Nutricosmetics: Beauty support group

BEAUTY PILLS: TO DRINK OR NOT TO DRINK?
(published in the newspaper "Hour")
 
In Japan, 90% of women accept them, in the USA – 80%. In Russia, the demand for pills that promise to make our hair thick, skin smooth, and nails strong is also growing, but they continue to argue about them.
 
Support GroupThe fact that we lack vitamins and trace elements is, unfortunately, an immutable fact.

Scientists, doctors, practicing nutritionists and antiage medicine specialists do not get tired of making arguments.

New technologies used in the production of products have led to the fact that the content of useful substances in them has decreased.

Even with the most balanced diet, we cannot be sure of the quality of the products. In addition, we have to limit ourselves by maintaining a normal weight. And the less we eat, the greater the nutritional deficiency we experience.

After 35 years, the synthesis of the most important vitamins for appearance – group B and K - slows down, the ability to absorb nutrients from food decreases.

According to the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Russians lack vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, A, E, folic acid, beta-carotene, macro- and microelements (calcium, iron, iodine, fluorine, zinc, selenium, etc.) all year round.

We see the consequences of the deficit ourselves: dry skin, fine wrinkles, hair losing its former splendor... So let's put an end to this issue right away: it is necessary to supplement even the healthiest diet. And for the sake of beauty, and for the sake of health. Such supplements take on the role of a "support group" and help us to preserve what is given by nature for longer.

Inside or outside?

But how to make up for the lack of the right substances? Listen to the manufacturers of cosmetics, so no vitamins and dietary supplements are needed. Every novelty, whether it's a cream, shampoo or salon treatment, promises elastic skin, getting rid of wrinkles, silky hair and strong nails. All these possibilities are confirmed by research and practical experience. So why also swallow pills?

"Cosmetics are necessary, but it is not enough, because the active substances from creams and masks are not able to penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, hair follicles and nail growth zones," says our expert Elena Fuflygina. The necessary vitamins and trace elements cannot be applied to the skin in the concentration that is needed to get the effect: irritation, dermatitis may occur. The same vitamin C is very difficult to introduce into external preparations – it is very unstable and collapses upon contact with air.

"Comparing the effectiveness of dietary supplements and cosmetics is inappropriate, as well as comparing antibacterial ointments and antibiotics. Both external and internal effects on the body are important, they do not replace each other," concludes scientific consultant Ekaterina Turubara.

Vitamin to vitamin discord

Elena, 35 years old:
"I always get alarmed when I see the inscription "dietary supplement". I've heard a lot of bad things about dietary supplements. I prefer to take vitamin and mineral complexes, among them there are those for skin, hair and nails."

Indeed, some supplements, especially for weight loss, have become infamous mainly because of the content of psychotropic substances. However, nutricosmetics from large manufacturers is a completely different story. It is sold in pharmacies, you can always get acquainted with the certificate. Data on studies of these drugs are publicly available.

Of course, you can just take a vitamin and mineral complex. But nutricosmetic means will give a greater effect, because their composition is richer. Multivitamins do not contain flavonoids, amino acids, phytoestrogens, substances that stimulate the synthesis of collagen and elastin, and maintain the water balance of the skin...

"To improve the appearance, it is better to take not individual vitamins, but extracts and extracts from natural products. The nutrients in them are balanced by nature," says antiage medicine specialist Zhenera Sahakyan. – For example, it is known that beta-carotene can provoke the development of cancer in smokers, but no one has heard about the carcinogenic effect of carrots. Apparently, because there is not one vitamin A, but a whole group of carotenoids."

Transit passengers

Olga, 38 years old:
"I don't believe in the effectiveness of beauty pills. I tried to take it, honestly passed the recommended course, but the hair did not become thicker, the nails are just as weak, and only a moisturizer saves from dry skin."

One of the reasons for disappointment is that women do not know about the state of their body. Not all problems with appearance are caused by a deficiency of vitamins and trace elements. Hair loss can be caused by hormonal, autoimmune diseases and latent infections. Brittle nails or dry skin on the elbows are signs of a thyroid gland malfunction. Unhealthy complexion, rashes and acne are the result of gastritis or colitis. In such cases, nutricosmetics, of course, will not help: you need to treat the main problem. But a vitamin complex or supplement can serve as a kind of marker: it didn't help – check your health.

Another possible reason for inefficiency: in order for the components to work, they must reach the goal. And if they are simply not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract? Then the "support group" follows in orderly rows to the exit.

• With problems with the pancreas, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E are not absorbed first of all.
• If the secretion of gastric juice is reduced, B vitamins, in particular B12, are not retained in the body, the lack of which leads to anemia.
• With the syndrome of "leaky intestines", when the permeability of the mucous membrane is disturbed, vitamins generally "slip" by, but larger molecules of toxins, instead of being excreted, are absorbed back. This condition can be triggered by various reasons – from exposure to alcohol, nicotine and caffeine to the bacterium Helicobacter pilory.

Do you want to be sure of the effectiveness of beauty pills? Check the condition of the digestive tract.

Maiden 's memoryAnd yet, most often, the low effectiveness of vitamins and dietary supplements is due to the fact that we simply forget to take them.

After all, most plant components have a cumulative effect. Do not rush to pass judgment on yourself "nutricosmetics is not for me, because I am basically not able to remember about taking pills every day." Skipping a day or two is still better than not taking supplements at all – so you will get at least some benefit. After all, there are quite a few ways to maintain memory. Here are some of them.

• Buy an electronic pillbox that gives a signal at the appointed time.
• Set a reminder in your computer or mobile phone.
• Fix taking pills for some action - for example, when setting the table, put them next to cutlery.
• Have two or three packs: one at home, another in your purse, the third on the office desk.
• Join forces with a friend by agreeing to remind each other about pills.
• Note the fact of taking supplements in a wall or desktop calendar.

To each his own

"The composition of dietary supplements is focused on the average indicators of vitamin deficiency. But everyone has their own nuances," recalls Elena Fuflygina. – Therefore, if you are attentive to your health, it is better to undergo a full medical examination. Modern techniques allow you to accurately determine the deficiency of which vitamins and trace elements you are experiencing, and to choose nutricosmetics individually."

You can find out the mineral balance by analyzing the hair for trace elements in antiage clinics and aesthetic medicine clinics. Practice shows that this approach brings the maximum benefit.

In recent years, science has gone even further. Now the peculiarities of the assimilation of some vitamins (so far it is only folic acid) can be found out by genetic analysis. 40% of Europeans, including Russians, lack an enzyme that converts folic acid (vitamin B9) into an active form. Such people can overeat with it – there will be no benefit. Therefore, it is important to find a drug with a digestible form of vitamin.

"Folic acid deficiency is dangerous not only for pregnant women. With a lack of vitamins B9, B6 and B12, homocysteine accumulates in the body – a substance toxic to cells. This in turn increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and even cancer. So if homocysteine is elevated in the biochemical blood test, it is worth checking whether your body is able to absorb folic acid in principle," says Zhenera Sahakyan.

The same sandwich eaten for breakfast will have different metabolic pathways for different people. These differences are studied by nutrigenomics, a young science of nutrition by genes.

Where to lay the strawThere are no dangerous substances in modern certified nutricosmetics products – neither genetically modified products, nor narcotic and psychotropic components, nor hormones and antibiotics.

Sometimes they are registered as a vitamin (pharmaceutical) drug, sometimes as a dietary supplement. "As a medicine, drugs are registered in which vitamins and minerals are contained in a therapeutic (therapeutic) dose,– explains nutritionist Anna Belousova. – If the dosage is preventive, then the drug is registered as a bioactive additive." You can check how a particular tool is registered on the Rospotrebnadzor website (www.rospotrebnadzor.ru ).

Almost all beauty pills are allowed to be used from the age of 18. But nevertheless, you should be careful.

• Dietary supplements with ginseng or phytoestrogens should not be taken by young girls. Such drugs are recommended after 30 years.
• Supplements with vitamin A or beta-carotene are better to drink in winter if your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation. In summer, they increase sensitivity to UV rays.
• Do not try to enhance the effect of nutricosmetics with other vitamin complexes. There is a high probability of overdose. If you want to solve several problems with your appearance at the same time, trust a doctor, ideally a nutritionist.
• Dietary supplements should not be consumed all year round. They are usually recommended by strictly defined courses.
• Individual dietary supplements can cause individual intolerance. In this case, just stop taking it.
• Supplements with artichoke extract can be taken only if there are no gallstones. This substance has a choleretic effect and can provoke blockage of the bile ducts.

Conclusions of "Health"Vitamin supplementation is the dictate of time.

• But in order for it to be effective, you need to monitor your health.
• Nutricosmetics is not an alternative to creams and salon procedures. This is only part of the program of self-care and prevention of premature aging.
• The best dietary supplements are those that are prescribed to you in accordance with your state of health and genetic characteristics.

History of nutricosmeticsThe first popular beauty supplement was "tanning pills", which appeared in the middle of the XX century: drink a pill – and get a bronze skin tone for a week.

But it soon turned out that the xanthoxanthine contained in them adversely affects the internal organs. Therefore, tanning pills were banned in most countries.

The second round of popularity of dietary supplements was generated by the research of biochemist Linus Pauling. He tried to prove that vitamin C can prolong life, kill germs, treat heart disease and even destroy cancer cells. The townsfolk immediately ran to buy "magic" vitamins, and at the same time purchased other drugs, in which ascorbic acid was mentioned.

At the end of the last century, the booms of Herbalife and fat burners based on pineapple extract flared up and subsided. Today, researchers believe, the future belongs to resveratrol – the new "elixir of youth". It has already been introduced into many creams and, most likely, will soon be released in the form of tablets.

Nutribesafety techniqueNutricosmetics, like any vitamin complexes, should be taken only during or immediately after a meal.

• On an empty stomach, they will not be able to fully assimilate.
• If you forgot to take a pill, do not take two in the morning, because they contain a daily dose of vitamins and trace elements.
• If you interrupted the course – for example, forgot to take pills on a business trip – you can and should finish the course immediately after returning.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru06.05.2009