1. The Age-Defying Protein
Elastin is a protein that is found in all parts of the human body, including skin cells, arteries, organs and lungs. Elastin works hand in hand with collagen, creating a balanced pliability of the body's tissues. While elastin gives tissue it's elastic quality, collagen keeps things rigid enough to maintain their shape and function. In this manner our faces, intestines and lungs can expand and stretch and then return to their normal position and shape.
2. Created by the Young, Coveted by the Old
The dual benefits of collagen and elastin are often boasted as keeping the skin young and wrinkle-free; however, the body stops producing elastin around the age of 12 or 13. As we age, factors such as hormonal changes, stress, UV rays, free radicals introduced into the body through food, chemicals, air pollution cigarette smoke and more can damage the limited elastin fibers within our body. For this reason, wrinkles begin to form, breathing and blood circulation becomes more difficult, digestion is inhibited and the body efficiency of the body in general is reduced.
3. An Elastin-Saving Lifestyle
You can protect the precious elastin stores in your body with a few lifestyle guidelines. Eating a healthy diet that excludes processed foods with chemical additives, hydrogenated oils and refined sugars and flours can greatly reduce your intake of free radicals. Additionally, eating healthy essential oils and polyunsaturated oils as well as fresh fruits and vegetables increases your intake of antioxidants, which help to eliminate free radicals in the body before they cause damage to cellular tissue. Drinking plenty of water and getting lots of exercise will help to eliminate toxins and protect elastin. Finally, wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 everyday to protect your skin from the elastin damaging UV-rays of the sun.
4. Getting a Little Elastin Boost
There are a number of anti-aging skin care products on the market which contain both collagen and elastin. These products, when used religiously, can help to restore some of the strength and elasticity of the skin and slow the appearance of aging. However, these creams do not protect you from further collagen and elastin loss and do not replace your body's natural elastin. Therefore, it is extremely important that you protect your skin and body with lifestyle in addition to topical creams.
5. The Future of Elastin
Scientic studies are promising in the fight against premature aging and elastin loss. Scientists are currently exploring gene therapy options which can help to protect and restore elastin stores in the body. A breakthrough in elastin gene therapy would not only mean amazing advances in beauty and skin care, but could also help to improve digestive disorders, elderly breathing difficulties, weak arteries and more.
