Nutrition, Metabolism and Ageing

| August 1, 2012 | Reply

Bringing science to the SAI approach to Dietetics

We at SAI are evolving the anti-ageing practice to include dietetics and promote preventative ageing through as many avenues as possible. The latest articles we are reading are promoting diet as a contributing factor to not only poor health but visible ageing too.

It is with this in mind that SAI, through the Dietician and Execucare, are working with Metagenics to treat metabolic syndrome and its hidden ugly ageing truths.

In a nutshell

Many elements contribute to premature visible ageing. More and more research is being done into the effects poor diet, metabolic syndrome and the subsequent increased risk of diabetes and cholesterol has on your visible age.

At SAI we have always had an understanding how poor lifestyle and eating habits can have a direct influence on your skin but to what level we have never fully understood, until now:

The science behind Nutritional ageing

We all know that collagen, elastic and hyaluronic acid (HA) are responsible for youthful, healthy and elasticised skin. Sufficient levels of all of these molecules greatly reduce the risk of visible ageing but unfortunately we are losing these molecules all the time – most simply to chronological age, but also to molecular damage through nutrition and metabolism.

Poor nutrition can lead to also hasten ageing and we call it Glucose driven ageing. Glucose is an essential cellular fuel but scientists have found that prolonged exposure to glucose can lead cellular degradation, and in particular the molecules of collagen, elastin and HA are most affected. This process is called Glycation.

What is Glycation?

Glycation is the process whereby sugars enter the circulation system and attach themselves to amino groups of tissue protein, such as collagen. Once attached they rearrange the cellular structure of the cell and it becomes brittle and loses elasticity. This obviously leads to skin ageing especially in areas such as skin thinning, pigmentation problems and loss of skin elasticity. The incredible thing is this process can be controlled by correct nutrition.

The other side of Nutritional Health

Glycation is getting all the press at the moment, but correct nutrition can improve your glycation levels and treat metabolic syndrome. What is metabolic syndrome, you ask?

Metabolic syndrome is the group of factors that increase your risk of cardiac disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. Some of these same factors add to glycation levels and cause premature ageing.
Soon Metabolic Syndrome will be the new buzz phrase, but remember you heard it here first.

Dr Clark and his team at SAI are taking suitable steps to promote healthy living, nutrition within the aesthetic portfolio already offered at SAI. if you would like to learn more, please make an appointment to visit Dr Clark by calling 011 883 3166

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