The Hemp Connection [Search results for collagen] 

Yesterday I introduced you to Nightly Beauty by Beauty Foods, a nutricosmetic primarily designed for improving skin health and appearance. I shared my own experience with this product while investigating its potential for PCOS. Hopefully my photos got your attention enough to want to read more! Today I'd like to share some of the science behind my thoughts.

Women with PCOS are struggling with inflammation. It hits everywhere, not just the ovaries. It causes diabetes, heart disease, depression. That much you know. It also ages skin more quickly than it should be aging. So other body tissues break down and aren't readily replaced. Your most important strategy, of course, is to reduce the inflammatory process with the kinds of choices we encourage here on this blog.

Nightly Beauty enhances that process with a few additional ingredients, BioCollagen and hyaluronic acid that aren't easy to correct with simple dietary changes.

Collagen

Collagen is one of the major components of skin. It's only been recently that it's been confirmed through research that supplementing the diet with collagen actually helps skin collagen. Right as we were preparing to post these blog entries, BioCell Technology, maker of the collagen in Nightly Beauty, distributed a press release announcing that the first human study of their collagen supplement confirmed that it actually does increase collagen levels in skin (types I and III). In their words,"results of the study showed that a majority of the participants experienced a remarkable improvement in skin texture, together with hydration, reduced scaling, and improved blood microcirculation".

Of course, since I've had the opportunity to experience this myself as I reported yesterday, I love this! However, this is just the wonderful side effect. There's something even more important for PCOS. Another inflammatory disorder many of you struggle with is arthritis. And when your joints hurt, you can't exercise. BioCell Collagen supplementation has also been proven to increase collagen type II, which is the type of collagen found in joints. They report that joint discomfort and stiffness in research subjects reduced by as much as 40% in 8 weeks.

Your faces are precious, but your quality of life matters more to me. If you can move, you can help your PCOS. If you can help your PCOS, you're more likely to feel better about yourself. This is the main reason I picked up the phone and called Jacque in the first place, I saw its potential for all of you writing and telling me that your joints hurt and no one was connecting it to your primary problem — inflammation.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is known in the beauty world as the plumper. Many women take HA supplements to plump their lips. It also pulls water into skin, helping to plump and hydrate.

But did you know, HA is also a major component of the gelatinous fluid in your eyes? It's what helps to hold fluid in the eyeball. I didn't, until I started researching Nightly Beauty. Several months prior, I'd noticed my eyes were feeling dry, despite my faithful use of fish oils and upping my fluid intake. It didn't hit me until I started reading about HA and eyes that not long after I started taking this product my dry eyes started improving. Considerably. So I started reading more. Women with PCOS actually do experience more dry eye syndrome than women who don't.

There is considerable research into ways to deliver more hyaluronic acid to eyes, including eye drops and even controlled-release contact lenses. I'm having trouble finding any research either supporting or negating hyaluronic acid supplementation as a potential route of administration…but I'm not surprised. Nutrition is often an afterthought in research problem solving.

This product has not been researched specifically for dry eyes or for PCOS, but for women who are interested in trying something that has documented benefit for other PCOS-related symptoms and who also have dry eyes, it couldn't hurt to try it. I must state that Beauty Foods is NOT making health claims about this product. I am, in this blog post, reporting my personal experience and connecting research relevant to the product for my specific intended audience, independently of them.

If you do choose to try it, and you experience benefits, please let me know. I'd like to keep a running total of results and perhaps…include it as something we research at our new institute.

If you'd like to try Nightly Beauty for yourself, it's on sale this week at http://www.jpselects.com/. It's also available at http://www.beautyfoods.com/.

Let us know what you think!

Collagen-containing nutricosmetic shown to combat aging. http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/ http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Formulation-Science/Collagen-containing-nutricosmetic-shown-to-combat-aging

Bonini S, Mantelli F, Moretti C, Lambiase A, Bonini S, Micera A. Itchy-dry eye associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 May;143(5):763-771. Epub 2007 Mar 23.

Coksuer H, Ozcura F, Oghan F, Haliloglu B, Karatas S. Effects of hyperandrogenism on tear function and tear drainage in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Reprod Med. 2011 Jan-Feb;56(1-2):65-70.

Ali M, Byrne ME. Controlled release of high molecular weight hyaluronic Acid from molecularly imprinted hydrogel contact lenses. Pharm Res. 2009 Mar;26(3):714-26. Epub 2009 Jan 21.

Liu L, Tiffany J, Dang Z, Dart JK, Watson SL, Daniels JT, Geerling G. Nourish and nurture: development of a nutrient ocular lubricant. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Jun;50(6):2932-9. Epub 2008 Dec 13.

I don't have the skin issues common to PCOS, but I have lived most of my life in Arizona, much of it before we were educated about the importance of sunscreen. Being blue-eyed and fair-skinned, I'm more than a little paranoid about what that is eventually going to mean with regards to the condition of my skin.

One night I started researching what common natural ingredients I could use to help my skin be as healthy as I could be. My three favorites so far:

1. Fish oil. I know, you're sick of hearing about it! But healthy skin is dependent on healthy fats in the diet. Fish oil is great for skin health…I've noticed in the years since I've been taking it, some prominent scarring I got from a second degree sunburn on a Costa Rican vacation, has lessened.

2. Coconut oil. Coconut oil is a mild exfoliant, and it also encourages collagen growth. If you look at many of your skin care products they already contain coconut oil. Why not go to the source? I just use the virgin coconut oil most people buy for cooking. I've noticed that it has started to fade some of my sun spots in the 4 months I've been using it…here are before and after pics.

3. Camellia oil. This is also known as green tea seed oil, and that is exactly what it is. It is especially high in EGCG, the antioxidant green tea is famous for, and EGCG helps to prevent collagen breakdown. I will be writing more about this oil in a future blog post. I was provided a bottle of this oil to experiment with in both cooking and skin care. I figured with one item promoting collagen production and the other preventing its breakdown, I had a nice combination.

I notice that in the month that I've been using camellia oil, the wrinkles I've accumulated from years of laughing and assertively expressing myself (Ha! If you know me you're thinking that due to my personality I should look like a California raisin!) It's kind of fun to look in the mirror in the morning and see some of the new changes. It also seems to stimulate blood flow (which EGCG does in other parts of the body as well), as I get a nice rosy hue to my skin almost immediately on using it. These are before and after shots after just two weeks of using Camellia oil twice a day on my skin.

Speaking of coconut oil, my friend Denise recently rescued a Sharpei mix from the local animal shelter. Phillip Bruno was scheduled to be euthanized because his mange was so horribly out of control. After learning that coconut oil can be useful for mange as well, as it is a nontoxic oil that is absorbed by the skin and helps to suffocate the responsible mites that can make this disease very tough to eradicate, she decided to try coconut oil on PB as well. Here are pictures of him on his first day being rescued and a week after being treated with various medications and coconut oil. On day one his skin was so scabbed over he couldn't even open his eyes, now he's making eyes at the camera! (I told Denise if we're not careful it may work so well it will de-Sharpei him!)

By the way, PB is so popular he has his own Facebook fan page where you can watch his progress. He's a real charmer!
If you're interested in camellia oil, here is the link where you can find it online.
I'll post updates of both myself and PB as we have them!

Over the past few years, oxygen facials have gained popularity, particularly with celebrities, as the path to more youthful skin. In a nutshell, these facials entail forcing oxygen that contains skin-healthy nutrients using compressed air.

When I first heard of these facials, working so much in the area of antioxidants, free radicals, and inflammation, which all accelerate the aging process, I couldn't help but wonder what adding all of that oxygen might have the potential to do. (There is a reason oxygen and oxidize sound so similar…oxidation is the damage done to tissues when deteriorating oxygen molecules are allowed to run loose in the body.)

My concern with this procedure has always been that since oxygen is natural, and we need it to survive, that people would buy these facials not understanding that too much oxygen may actually be harmful.

My second thought was that the force of the compressed air, applied continuously over time, may actually do more damage to fragile facial tissue, than the potential help all of the compounds it delivers, might provide.

The procedure has not been FDA-tested, so no one really knows for sure. So because there is immediate effect, and no one is going to report negative effects of such a profitable procedure unless legally required to, it's a very popular service in high-end beauty salons.

These are not inexpensive treatments, either. One California salon, on its website, advertises this service at $250 a visit. And since the recommended protocol is once a week for 6 weeks, then once a month thereafter, the first year of facials is going to cost $3600 annually.

Turns out, I wasn't the only skeptic. Apparently, the"proven effective" clinical testing often used to market these procedures refers to hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which these treatments are not (even though their marketing often says they are.)

In the words of beautymagonline.com, "why would we want to force the oxygen past the lipid bi-layers under pressure to an area where we really need to control any oxidation? As mentioned previously, oxygen as an energy providing fuel is delivered to the dermal cells via the microcirculation along with other vital nutrients. It is a critical balance. The fact that other topical oxygen bearing applications (such as hydrogen peroxide and oxygenated purified water) have lost favour with skin professionals due to free radical issues makes one wonder why less knowledgeable aestheticians and therapists have not made the connection between the similarity of the two modalities."

The FDA actually has a warning on its website stating that dispensing oxygen in medical concentrations, without a prescription, is not in FDA compliance.

That's the bad news. The good news? There is a new product on the market that delivers some of the same nutrients in a much kindler, gentler way…and it comes in chocolate cinnamon, chai, and vanilla flavors.: )

Nightly beauty by Beauty Foods, a nutricosmetic, that you can drink just before bedtime, contains BioCell Collagen, a patented combination of collagen and hyaluronic acid that has GRAS status (FDA Generally Regarded As Safe) actually has been clinically tested, and has been proven effective for enhancing skin quality. And not just for better, younger looking skin…for arthritis too! And daily use of this supplement, over a year, costs about $800 plus shipping.

So switching from oxygen facials to Nightly Beauty, alone, would save you about $2800.

Well, that is, if you don't calculate in the potential $325 you'll not be spending on Methotrexate (which has the nasty side effect of interfering with skin cell regeneration!)

Oh! And if the Alpha Calming waves and l-theanine help you to pitch your Ambien prescription as well, that is an extra ~ $230 you'll be saving.

I'm not even going to try to calculate the potential for improved insulin resistance and weight management, which happens in people who control their inflammation and stress, get adequate sleep, and consume a little bit of protein at bedtime.

All I know is, when I used the product for a month, I loved what it did for my skin, my eyes, my sleep…and I've really hated the washout period (not taking any of the product to see if the changes reverse). They did reverse, and now that I'm done being a guinea pig I'm ready to get back on the program.

Of course, we have to be sure the attorneys reading this post know we're not advising you to stop taking medications you've been prescribed. But when you look at a simple nutritional answer to a bunch of inflammation-related problems that the drug company would have you thinking is far more complicated — if it can't hurt and it may actually help, physically, mentally, and financially, why not try it and see if your physician can be convinced to write a few less scripts with your name on them?

If you'd like to try Beauty Foods for yourself, we're now offering it in our eMarket, where until Labor Day, 100% of proceeds go to our research institute, where we eventually can work to scientifically evaluate products just like this.

And that is because I'm a strawberry nut. It's my absolute favorite fruit. I learned while researching this blog post that the average American eats 156 lbs. of added sugar a year…and only 8 lbs. of strawberries in the same time period.

Of course, the fact that you all are not eating enough strawberries means there's more for ME! Ha!

Seriously, though, this fruit is a wonderfully easy food to add to any diet. Put them in your cereal. In a smoothie. On waffles or pancakes. On top of ricotta cheese, sprinkled with almonds, on a Bran Crispbread. On a salad. Freeze them to eat like candy on a hot summer night. (That last one is my favorite.)

Strawberries are high in vitamin C, which is an important antioxidant. It's also important for the production of collagen, which keeps your skin looking young. As far as antioxidants go, it's the third best source of antioxidants when compared to the same serving size of other fruits.

And…did you know…even though they contain sugar, strawberries can also help reduce blood sugar spikes caused by other foods? I wouldn't recommend eating strawberries to counter a carbohydrate binge, but you certainly may want to consider including more strawberries in your overall diet as a way to make it easier for your body to handle carbohydrates. If you're enjoying the sweetness of the berries, you are likely going to want to eat less sugary food anyway, reducing your insulin load even more.

For those of you with high cholesterol, strawberries have also been shown to decrease markers of atherosclerotic disease. The benefits these tasty fruits provide far outweigh the sugar content many of you are concerned about.

One last thing, a recent study reported that organic strawberries are actually higher in antioxidants. So it may be worth it to spend a little extra, avoid the pesticides, and get the extra metabolic boost. If you don't have access to a farmer's market, look for the Driscoll's brand in your grocery store.

Basu A, Fu DX, Wilkinson M, Simmons B, Wu M, Betts NM, Du M, Lyons TJ. Berries modify the postprandial plasma glucose response to sucrose in healthy subjects. Br J Nutr. 2010 Apr;103(8):1094-7. Epub 2009 Nov 24.

Törrönen R, Sarkkinen E, Tapola N, Hautaniemi E, Kilpi K, Niskanen L. Strawberries decrease atherosclerotic markers in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Nutr Res. 2010 Jul;30(7):462-9.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/02/science/la-sci-organic-strawberries-20100902

Did you know that vitamin C is necessary for collagen formation? And since PCOS ages skin as radically as it ages the rest of your organs, you need this vitamin more than ever?

If you've gone on a drastic low-carbohydrate diet, you may be depriving yourself of many great vitamin C sources, as they tend to come from fruits:

strawberries
lemons
papaya
kiwi fruit
cantaloupe
oranges
grapefruit
limes
raspberries
pineapple
watermelon

Whenever I make a salad, I throw in some kind of fruit and some kind of seed/nut. Turns out, if I do that and add the vinaigrette with the 2 parts vinegar/1 part oil ratio, it helps to moderate the influence of the sugar in the fruit. And some of the fruits, strawberries, for example, help to keep blood sugar from spiking as well.

Vegetables also have vitamin C:

broccoli
bell peppers
kale
cauliflower
mustard and turnip greens
brussels sprouts
chard, cabbage
spinach
snow peas
tomatoes
zucchini
asparagus
celery
lettuce
fennel
peppermint
parsley

As long as you're eating fruits and vegetables, preferably in their whole form, on a regular basis, it's not hard at all to get enough vitamin C. If you're looking for some ideas, PCOS Diva has put together a week's worth of menus focusing on vitamin C.

Your skin will thank you for it!

I asked our team for some ideas for holiday gifts that promote healthy mind, body, and spirit. If your loved one is asking for ideas, or if you're shopping for someone who is trying to make changes that benefit their health, hope these wonderful inCYSTers provide you with some inspiration! 
Julie Dillon, RD, Julie Dillon Consulting, Greensboro, NC

--cooking classes/lessons --magic wand (I purchased a cheap one and my clients and I often laugh about it yet it also stimulates great discussions)
--yoga gift certificate
--pretty journal (there are some amazing leather bound ones that make great gifts)
--comedy club tickets because laughing brings the blood sugar down and it's great stress relief;-)

Hana Feeney, MS, RD, CSSD, Nourishing Results, Tucson, AZ

Healthy cooking magazine subscriptions, such as Eating Well
A food scale, I like the ones with nutrition information for those who are into numbers
Portion plates
Spice and herb blends
Specialty teas
Massages
Acupuncture treatments
A CSA share
A community garden plot
Gift cards to running, cycling or other fitness related stores
Gift cards to natural grocery stores
Pedometers, I’m checking a new one out that has multiple features called Striiv
Healthy cookbooks

Karen Siegel, MS, RD, LAc, Nutrition and Acupuncture Clinic, Houston, TX

I just had a patient tell me she wanted to give her mother a gift certificate for acupuncture as a stocking stuffer.
I told her I have gift certificates, but to also consider an acupuncture face lift. Many acupuncturists (myself included) do facial rejuvenation treatments.

Danielle Omar, MS, RD, Food Confidence, Fairfax, VA

My Busy Woman's Guide to Stress Free Grocery Shopping is a great gift! It's on sale this month, too!: -)

Sarah Jones, RYT I offer discounted private yoga lessons.

Meri Raffetto, RD, Real Living Nutrition, Temecula, CA My recently released book, The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Dummies, is available at amazon.com

Susan Van Dyke, MD, Van Dyke Laser and Skin, Paradise Valley, AZ

Give the gift of:

Purity
Freedom from age spots and lines with Fraxel Dual (Susan Van Dyke, MD)

Self esteem
Beautiful skin with Vivite Skin Care (Heather Anderson, RN)
Sexiness
Smooth legs without shaving with LightSheer Duet (Tina Villalobos, MA, Back Office Coordinator)

Youthfulness
Facial volume in the right places with Sculptra Aesthetic (Sherry Rodgers, Office Manager)

Confidence
Fuller, seamless skin with TNS Recovery: the collagen stimulator (Cameron Vessey, Aesth and Laser Tech)

Clarity
Gorgeous Glow with Clear + Brilliant (Traci Lee, Front Office Coordinator)

Serenity
Relaxed frown muscles with Botox or Dysport (Jessica McCarthy, MA)

Knowledge
A VDLS seminar (and it is free!) (DeAnne Dunn, Aesth and Laser Tech)

Generosity
VDLS gift certificates for everyone’s favorite products and procedures (Diane Davies, Front Office)

The entire Van Dyke Laser & Skin team wishes you a glorious holiday season!!!

Monika Woolsey, MS, RD Incyst, Phoenix, AZ and Santa Monica, CA

As for me? I second all and I hope my gift buyers are reading this! One suggestion I do have for Phoenix readers, is a gift certificate to Chow Locally. It's a twist on the farmer's market concept, you can create your grocery box online and pick it up at one of three metro locations. For anyone who loves the farmer's market but whose weekends are filled with other"to-do's", it's a great option.

Many thanks to all of our readers, network members, and fans for making this such a hugely successful year for inCYST! We are so looking forward to even bigger and better things in 2012.