Understanding the Antiaging Benefits of Nutricosmetics

The latest trends in beauty, health and wellness sectors are giving rise to a new realm of possibilities by fusing anti - aging cosmeceuticals with nutraceuticals and resulting in nutricosmetics. In contrast with the cosmetics definition, which is based on the topical nature of the ingredient, nutricosmetics is ingestible and hence synonymous with beauty foods, beauty supplements and beauty from within. I will briefly examine anti-aging benefits of nutricosmetics.

Categories

Nutricosmetics:  These  ingestible products  are  developed  and  marketed specifically  for  beauty  purposes. Nutricosmetics first gained popularity in Asia and Europe. Both traditional and Eastern medicines have used nutrition as a way to promote  optimal  health  and  beauty. According  to  Euromonitor,  sales  of nutricosmetics will reach $209 million by 2017. Trends that are fueling this growth are aging population, environmental factors, consumer awareness, aversion to invasive
procedures and the rise of holistic spa-yoga centers.

Phytocompounds: Eating certain foods dramatically improves the appearance of your skin, hair and nails. These compounds undergo chemical changes in body to promote good health. They stimulate DNA repair, reduce inflammation and increase collagen production. They are classified into terpenes (carotenes, limonoids and saponin).

Organosulfur compounds: Organosulfur compounds are found in onions, garlic, cabbage, brussels sprouts and broccoli (which contain  indoles,  thiosulfonates, isothiocyanates)  and phenols such as
polyphenols and isoflavones. 1  All have a strong odor due to the presence of sulfur.

Green foods have chlorophyll, isothiocynates, lutein and zeaxanthin antioxidants. They may reduce the risk of macular degeneration that causes blindness.

Yellow foods such as carrots, squash, tomatoes and oranges contain terpenes. They help heal wounds  and are powerful antioxidants.

Orange foods have beta carotene, which improves immunity and oral health. Purple foods such as  blueberries, cherries, beets, purple grapes, eggplants, plums, purple figs, black currant and purple cabbage are nature's best weapon in the battle against aging and prevent collagen breakdown.

Red foods contain powerful anti-aging active lycopene and ellagic acid, which help reduce DNA damage.

White foods contain allicin and quercetin. They improve immune function. Cauliflower contains cancer-fighting sulforphane.

Efficacy Claims

Beauty foods, supplements and the science backing them are still evolving along with the nutricosmetic category. Regulators want to ensure that the products are backed by science and make claims that are not misleading. For this reason, uncertainty and ambiguity still clouds this category.

In the US, regulatory policy is shared between Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). For example, recently the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureau, recommended Irwin  Naturals'  dietary  supplement, discontinue the claim: "Doctor Developed Clear Pure Complexion."

According to NAD, the claim was not supported. Elsewhere, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim panel recently rejected claims made by Inneov. The panel found that clinical studies were conducted on the individual ingredients, but not on the entire final product formula.

Japan remains the biggest nutraceutical market, and its FOSHU (Foods For Specified Health Issues) regulatory laws are very strict.Therefore it is very common to find product labels only list "Nike Air Penny 1