Posted in Health and Beauty, Lifestyle
These days it seems that anti-aging antioxidants are in everything from serums and night creams to shampoo and cellulite lotions. And that’s great. But how about preventing the signs of aging from the inside out? I recently sat down with my personal chef, The Next Food Network Star’s Elizabeth Howes, owner of Saffron Lane boutique catering, to put together a few anti-aging appetizers for summertime entertaining.
The antioxidant substances in foods that contain beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium, and Vitamins A, C, and E can dramatically boost skin health, providing that much sought after youthful glow naturally.
Beta-carotene – protects the skin cell membranes and stimulates the growth of new skin cells. Sources: carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and cantaloupe.
Lutein – increases skin hydration, elasticity, and skin lipid concentration. Sources: carrots, squash and other orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, and green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, arugula and watercress.
Lycopene – reduces skin wrinkling, redness, and inflammation. Sources: tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, persimmons, apricots.
Selenium – provides a natural glow to skin and has been linked to a 60% reduction in skin cancer. Sources: watercress, seafood, eggs, chicken.
Vitamin A – known to rejuvenate the skin and improve overall structure, tone, and quality. Sources: peaches, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots, broccoli.
Vitamin C – very important in collagen production and overall skin health. Sources: tomatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries, green peppers.
Vitamin E – vital in protecting skin cells from UV light, pollution, and other elements that produce cell damaging free radicals. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sources: whole grains, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables.
Here is one of Elizabeth’s low-calorie, but utterly delicious, appetizer recipes to kick off that alluring glow, while enjoying the last cherished days of summer with good friends. Stay tuned for more great anti-aging recipes!
Organic Peach, Cucumber & Golden Tomato Gazpacho
Yield: Makes 8-10 appetizer servings | active time: 20 minutes | total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups pitted and chopped organic peaches
- 2 cups chopped ripe organic tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped organic English cucumber
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons white wine or champagne vinegar
- 1 handful organic basil, torn
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup filtered water
Preparation
In a food processor, place all ingredients except the water and pulse until mixture is coarsely chopped. Add water and pulse a couple times again until the gazpacho is blended but still a little chunky. Place in a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let refrigerate for 20-25 minutes, or until well chilled. Serve immediately in small glasses or bowls. Garnish with diced peach and a cucumber round, if desired.
Antioxidant Profile
This is an antioxidant powerhouse loaded with vitamin A and C from tomatoes and peaches and a special bioflavonoid found in cucumbers. It also contains a great deal of lycopene and allium compounds. This is a true collagen producer (and also low in calories), so don’t be shy about seconds!
For more information about Elizabeth and Saffron Lane, please visit www.saffronlane.com.
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted by Dr. Carolyn Chang San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted in Lifestyle
I am excited to report that Vogue Magazine has asked me to be one of their Vogue 100. This is a group of 100 women around the country selected by Vogue to serve as editors, tastemakers, and ambassadors in the world of fashion and beauty. Stay tuned for the inside scoop – I’ll keep you posted!
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted by Dr. Carolyn Chang San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted in Lifestyle, Plastic Surgery
We can’t help but read the gossip magazines, or at least flip through them – our secret guilty pleasure. And even the ones we don’t read, we sneak a peek at when leaving the grocery checkout counter…
So what’s the latest gossip coming from the celebrity plastic surgery world? Victoria Beckham’s breast reduction! Rumor has it that she is so intent to be on the cover of Vogue magazine that she had her breasts downsized to increase her odds of landing the cover. Vogue’s editor, Anna Wintour, said she would consider putting Victoria on the cover, but told her she had to get her breasts looking better. Beckham recently had her surgery in France to downgrade from a 34DD cup to a B cup.
Victoria Beckham prior to her capsulectomy
So what’s the real scoop?
Victoria likely had a procedure called a capsulectomy, or a removal of the scar tissue surrounding the implants, with an implant exchanged to a smaller size. Victoria’s breasts were not only larger before, but they were also encapsulated, or hardened. This hardening occurs when the natural scar tissue that forms around any breast implant in the body thickens and contracts. The result is that the breasts look high, round, and unnatural. We’ve definitely seen plenty of evidence of this phenomenon in the pages of US Weekly.
Capsular contracture can occur in various degrees, from mild to severe. Mild encapsulation may be evident only as a slight firmness in the feeling of the implants, with minimal cosmetic consequence. More severe degrees can result in distortion of the breasts, and even pain in some cases. Long term untreated severe encapsulation is associated with a higher rate of implant rupture, and mammography in these patients is less reliable. For these health reasons, in addition to the undesirable cosmetic consequences, many patients may want to replace their encapsulated implants.
Luckily, most breast implants do not encapsulate to a severe degree, and there are various preventative measures that one can take, such as breast implant massage. Your surgeon should provide you with instruction as to how to best prevent encapsulation.
In the meantime, Victoria looks great. Her breasts are much more natural looking. I think they complement her figure nicely. Ms. Wintour should take note – only time will tell…
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted by Dr. Carolyn Chang San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted in Lifestyle, Plastic Surgery
I thought that it was interesting that MSNBC was reporting that some surgeons and patients are now citing increased interest in surgery among people wanting to look younger and “fresher” for the ever-competitive job market. This is a trend that I too am seeing in my office.
• The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a recent survey showing that American women were looking at cosmetic surgery to get a competitive edge in the workplace.
• About 13 percent of the 756 women surveyed, between the ages of 18 and 64, say they would consider having a cosmetic medical procedure to make them more confident and more competitive in the job market.
• About 3 percent said they already had a cosmetic procedure to increase their perceived value in the workplace, and 73 percent said they believed that appearance and youthful looks play a part in getting hired, a promotion, or getting new clients, particularly in these challenging economic times.
You can read the article in its entirety at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30112465/
Copyright 2009 Reuters.
Dr. Carolyn Chang, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
Posted by Dr. Carolyn Chang San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
