B Vitamin hype: With ambitions of fighting acne, rosacea and tumors, what can this vitamin really do for you?Written by Naweko San-Joyz
Vitamin B is no small time player in high stakes game of beauty. Just take case of pellagra for example. Pellagra is a life threatening skin disease characterized by dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis that results from a niacin (B vitamin) deficiency. In early 20th century in United States pellagra plagued thousands of people in South and Midwest. The condition was thought to be contagious until investigators discovered underlying nutritional deficiency. Even today, importance of vitamin B is cultivating new roles in world of beauty. Dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD forecasts topical vitamin B and its multiple derivatives as key ingredients in future anti-aging products. For example, one derivative of B vitamin niacin, nicotinamide, has been shown to improve ability of epidermis, upper-most layer of skin, to retain moisture. One study reports that topical nicotinamide, when applied to skin for six days reveals softer, smoother skin with less dryness and flakiness, and a reduction of fine lines. Even more promising is its anti-cancer influences. For instance, when applied to mouse skin, topical nicotinamide produced a 70 percent decrease in ultraviolet-induced skin cancer. Niacinamide, another byproduct of vitamin B, serves as an effective skin-lightening agent. In one clinical investigation, patients with hyperpigmentation applied a moisturizer containing five percent niacinamide. Four weeks later, computer analysis of hyperpigmentation and skin color revealed a decrease in hyperpigmentation along with an increase in skin lightness. Topical niacinamide also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a potential treatment for acne, rosacea and any blistering-type disease.
| | What You Need to Succeed in Loosing WeightWritten by Jackie Stanley
What You Need to Succeed at Losing WeightConsider this scenario. On July 1, Jane and Jill both resolve to eat well and exercise more. Jane makes her resolution with excitement, eagerness and wholehearted anticipation or reaching her goal. Jill’s resolution, on other hand, is made with halfhearted commitment and detachment. When she talks about possibility of losing weight and living a healthier life, Jane is passionate and exuberant, while Jill responds to questions about her weight management goals with only lukewarm interest. On December 31, 2004, assuming their attitudes don’t change during year, which of these two women is most likely to reach weight loss and management goals with only lukewarm interest. Enthusiasm is critical to success of any endeavor, but this is especially true in area of weight loss and management. Think about it. When we are feeling down and out, that is when we are most likely to overeat and least likely to exercise. Our passionate desire to achieve a goal is what will drive us to get up at 5:00 am and exercise before going to work or to pass on a second helping of scalloped potatoes.
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