Agencies
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Agencies | Published : June 4, 2014 10:34 AM IST
The researchers teased out the mechanism behind metformin's age-slowing effects: the drug causes an increase in the number of toxic oxygen molecules released in the cell and this, surprisingly, increases cell robustness and longevity in the long term. Mitochondria - the energy factories in cells - generate tiny electric currents to provide the body's cells with energy. Highly reactive oxygen molecules are produced as a by-product of this process. Wouter De Haes explained that as long as the amount of harmful oxygen molecules released in the cell remains small, it has a positive long-term effect on the cell. Cells use the reactive oxygen particles to their advantage before they can do any damage.
Metformin causes a slight increase in the number of harmful oxygen molecules. We found that this makes cells stronger and extends their healthy lifespan, he added. The researchers studied the drug's mechanism in the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, a species which has a lifespan of only three weeks, and found that as the worms age, they get smaller, wrinkle up and become less mobile. But worms which were treated with metformin showed very limited size loss and no wrinkling, said Wouter De Haes. The study was reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Read: 10 tips to age healthy)
How to treat ageing skin?
Here's a simple remedy to treat ageing skin:
Start your morning by cleansing your face and neck area. You can apply a pack made of turmeric, honey, milk cream (malai) and water. Once it dries, you can wash your face and apply a good sunscreen. Once a week, you can also apply a banana face pack. In the night, apply aloe vera gel and keep it overnight.
For the age spots, you can apply lemon juice on it which has bleaching properties and will help lighten the spots. But make sure you apply it only on the spots and not the entire face to avoid dryness. If your skin still feels dry, mix a bit of egg white with lemon juice before you apply it. Keep it on for 15 minutes and then wash with plain water.
In order to moisturise your skin intensely, you can make use of coconut milk. It not only moisturises but hydrates and keeps the skin looking supple and young. You can buy coconut milk directly from the market or squeeze it out by grating coconut. Apply it on the face and neck and let it stay for a good 20 minutes before you wash your face with lukewarm water.
You may also like to read:
For more articles on anti-ageing, visit our anti-ageing section.Follo
