Anti Aging Information!

[Betticus]

Green Tea!

Okay, I've been shifting my research to the realm of anti aging stuff. In reality that means that I've been scouring the internet for every shred of good information that I can find. I've found some pretty neat stuff and a lot of just plain scary stuff.

I've come to the conclusion that the only people that really care about us as a whole are very few and far between but they are out there.

On to green tea. We all know about the healthful benefits of the antioxidants in green tea but an interesting bit is that the caffeine in it is also helpful. It helps the body to flush out damaging free radicals and since it's mostly water it also hydrates you which is also very important for all aspects of health.

My research leads me to believe that a lot of the effects of aging are due to oxidative cellular damage and age, environment or genetic predisposition to hormone deficiency.

So today I have been experimenting with some of the things I've been learning about in my kitchen. Specifically I've been making my own green tea extract and combining it with pure vitamin e oil and some of that nifty virgin coconut oil. Also a touch of aromatherapy natural herbal oils and lime and orange oil. For a zesty aroma. My first experiment was with a mortar and pestle for herb grinding. I powered some green tea and then mixed in a little warm coconut oil and some aromatic oils. Neat stuff, feels good on the skin and has a pleasant aroma.

The second little experiment I'm up to is much the same but will take a bit longer. I'm macerating a shitload of green tea bags in a mason jar with enough everclear to cover. I'm going to let it soak for two weeks in order to extract all of the green natural goodness out of the tea. Then I will make another blend of it with coconut oil after evaporating off the alcohol. I'm basically making green tea extract. It's actually pretty fun.

The use for this stuff you may ask? Skin lotion, in a nutshell. I read several articles on the causes for the observed effect of skin aging and it's not good news. They say that about ninety percent of the effects of skin aging is due to outside factors like sunlight exposure and exposure to toxins in the environment. We've poisoned our environment and now have to live with the consequences. Anyhow, green tea and vitamin e is supposed to be really good for you skin as it allows the new skin that is developing to come in nice and healthy while preserving the old skin to it's best extent.

I've been getting some faint stretch marks on my biceps and shoulders near the armpit lately due to exercise so I want to try it out on those areas for a few months as well as a spot on my leg that has some old burst capillaries or tiny spider veins if you will. The coconut oil's blend of short and medium chain triglycerides is supposed to be able to penetrate into skin and hair due to the size of the molecule and in this case I'm thinking that it is a good medium to also keep this green tea and vitamin e in my skin with. I'll let everyone know how this goes.

I'm also drinking as much green tea as I can stand each day as it has it's greatest benefit inside your body. I'm not up to Marquis' gallon a day yet but I'll get there. I did find out that sugar is an oxidative antagonist in the body and contributes greatly to free radical production in our cells so I'm gonna try to completely cut out all sugars and refined carbs as well as all artifical sweetners just since I can't trust the man to really tell me if they are safe. Unsweetened green tea by the gallon should be an interesting transition to make but hey, I quit smoking right!

Also, an observation. If I'm making green tea (hot) to drink it ends up a light golden color most of the time. The same green tea being extracted comes out this pretty, vibrant green color. They also recommend that you exfoliate with an alpha hydroxy skin product before applying the green tea stuff as it will remove dead skin cells that would otherwise be blocking the application of stuff to the new skin underneath and the developing skin cells below that. And a uva + uvb sunblock which is out now.

They have a brand that lets you tan while blocking uva and uvb radiation.


Okay, let's get anyone that is interested in health and aging stuff to hop on in here and put in their two cents or let us know if you got anything worthwhile out of this thread. And I'll try to post links to references as I go along. Right now it's late and I'm getting all tired.

Oh yeah, they say to quit smoking immediately and to shy away from second hand smoke if you want to live a healthy life without becoming a human vegetable in your old age.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Good to see you are researching this area....a lot of men still consider it women's business. You are onto good methods.....could perhaps add some B vitamins, Gingko Biloba (helps the brain as well, and that I have proven while studying), magnesium and zinc. I did see an interesting product you have over there which is the recipe of an old lady who has been making it all her life and now has had to expand her business to cope. Can't remember the name of it, but you will likely track it through Dr.Phil's site. His sister in law had been badly burned on her face and arms in an acid attack and as an experiment she has used this product on one arm....the difference in the scaring is remarkable. It has softened the scar tissue and begun to repair the skin and make the scar less visible.

Catalina

 

[Betticus]

Okay, now I have to go and look up Dr. Phil's site and see if I can find this stuff.

I had an odd thought as I was making the first application of my goo, actually a couple. I thought as I was oiling my spot on the leg with the broken capillaries that I should be taking a daily photograph of the areas so I can actually see if there is a real benefit or just a mental one. As I was oiling the little stretch marks on my biceps I also thought "I'm oiling my biceps" and it struck me as an awfully vain thing to do.

I found this link as well on diets, thought I'd share. Be warned that it is a novella.

http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/rdiet_zoo.htm

 

[Betticus]

Green tea extract protects against sunburn

CLEVELAND, OHIO. Animal experiments have shown that extracts from green tea are highly effective in protecting against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University now report that topically applied green tea extracts also are remarkably effective in protecting humans. Six volunteers were exposed to simulated solar radiation or pure UVA radiation 30 minutes after having had a solution of green tea extract applied to a 5 cm by 5 cm area on the back. The radiation duration was twice that previously established as being required to cause significant redness of the skin. The extent of redness (sunburn, erythema) was measured on protected and unprotected skin 24, 48 and 72 hours after the solar radiation exposure. Excellent protection was observed with a 2.5 per cent solution of extract (in alcohol and water) and complete protection against sunburn was evident with a 10 per cent solution. The number of sunburn cells created by the irradiation was reduced by 66 per cent in the extract-protected skin areas and DNA damage (a precursor to skin cancer) was cut in half.
Immune system function is known to be negatively affected by exposure to sunlight. It is believed that this, at least in part, is due to the destruction of Langerhans cells in the skin. Green tea extracts were also found to be quite effective in preventing this effect. Solar radiation destroyed 85 per cent of pre-radiation cells in unprotected skin, but only 36 per cent in skin protected with green tea extract. It was also found to protect against damaging UVA radiation. The researchers point out that the extract acts in a manner quite different from that of sunscreens. They conclude that green tea extracts may prove to be a valuable new alternative for protection from UV radiation. NOTE: This study was partially funded by Estee Lauder, a cosmetic manufacturer.
Elmets, Craig A., et al. Cutaneous photoprotection from ultraviolet injury by green tea polyphenols. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 44, March 2001, pp. 425-32 [40 references]

 

[graceanne]

You know, the best way to stop growing old is to die . . .

Here's a site that might help though.

http://webk.ask.com/redir?bpg=http:...p://www.recipegoldmine.com/health/health.html

 

[Betticus]

You know, the best way to not get your cookies taken away is by being nice. You sassy little thing!

 

[FurryFury]

I read an article today that said coming at least twice a week has all kinds of benefits including looking younger and living longer.

*GRINS*

Fury

 

[graceanne]

You know, the best way to not get your cookies taken away is by being nice. You sassy little thing!

Thank you! And - I don't have any cookies, I ate them all! (I always do when I'm gonna be a smart ass - that way you can't take them away. )

 

[graceanne]

I read an article today that said coming at least twice a week has all kinds of benefits including looking younger and living longer.

*GRINS*

Fury

So if you come more than twice a week does that mean you're gonna live forever?

 

[FurryFury]

So if you come more than twice a week does that mean you're gonna live forever?

We could conduct studies...but it wasn't mentioned in the article.



Fury

 

[graceanne]

We could conduct studies...but it wasn't mentioned in the article.



Fury

Obviously who ever did that article wasn't a perv, or he'd have asked the researchers.

 

[FurryFury]

Obviously who ever did that article wasn't a perv, or he'd have asked the researchers.

Poor lad, he probably thought twice a week sounded like enough.

LMAO!

Fury

 

[Killishandra]

Man, I wish I could get away from second-hand smoke. I work 32 hours a week in a smokey environment, though. And some of my friends are smokers, to boot. I've never smoked a cigarette in my whole life, but I wonder if someday I'll come down with lung cancer or some shit like that. Damn, that'll suck.

 

[graceanne]

Man, I wish I could get away from second-hand smoke. I work 32 hours a week in a smokey environment, though. And some of my friends are smokers, to boot. I've never smoked a cigarette in my whole life, but I wonder if someday I'll come down with lung cancer or some shit like that. Damn, that'll suck.

I know what you mean. Until two years after I married K my mom was a two and half packs a day smoker - and she never opened windows. K would come over to get me for dates and the house would be grey with smoke. I was so used to it that I never noticed. Then I married K, who's a lot more considerate - he always makes sure that his smoke is not in my face, and since we've had kids he smokes outside - but I'm still around a smoker. I just know that my mom or K is gonna get away lung cancer free, but not me.

 

[Betticus]

Or you could drink lots of good green tea to help ward off the cancer.

 

[pinkstarfish]

*makes myself some green tea*

 

[pinkstarfish]

Is it better than cocoa as far as antioxidants go?

 

[OceanGoddess]

Nice thread Betticus.

I see a fabulous chiropractor who is very much into all the things you mentioned. He prescribes herbal and vitamin/mineral supplement regimes for certain illnesses or deficiencies. The results he gets are amazing!

He's also constantly telling me to quit sugar. So far, so bad with that one, although I have to confess my body feels better without it. But my soul, it needs chocolate. lol At least he has me eating the organic dark chocolate, which he insists is far better than anything else if I must continue the chocolate.

I have several friends who also go to him, and they have been cured of carpel tunnel (two friends) and some chronic back problems (two others.)

He believe that whole food supplements are the way to go as far as vitamins are concerned. I'm going to be starting those. I don't know a lot about them yet, just that they are essentially compacted and concentrated whole foods rather than chemical powders or what have you.

Betticus, I also find I feel much better generally when I shop at the health food store for all my food and thus primarily eat organic foods. Those pesticides can't be good for the body.

And as for coming twice a week keeping you healthy or whatever the claim was, that's ridiculous! That paltry number of orgasms will not keep anyone healthy, no no no! You need at least 5-7 a week, don't you all agree?

 

[OceanGoddess]

Pinkstarfish, may I join your tea party? Love your AV, by the way.

(Oh and I found organic green teas at the hfs and they taste much better than the non-organic, imo.)

 

[caela]

And as for coming twice a week keeping you healthy or whatever the claim was, that's ridiculous! That paltry number of orgasms will not keep anyone healthy, no no no! You need at least 5-7 a week, don't you all agree?

Absolutly! One a day at a bare minimum. More when possible.

Now you know why the title says greedy.

 

[Betticus]

I just came across this site. It looks interesting so I'm posting it. I just haven't scoured it yet.

http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/

They all do say the same kind of thing about caloric restriction and fasting adding years onto your life. Kind of interesting.

 

[graceanne]

I just came across this site. It looks interesting so I'm posting it. I just haven't scoured it yet.

http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/

They all do say the same kind of thing about caloric restriction and fasting adding years onto your life. Kind of interesting.

So by not eating anything I'm adding years to my life? SHIT. Guess I'll eat then.

 

[Betticus]

So by not eating anything I'm adding years to my life? SHIT. Guess I'll eat then.

They did stress that you also have to have optimum nutrition while being calorie deficient.

 

[graceanne]

They did stress that you also have to have optimum nutrition while being calorie deficient.

Oh, good. So not eating will eventually kill me.

 

[Betticus]

Oh, good. So not eating will eventually kill me.

Nope, with that naughty attitude you will live forever.

I did read an article that said a possible antagonist for digestive system problems is heavy metal toxicity and that chelation therapy could work wonders.