Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Pomegranates for anti aging and younger looking skin



It seems as if there's more evidence every day regarding the health benefits of the pomegranate fruit. This ancient fruit has been found to have a variety of beneficial health effects secondary to its high level of antioxidants which can help to prevent cell damage. The many health benefits of the amazing pomegranate fruit include a role in preventing heart disease and slowing down the growth of prostate cancer. Now you can add positive effects on skin aging to the list of pomegranate's amazing properties.
What are pomegranate's skin benefits purported to be? Several recent studies have shown pomegranate's ability to improve wound healing, resulting in faster repair of skin cuts and scrapes. It also appears to play a positive role in the repair of skin damaged due to sun exposure and aging. Extracts of pomegranate are thought to exert their positive effects on skin aging by extending the life of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are the components that give strength and support to the skin. When collagen and elastin fibers break down, the skin develops laxity, resulting in the appearance of wrinkles and jowls. Fortunately, pomegranate's skin benefits may help to retard this process.

One recent study showed that pomegranate seed oil stimulated the production of collagen, resulting in a mild thickening of the epidermis and dermis of the skin. It also appeared to prevent the breakdown of collagen fibers which are the harbingers of skin aging. This suggests that pomegranate oil may boost the ability of skin to repair itself by regenerating the supporting collagen structure of the skin.

Other studies have shown that pomegranate seed extract applied to the skin may reduce the formation of some forms of skin cancer, suggesting that its antioxidant capabilities may be responsible for some of pomegranate's skin benefits.

Although you can buy creams that have pomegranate extract in them, they tend to be rather expensive. A cheaper alternative would be to use a blender to make a thick paste from the seeds of the pomegranate which could be applied to the face. This would allow you to get pomegranate's skin benefits at a high concentration without purchasing an overpriced cream that probably has very small levels of the active ingredient. You can also use a cotton ball to apply pomegranate juice to your face after cleansing. Pomegranate juice and the whole fruit can be purchased at many organic and natural food markets.

Could pomegranate be a panacea for aging? Further studies will be needed to know how much of a role this fruit will play in maintaining younger looking skin, but preliminary studies look compelling.

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