Now a new reason to love C: this powerful antioxidant not only wards off free radical damage, a big contributor to the aging process, but helps your own body build collagen. Collagen fibers exist in the lower skin, or the dermis. They help keep your skin tight and firm. Does putting collagen on your skin increase your body's own collagen levels? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Collagen makes skin soft, but it is powerless to help build collagen fibers in your skin. The only way to ensure that you are maximizing your collagen supply is to make sure your body has all the ingredients it needs to produce collagen. Prime ingredient: Vitamin C. Recently new and different forms of Vitamin C have been discovered. These forms are mineral ascorbates, and these are indeed very special because they have all of the benefits of traditional C (such as ascorbic acid) but some improved features as well. The mineral ascorbates are created by combining several ascorbic acid molecules together in a certain way to form one large molecule. Also added to the link are molecules of minerals, such as magnesium or calcium. The advantages of linking these molecules together are meaningful. Traditional forms of Vitamin C such as ascorbic acid are quickly absorbed through the intestinal tract. Afterwards, excess quantities are rapidly excreted from the system. This presents a problem for those of us interested in aging, because our skin, the largest organ of the body, may never obtain enough C to look its very best. Studies reflect that aproxiamtely 73% of ascorbic acid ingested gets removed from the body in less than 24 hours. In contrast, only 5% of the mineral ascorbates are eliminated during the same time period. That means more C circulating throughout the body to do its work. Another positive attribute of mineral ascorbates is their lower acidity. Ascorbid acid has a pH of 2.4 and is in fact a potent acid. Even buffered forms of this supplement do not always solve the problem. Mineral ascorbates, however, are pH neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline. It is therefore the most agreeable form, particularly for those with sensitive digestive systems. A special added bonus is in store for those of us who take these mineral ascorbates, as well. Since mineral ascorbates contain ascorbic acid molecules that are bonded (chelated) to mineral molecules, we get more of these vital minerals into our bodies. Further, some of these minerals are better absorbed into the body in the presence of Vitamin C, such as calcium, and therefore we get a more available form of calcium than we might get if we were just taking calcium alone. In using calcium-bonded vitamin C, you maximize the effects of both nutrients. If you are serious about your skin, you can intensify the effects of Vitamin C by both internal and external supplementation. This way you can optimize not just your skin health, but your overall health! |
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