The Sun Shows A Brighter Side

 The New York Times posted an article Aging of Eyes Is Blamed for Range of Health Woes, discussing a brighter side of the sun.  We see the many signs of aging, but one that may go unnoticed is the aging of the eye.  The gradual yellowing of the lens along with the pupil narrowing occurs with age and disturbs the body's circadian rhythm.  Circadian rhythms are "the cyclical hormonal and physiological processes that rally the body in the morning to tackle the day's demands and slow it down at night, allowing the body to rest and repair."  The internal clock relies on light in order to function properly.  Individuals such as shift workers possess circadian rhythms that are out of sync and therefore become greater at risk for a number of ailments, such as: insomnia, heart disease, and cancer.  

Looking back at the relation with age, as the eyes age, less and less sunlight is able to get through the lens and is not able to reach the keys cells in the retina that regulates the body's circadian rhythm, it's internal clock.  

Photoreceptive cells in the retina absorb sunlight and transmit messages to the brain, the suprachiasmatic nucleus.  This part of the brain controls the internal clock and adjusts the body to the environment by initiating the release of melatonin in the evening and cortisol in the morning.  Dr. Mainster and Dr. Turner estimated that by age 45 the photoreceptors receive 50% of the light needed to fully stimulate the circadian system.  When the age of 75 hits it dips down to a mere 17%.

These doctors believe that with age, people should make an effort to expose themselves to bright sunlight or bright indoor lighting.  Sun seems to be harmful to the skin, but for the eyes, the sun shows a brighter side.               

"Home Remedies for Bed Sores"

Bed sores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers is another unpleasant discomfort that comes along with aging.  Bed sores are caused by continuous pressure on skin, most commonly around areas with a prominent bone or cartilage structure (an example hips or the tailbone).  A first sign of a bed sore is reddening of the skin, swelling, or hardening of tissue.  The extensiveness pressure of the skin restricts the flow of blood, which in turn restricts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.  The smaller blood vessels can create a clot and a sore red patch will appear on that area of the skin.  If this sore spot of the skin is not attended to, the skin can crack open and develop into a painful wound.   

Prevention is the key to bed sores.  Two bed sore remedies that can be used in hopes for bed sores to not appear are the consumption of vitamin C and zinc.  Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory and is necessary for the health of one's skin and blood vessels.  In a study it was shown that individuals who had significantly lower levels of vitamin C suffered from bed sores then those with vitamin C in their blood.  As for supporting the immune system and promoting the process of wound healing, zinc can help.  Adding zinc to your diet can increase the preventing of bed sores.    

                           http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-bed-sores.html

12 Natural Treatments for Wrinkles

Wrinkles are visible creases in the skin that show yet another sign that one is getting older. Collagen is a protein within skin that allows the skin to retain fluids to support the smooth, supple skin we wish would last forever.  This collagen- filled elastic tissue is lost with age and when damaged cause wrinkles to become more prominent.  Wrinkling is a natural occurrence in the aging process, however there are actions that can be taken in order to slow down the appearance of wrinkles.  
Before revealing the twelve natural treatments for wrinkles, one should know what can cause damage to the skin forming this "enemy."  Exposure to ultraviolet light and free radicals can accelerate the process.  Overexposure to sunlight, cigarette smoke, poor diet and nutrition, poor muscle tone, stress, lack of proper skin care, heredity, and even habitual facial expressions can lead to the appearance of wrinkles.
To soften existing wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming, skin creams, which contain herbal antioxidants that stop the free-radical processes from destroying collagen along with these natural treatments could do the trick. 
  
12 Natural Treatments for Wrinkles:
     (From the article- Natural Treatment for Wrinkles)
1. Never intentionally expose your skin to midday sun.
       -Between 9am and 3pm always wear sunscreen.  Other times during the day do not,                       so your skin can be exposed to Vitamin D.  
2.  Take 100-300 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily.  
       -This supplement can act as an antioxidant. 
3. Take 1,000 mg of chondroitin sulfate once a day.
           -This will stimulate the growth of skin cells and speed up the metabolic processes.
4. Drink eight glasses of water a day-hydration. 
5. Use natural oils rather than harsh soaps and cold creams. 
6. Avoid alcohol-based toning solutions-drying of skin.
7. Exercise regularly. 
8. Avoid smoking.
9. Take vitamin C- Acerola Tablets. 
10. Aloe Gel can rejuvenate skin.
11. Calendula Cream. 
          -Stimulates growth of skin cells  and protects from infections.
12. Comfrey Allantoin cream stops reddening and irritation of skin around wrinkles.


                        http://www.homemademedicine.com/natural-treatment-wrinkles.html

Another Sign of Aging-Gray Hair!

"Why Does Hair Turn Gray"


Ever wonder why your mom, dad, and grandparents have gray, white, or silver hair?  This is just another natural part of aging.  Each hair is made up of two parts: a shaft, and a root.  The shaft is the colored part that is seen by the human eye.  The root is the bottom part, which holds the hair anchored under the scalp.  Each root is surrounded by a tube of tissue located under the skin, known as the hair follicle.  Hair follicles contain a certain number of pigment cells, which continue to produce a chemical, melanin.  Melanin provides each shaft with color whether it be red, brown, blonde, etc.  
You are probably familiar with the fact that every human being has a different skin complexion.  Melanin is the same chemical that makes skin color fair or dark.  As we age, the pigment cells in our hair gradually die, which causes a more transparent color.  Eventually ones hair color will completely turn gray due to the the small amount of pigment cells not being able to produce as much melanin. 
You may ponder on the fact that younger individuals have gray hair.  This is due to one's genes.  If your parents started to get gray hair at an early age, most likely you will start around that same age.