later that night. Not to mention those long phone calls detailing the world’s ills (“Why is the peplum trend still alive?”), with a bacteria-ridden gadget pressed against the face. Disinfect your phone every day with one gentle wipe of alcohol on a kleenex to keep bacteria at bay.

source: philstar.com

Care centers deny elderly the right to sex - paper

PARIS - Care facilities often deny elderly people the basic right, and one of their few remaining pleasures, to continue having sex, according to a paper published on Tuesday.

Many older people, including those with early stage dementia, enjoy sex while they live at home, but this changes once they move into residential care, said the Australian authors of a paper in the Journal of Medical Ethics.

They blame a lack of privacy, age discrimination, and fears about the legal implications should a patient be found mentally incompetent to give consent.

"The formation of relationships, physical intimacy, and the expression of sexuality are a basic human right and a normal and healthy part of ageing," wrote the authors from the Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care.

Yet most facilities do not have formal policy guidelines or staff training aimed at allowing residents to continue being sexually active.

"Privacy remains a problem, with residents often not able to lock their doors and most rooms equipped only with single beds," said the paper.

"For residents with dementia, sexuality is viewed with even greater anxiety, either being labelled 'inappropriate' or a 'challenging' behavior or as a risk to the resident."

The team acknowledged the difficulties in determining the legal threshold for informed consent in elderly patients with dementia, but argued this should not be an excuse for denying them their rights.

"It is important to remember that dementia is defined in stages, with early or mild dementia manifesting as mild forgetfulness or confusion that is often mistaken for a normal part of ageing," they wrote.

"Clearly there is a significant difference between the capabilities of a person with mild dementia and one with advanced or final-stage dementia and, therefore, a single approach to sexuality and 'people with dementia' is inappropriate."

source: interaksyon.com

People living longer but cost of aging rising faster -IMF

People worldwide are living three years longer than expected on average, pushing up the costs of aging by 50 percent, and governments and pension funds are ill prepared, the International Monetary Fund said.

Already the cost of caring for aging baby boomers is beginning to strain government budgets, particularly in advanced economies where by 2050 the elderly will match the numbers of workers almost one for one. The IMF study shows that the problem is global and that longevity is a bigger risk than thought.

"If everyone in 2050 lived just three years longer than now expected, in line with the average underestimation of longevity in the past, society would need extra resources equal to 1 to 2 percent of GDP per year," it said in a study to be released in its World Economic Outlook next week.

For private pension plans in the United States alone, an extra three years of life would add 9.0 percent to liabilities, the IMF said in urging governments and the private sector to prepare now for the risk of longer lifespans.

Demographers for many years have assumed that the lengthening of lifespans would slow in developed countries. But with continual advances in medical technology, that has not happened as acutely as expected. In emerging economies, rising standards of living and the expansion of health care also are adding to lifespans.

To give an idea of how costly this could prove, the IMF estimated that if advanced economies were to plug the shortfall in pension savings of an extra three years immediately, they would have to stash away the equivalent of 50 percent of 2010 GDP, and emerging economies would need 25 percent.

These extra costs fall on top of the doubling in total expenses that countries can expect through 2050 from an aging population. The faster countries tackle the problem, the easier it will be to handle the risk of people living longer, the IMF said.

These estimates cover only pensions. They do not account for healthcare costs, which also rise the longer someone lives.

In a December 2009 study, the MacArthur Research Network on Aging estimated that Americans are living between three and eight years longer than commonly expected, adding $3.2 trillion to the Medicare and Social Security, the government-backed healthcare plan for the elderly and pension program.

In North America and advanced Europe, lifespans increased by eight years between 1970 and 2010, and are projected to increase by an additional four years through 2050 -- that's about five weeks more per year.

At the same time old-age dependency, or the ratio of population over 65 to those in the prime working ages of 15 to 64, is expected to increase from 24 percent to 48 percent of the total population in advanced economies by 2050 -- in other words roughly one worker for every retired person.

Emerging Europe has seen lifespans grow more slowly by 1.1 years in the 40 years to 2010 but can expect longevity to rise sharply by 6.8 years in the next 40 years, the IMF said. For emerging economies, their old-age dependency ratios are expected to rise from 13 percent today to 33 percent by 2050.

Steps governments can take to manage the risk of people living longer are to raise the retirement age, increase taxes to fund public pension plans and lower benefits -- all steps most advanced economies are already considering.

They also could help the private sector by educating citizens better on how to prepare for their retirements and by promoting retirement products that protect people against the risk that they outlive their assets.

"Although longevity risk is a slow-burning issue, it increases the vulnerability of the public and the private sector to various other shocks," the IMF said in its study.

source: interaksyon.com