As the skin ages, cells begin to divide more slowly. Repeated free-radical damage, caused mainly by UV exposure but also occurring as the result of normal cell function, causes skin to become stressed. As a result, this supportive network of collagen and elastin becomes compromised. In the skin, vitamin C plays an essential part in decreasing the damage associated with free radicals, as well as aiding in the synthesis of collagen and in defending the supportive network that gives skin its definition and fullness.
Who would want wrinkles on their faces, dry and sagging skin, and joint aches? I don't, do you? If only you could run after time, it's as plain as the nose on my face that you would race against it just to have that feeling of youthfulness and strength you once had. But, it's never too late. These signs of aging can be prevented by slowing down their development. It's so easy! Take that ridiculous thought of racing against time off of your mind. Just the thought of it makes me feel more aged! All you need to do is understand why these things occur. Its collagen or the lack of it that is responsible for the deterioration of your skin
The depletion of collagen in our skin leads to the formation of wrinkles and the occurrence of other signs of aging. If this happens, collagen function simply defeats its purpose. Another collagen function is that it can reduce oxidative damage to joints, hence, stimulate major decrease in joint pain, and swelling.
Aging causes collagen to break down, leading to thinner, less elastic skin, weaker connective tissues, wrinkles, and other visible and non-visible signs of age. Not only does the collagen break down, but the body actually loses the ability to make more. This process begins at about the age of twenty five. As the skin sags and wrinkles, hair becomes thinner and joints stiffen as connective tissues lose elasticity and wear down.
Science has proven that beginning at twenty five we begin to lose collagen at the rate of 1.5% a year which means that by age sixty we have lost over 50% of the collagen we had as a 25 year old! No wonder we feel old, we have lost more than half of the substance that protects our synovial fluids and cartilage from degenerating.
The good news is that many of these causes of aging can be modified by eating foods loaded with antioxidants, you can minimize damage caused by free radicals.
