The Magic Formula For Beautiful Skin

The Magic Formula For Beautiful Skin

People often ask me the following question: "Can nutritional supplements improve and protect the skin texture?"
The answer is -- Absolutely!

The good new is, there is a "magic formula" for beautiful skin. No matter your skin type or age, nutritional supplements are an integral part of an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, which includes the anti-inflammatory food choices, topical anti-inflammatories, plenty of water, moderate exercise and strategies for stress reduction. This therapeutic regimen will work wonders on everyone.

Beautiful skin is achieved from the inside out, and this is why nutritional supplements are important. To ensure you get all of the necessary supplements, while avoiding a cupboard overflowing with different bottles of supplements, I have created little packets containing all the necessary nutrients --NV Perricone MD Total Skin and Body.

Two of the more important and often overlooked supplements are DMAE and alpha lipoic acid. I recommend they be taken both as an oral supplement and applied to the skin in topical lotions. Further, eating foods that have high levels of DMAE (such as Alaskan salmon, sardines, anchovies) will give you the benefit of a "three-tiered approach" to DMAE consumption (diet, supplements, and topicals). Unfortunately, alpha lipoic acid is not found in high levels in food, so supplementation and topical application are musts.

DMAE -- The Inside Story

DMAE -- dimethylaminoethanol -- is a nutritional substance that is a powerful anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizer. DMAE is a precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that causes muscles to contract and tighten under the skin. Therefore it can help maintain muscle tone in the face and body as we age.

DMAE is also available as a nutritional supplement. I recommend taking DMAE as a supplement, and increasing your intake of salmon, sardines and anchovies. When possible, choose wild Alaskan salmon (fresh, frozen or canned). It is superior to farm-raised salmon in many ways, including its greater health and beauty benefits.

When DMAE is applied directly to the skin in lotion form, the effects are almost immediately visible (check out the NV Perricone MD Alpha Lipoic Acid Face Firming Activator). An added benefit is that the effects are also cumulative; studies conducted over time show continued improvement throughout weeks, months and even up to a year of use. DMAE lotion helps the skin to look firmer, the appearance of both fine and deep lines is reduced, and best of all, there is a wonderful (and very visible) increase in overall radiance and evenness of skin tone and color.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

As mentioned, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is not found in high levels in food, so supplementation is a must. Why? Because ALA is one of the most powerful anti-aging anti-inflammatories known to science, and has been called the "universal antioxidant." This is because it is both fat- and water-soluble. ALA readily penetrates the cell plasma membrane that surrounds key parts of the cell such as the mitochondria and the nucleus. Since it is also water-soluble, it can get into the cytosol, the watery interior of the cell. Thanks to its ability to penetrate the inside and the outside of the cell, ALA brings protection wherever it is needed. Further, it is 400 times stronger than Vitamins E and C combined (both of which are renowned for their antioxidant properties).

Alpha lipoic acid is also sometimes called the "metabolic antioxidant," thanks to its role in helping to convert food to energy. The body contains small amounts of ALA inside the mitochondria. It exists as part of an energy-producing enzyme system called the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which helps convert food to energy (cellular metabolism). It is important to note that lipoic acid remains locked within this system and does not float freely in the cell.

Dual Benefits

However, if you take alpha lipoic acid in capsule form, or apply it as a topical lotion, it performs both as an antioxidant and as an aid to cellular metabolism.

When we apply products containing alpha lipoic acid such as NV Perricone MD Alpha Lipoic Acid Face Firming Activator, it will help restore the skin to its youthful appearance, thanks to its ability to increase radiance and help diminish the appearance of fine lines, large pores.

Follow the guidelines presented in The Perricone Prescription, making sure your diet is anti-inflammatory, nutritious and balanced, with the proper amounts of protein, fats and carbohydrates. Include a well-rounded, targeted anti-inflammatory supplement program every day, and pamper your skin with rich, anti-oxidant rich topical anti-inflammatories.

You will discover that this simple program can work wonders for your skin, ensuring that when you look at your reflection in the mirror each morning you will see radiant, clear and glowing skin -- the perfect reflection of your inner health and beauty.