Rewind the clock with these anti-aging supplements

Hong Kong is hard on your skin. While we may be grateful for the many hours of summer sunshine – the UV here reaches a sky-high 11. Six – nearly half that – is considered high. 11 is extreme.

Air pollution also contributes to the aging process, speeding up the appearance of fine lines. Another factor? The work hard, play hard mentality this city embodies.

Your aging process is influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Stress, pollution and sun are all examples of extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors include collagen loss, which begins in your 20s, cell senescence and gut dysbiosis.

As the largest and most visible organ of our body, skin is the hallmark of aging we tend to hone in on. Your skin communicates what’s happening internally – whether your body is in balance, or if something is asking for attention.

Cosmetic companies want you to focus on what you put on the external surface – rather than focusing on what you nourish your body with.

Putting the emphasis on nutrition means your brain, organs and tissues are nurtured too. All parts of you deserve care – not just your skin.

So – what’s the holistic approach for supporting the aging process?

Replenishing collagen levels

Collagen is a protein which is integral to the structure of your skin, hair, bones, ligaments, organs and other connective tissues.

Around your mid 20s, you start to lose collagen, and once you enter your 30s, you lose approximately 1% of your collagen per year. Around age 50, and during perimenopause and menopause, collagen loss begins to accelerate.

Smoking, sun exposure, genetics, alcohol use and high levels of sugar in your diet can accelerate collagen loss.

The good news? Oral supplementation of collagen is highly effective for boosting skin health.

Studies show that hydrolysed collagen (also known as collagen peptides) significantly increases skin hydration and elasticity.

Marine collagen is absorbed the best, and has the highest potency, and research shows that the effects are visible after as little as 90 days.

Oral collagen supplementation has been shown to improve skin elasticity by 38.1% after only 3 months.

As well as supporting skin health, collagen is also integral to joint, bone and muscle health. Studies show that collagen peptides help increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, supporting bone formation.

Bone broth has received rave reviews online for its anti-aging and skin health benefits, with influencers naming its collagen content as a key highlight – but studies show that bone broth doesn’t contain a high enough concentration of amino acids (collagen precursors) when compared to collagen supplements to convey benefits.

Our naturopaths recommend Whole Body Collagen by Designs for Health, which features science-backed collagen peptides; Fortigel® - proven in research to reduce joint pain; Fortibone® - proven to improve bone density ;and Verisol® - proven in clinical studies to significantly improve skin elasticity, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while boosting skin hydration. 

Supporting senescent cells

Cellular senescence is the primary cause of skin aging. Senescent cells stop dividing, but they don’t die. Instead, they linger in the body and release chemicals which harm surrounding cells and tissues, causing oxidative stress.

You have senescent cells from birth, and they play an important role in wound healing among other things. However, between the ages of 40 and 60, senescent cells begin to accumulate, causing harm in the body.

The mitochondria in senescent cells can’t produce ATP efficiently – the molecule which all cells use for energy. Creatine helps support ATP production, rebalancing the energy deficit in senescent cells, and possibly slowing the process of cell senescence.

In fact, research has shown that when skin cells underwent induced senescence, creatine was able to block the pathways that cause senescence, while inhibiting the release of harmful chemicals released by senescent cells.

As an antioxidant, creatine helps reduce the oxidative stress caused by cell senescence, which is linked to the aging of the skin and all your organs.

Creatine also provides benefits beyond just the skin, as it helps protect brain neurons. Supplementation has been shown as effective in boosting brain creatine.

We recommend Creatine Bioactive by Natroceutics, a pure formula, featuring a superior form of creatine called Creavitalis® which is favoured by scientists in their research for its quality and efficacy. 

Supporting NAD+, which declines with age

NAD+ is an electron, described by the scientists who wrote ‘Age-related NAD+ decline’ as ‘fundamental to life’. Studies suggest that NAD+ levels in the skin decrease by ‘at least 50% over the course of adult aging’.

It’s hypothesized that your body requires more NAD+ to repair DNA as you age, which leads to its depletion. It’s currently unclear whether your body makes less NAD+ as you age, leading to low levels or if the demand is simply higher.

Physical and mental stress cause DNA damage, through mechanisms like oxidative stress, and insufficient levels of NAD+ have been linked to a number of chronic illnesses.

NMN (known formally as nicotinamide mononucleotide) is a precursor for NAD+ and studies show it is a safe and effective way to raise levels of NAD+. It’s been shown that NMN supplementation improves neuron function, supporting better brain health as you age.

Studies have shown that NMN doesn’t just increase NAD+, it also increases levels of collagen in artificial membranes – reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging.

Shin-ichiro Imai, a leading scientist researching NAD+ has said that NMN has the ability to turn back the clock on human metabolism, rewinding your metabolic age by between 10 and 20 years.

Our practitioners recommend NMN Advanced by Natroceutics, which features advanced liposomal delivery for optimal absorption.

Boosting digestion and detox

Your gut and liver are intimately connected – and both implicated in the aging process.

Your gut supports detox, eliminating toxins through bowel movements. Your liver secretes bile which is integral to digestion. They have a bi-directional relationship, sending messages to one another and the health of one informs the health of the other.

Your liver is your primary detox organ – but here in Hong Kong, it’s likely working overtime to cope with the high levels of pollution, heavy metals, mould and stress. Oxidative stress, which is caused by an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS): antioxidants, leads to DNA damage, which goes on to cause accelerated aging.

As we age, we produce fewer antioxidants to combat ROS. Namely, glutathione, the master antioxidant, leaving us with higher levels of oxidative stress.

Gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of bad bacteria) increases your levels of oxidative stress, and can impact your liver, brain, skin and more.

Dysbiosis has been named by scientists as a marker of aging. Research shows that older populations have less diversity in their gut. And likewise, poor gut health will age you – on the inside as well as the outside. Gut dysbiosis is linked to the process of cell senescence, and imbalances in your gut microbiome affect many bodily systems, leading to age-related illness.
Antioxidant rich nutrients, glutathione and its precursors like sulforaphane help combat oxidative stress to support healthy aging. Probiotics, prebiotics and polyphenols have been proven to restore good gut bacteria, simultaneously improving liver and brain health.

To support digestion and detox in one dose, our practitioners recommend EssentiaGreens and Reds by Designs for Health. This formula is rich in antioxidants, polyphenols and sulforaphane. It also contains prebiotics to help fuel good gut bacteria.

In summary

There are many intrinsic factors for aging which may seem initially beyond our control, but our nutritional choices can help support healthy aging, of both our skin and internal organs.

These naturopath-backed recommendations are supported by a growing body of research into aging and its major contributors. Together, they create a strong foundation for supporting your skin – and your body as you age.

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