Fragrantly Beautiful

Makeover 911 : Vitamins and other supplements for the skin

By Kinny SalasLifestyle ColumnistInquirer

Posted date: October 12, 2006

THE MOMENT I TURNED ON MY COMPUTER to write about my exciting, new and reasonably priced beauty discovery from Malaysia, I was surprised to see 300-plus messages on my inbox. They were mainly excited reactions to my Visia Complexion Analyzer results from Belo clinic. Most of the questions are summed up by the query: “What supplements do you take for your skincare?”

The exciting Malaysian brand will have to wait till next Friday as I will have to answer the query or else my inbox will overload.

The bulk of my supplements I buy from any of Health Express’ (HE) 16 branches nationwide. Those featured here do not form my entire regimen; they are just for skin and immunity from HE. My weight maintenance and skin tablets from other brands like Belo, Herbalife, Imedeen, etc. are not included.

The in-house Health Express brand is actually the Nature’s Bounty line bought in bulk and repacked here, so the price is lower. If you become a member, you get 20-percent discount for succeeding purchases. Ask them how to go about it.

Good skin for now
The secret is tied to boosting the immune system by raising glutathione levels so your body can heal itself faster and can defend itself from free radicals.

Slight skin-whitening is merely a side effect of glutathione intake, not its main purpose. The treatment is really part of my immunity boosters that have contributed to the health of my skin, hair, brain, heart and body. Unless stated otherwise, I just take one tablet per day.

HE Time Release Radiance P980/100 tablets. A complete multivitamin that lasts up to 12 hours in the body, which is two to three times longer than others. It has extra nutrients other multivitamins lack such as gingko, ginseng, garlic, CoQ10, green tea and other trace minerals, although in very minimal amounts, so I still supplement it with extra tablets. I take it at night before sleeping as it makes me hungry when taken in the day so I tend to overeat.

HE Super Antioxidant formula P770/100 pcs. When the season changes or when I travel, I boost my immunities with this formula. It contains 25,000 iu of Vitamin A from Beta Carotene, which is good for the eyes, skin hydration, etc. It’s nontoxic.

It also contains 500 mg of Vitamin C for fighting colds, boosting collagen production, and raising glutathione levels. It also has Vitamin E d-alpha tocopherol—the purest form. (The d-alpha tocopherol is not just like most E capsules which are just synthetic, and absorption could only be as little as 1/8 of the pure form.)

Selenium skin protection works with Vitamin E; it prevents cancer and heart disease, improves thyroid function and boosts glutathione. Take it along with a meal as Vitamins A and E are fat-soluble and best absorbed with oils.

No time to eat? Ingest one tablespoon Virgin coconut oil, olive oil, or butter, then drink the tablets.

Intestinal, liver health
HE Garlic Oil 5,000 mg P420/100 tablets. Promotes intestinal health by killing bad bacteria without harming good bacteria. It kills parasites, prevents and heals colds, soothes inflammation, checks heart disease and lowers bad cholesterol.

HE Silymarin Milk Thistle 1,000 mg P520/30 tablets. This is the star product of Health Express as it is the liver’s best ally. You cannot find another brand with higher milligrams. It protects, detoxifies and regenerates the liver so our immune system can function properly and toxins are safely expelled from our system. If you take supplements like me or love drinking alcohol and eating fatty food, Silymarin is something you should drink daily for liver protection!

HE Coenzyme Q10 30 mg P1,600/100 pcs. Prevents and reverses gum disease in mild cases, gives energy, slows aging process, contributes to weight loss as it converts fat to energy, enhances endurance and aerobic performance, prevents cancer, and strengthens the heart. I take 90 mg with each meal.

Creams containing CoQ10 prevents pigmentation from age spots and heals existing ones.
HE Chromium Picolinate 200 mcg P400/100 pcs. Sugar ages your skin by clinging to and breaking down collagen fibers, causing the skin to sag and making you gain weight, too. I take two tablets of CP to lower my blood sugar, increase lean muscle mass, suppress appetite, control hunger, and reduce body fat.

Note: If you are a diabetic, consult a doctor before taking this or your blood sugar might crash and you would go on a coma!

The HE Gingko Biloba 100 mg for improved memory and circulation has gone down in price from P830 to P650.

Consult your doctor as these supplements may have harmful side effects for you. Look for the head pharmacist in Health Express branches for consultations on the products. I have been stopped by the pharmacist from buying certain supplements that would clash with my thyroid condition. Don’t hesitate to ask and don’t get mad when they prevent you from buying certain products. Check out their website at www.healthexpressph.com.

E-mail the author at kinnysalas@yahoo.com

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 12:52 PM