The desire to maintain the fountain of youth transcends geographic, racial, ethnic, and even generational boundaries. Everyone wants to stay young; as aging comes not only with the visible physical decline, but a host of age-related diseases as well.
Women in particular, often strive to maintain the allure of youthful looking skin. And why not? It’s not a surprise that 85% of botox patients are women. But botox doesn’t work for everyone. Thankfully, science is revealing safer methods that can produce similar, if not better, results without the discomfort of injections or surgery. Spermidine supplements are emerging as one of the best options in the market.
Let’s look at how they work and if they are truly worth it at the end of the day.
What is Spermidine?
Spermidine is a molecule produced naturally in the body’s cells. Chemically it is known as a polyamine. Its main role is to support metabolism and maintain homeostasis, the state of balance within cells. It also regulates how cells are made and destroyed. This is an important “housekeeping” role that has an impact on the aging process.
Spermidine is abundant in foods such as mushrooms, soybeans, aged cheese, spinach, and nuts. Normally, the body should be able to maintain good levels of spermidine from a highly nutritious diet. However, the production of spermidine in the body declines as we age. Lower levels of spermidine means that the production of new cells is interfered with. Hence, spermidine supplements may prove beneficial at this stage.
The Connection Between Spermidine and Skin Aging
The skin, as the largest organ in the body, contains the highest number of cells. The skin needs healthy cells in order to remain healthy. Healthy skin requires adequate hydration, healthy production of collagen for elasticity, regular cell turnover, and protection from environmental factors such as harsh UV rays.
The biggest role that spermidine plays in maintaining youthful looking skin has to do with a process known as autophagy. Autophagy is a natural process in which cells break down and remove damaged components. This acts like a self cleansing system that gets rid of unhealthy cells to make room for the production of new and healthy ones. Autophagy has been linked to longevity and the prevention of age related diseases.
Aging comes with a decline in the production of spermidine. This also means that the process of autophagy is interfered with. Consequently, cell renewal in the skin slows down and the effects of wear and tear become more visible. This is when the skin starts to get dry, dull, and wrinkled.
Fortunately, studies have found that spermidine supplements enhance autophagy. This allows the skin to get rid of damaged cells and create healthy ones. Spermidine supplements also reduce oxidative stress. The result of long term spermidine supplementation is a dashing youthful appearance of the skin!
How Does Spermidine Promote Youthful Skin?
Spermidine plays the following roles in promoting youthful looking skin:
- It eliminates damaged cells and supports the production of new ones: spermidine stimulates autophagy, the self cleansing system within cells. This allows the skin to get rid of all the damaged components. Within a short time the skin rejuvenates and gets its bounce back!
- It enhances collagen production: collagen is what gives skin its elasticity. Spermidine has been shown to support the production of collagen, this helps to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles.
- It hydrates the skin and prevents it from drying and cracking: spermidine maintains a protective barrier on the skin. This ensures that the skin is well hydrated and doesn’t lose water unnecessarily. It also protects the skin from damage by ultraviolet rays from the sun.
- It prevents inflammation: spermidine has strong anti-inflammatory properties. This protects the skin from the long term effects of chronic inflammation. The result is a youthful skin appearance.
How Much Spermidine Should I Take?
There is no recommended dosage for Spermidine, as far as beauty is concerned. A safe dosage would be anywhere between 1 to 6 milligrams per day. Doses as low as 0.9mg/day have been found to be effective in improving brain function in the elderly. Higher doses of up to 15mg/day have also been well tolerated in studies. Most spermidine supplements in the market offer doses of about 1-2 milligrams per day.
How Can You Incorporate Spermidine into Your Anti-Aging Routine?
The first step is to incorporate spermidine-rich foods in your diet. Wheat germ is a rich source of spermidine and can be easily added to smoothies, cereals, or yogurt. Other good options include aged cheese, mushrooms, soybeans, and legumes.
Spermidine supplements come in handy as we age and our body’s ability to create spermidine declines. Early studies suggest these supplements can help women maintain youthful looking skin by boosting autophagy and hence reducing signs of aging.
Does Spermidine Cause Any Side Effects?
Fortunately, most people are able to tolerate spermidine without experiencing any side effects, even with doses up to 15mg/day. However, should you experience any worrying side effects from spermidine it is advisable to put it on hold and talk to your pharmacist.
Conclusion
Spermidine supplements are a promising option for women seeking to maintain youthful skin naturally. They work by enhancing autophagy which enhances cell renewal and collagen production. Spermidine levels drop as we age. Fortunately, science has proven that supplementation can restore the glory of youth to women who dare to experiment with the best spermidine supplements!
