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Stacey Cannone

Apr 07
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Collagen Good for Joint Pain

Collagen – any good for joint pain?

By Health No Comments

Joint pain and discomfort can be debilitating for many and reducing pain as well as repairing joints is often a priority to help ease the symptoms day-to-day. After all, pain caused by Osteoarthritis, where the cartilage breaks down, grinding down the joints as the bones rub together, is certainly uncomfortable.  Until around the age of 30, this cartilage regenerates quickly but after this age, this process slows down, so the cartilage layer becomes thinner between the joints. Furthermore, strenuous high impact exercising, excess weight and even a sedentary lifestyle exacerbate this degeneration.

Replacing collagen can be effective to repair and replace cartilage, helping to maintain the structure of the joint and reduce pain. However, eating the collagen found in foods such as meat bones, shellfish or chicken skin may not end up part of this repair process. Not only is the type of collagen is important but also the form the collagen is consumed in.

Collagen comes in varying forms and whilst supplementing with Collagen is considered effective to improve skin health; boosting the elasticity and improving appearance, the recommended collagen here is type 1.

When it comes to joint health, type 2 collagen is recommended. It also needs to by hydrolysed, in other words in a processed powder form mixed with water. This is more bio-available and therefore more easily absorbed by the body. Once it has been absorbed, it will act as building blocks in the cells to produce new collagen fibres.

When choosing a supplement, maximize the benefits of a collagen supplement by choosing a supplement that also contains vitamin C, which is needed to produce collagen, as well a hyaluronic acid to boost hydration in the cells.

Without doubt, taking a collagen supplement alongside dietary and lifestyle changes is ultimately the most effective approach to reduce collagen damage and therefore joint pain, as you age. Key considerations include:

  • A healthy balanced diet, high in brightly coloured vegetables and fruits providing plenty of nutrients and antioxidants
  • Very little processed or refined foods, including sugar
  • An active lifestyle
  • Minimal stress from high impact exercise
Mar 14
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Managing Stress Age Management

Managing Stress is Key for Age Management

By Health No Comments

We all know that we need to manage stress to ensure our health. Whether it’s managing blood pressure, ensuring a strong immune system or averting anxiety and depression, increased stress is guaranteed to have an adverse effect.

However, stress also plays a key role in ageing and the appearance of your skin can worsen as stress accelerates the ageing process. Managing your stress on a daily basis will affect how your skin looks and feels.

The body’s stress response does not differ greatly according the type of stress. For example, the body reacts in the same way to stress caused as a result of a life-threatening situation, which is commonly known as the “fight or flight” response, as it does to the stress due to work arguments or deadlines or even being stuck in a traffic jam. In all cases, the stress response will release the stress hormone Cortisol, which in turn activates the release of glucose into the blood stream. This will be used for energy to “flee”. In doing so, it also ensures that essential nutrients are directed to the vital organs, prioritizing the heart, brain and lungs to assist with this.

When there is ongoing lifestyle stress, in other words, chronic stress, this is happening much of the time and the skin is one of the first areas to show the effects. Deprived of essential nutrients over time, the skin’s renewal process slows down, resulting in a dull and lack-lustre appearance. Stress and cortisol release trigger an inflammatory response, producing free radicals that lead to cell damage and the breakdown of collagen. This affects the skin’s cell integrity reducing firmness, plumpness and elasticity as well as its ability to lock in moisture, leaving it more prone to the development of fine lines, wrinkles and dryness. This also makes the skin more vulnerable to the effects of the environment, including the harmful effects of pollution and sun damage.

Managing stress is key to effective age management and lifestyle measures including taking the time to relax, enjoy hobbies and pastimes, exercise and good quality sleep will go along way to reduce stress. However, addressing your diet alongside managing these lifestyle factors is crucial.

Key dietary considerations include:

  • Increasing nutrient status by eating up 7-10 portions of vegetables and fruits per day (max 2 fruits). Choosing dark green leafy vegetables as well as other brightly coloured choices such as broccoli, tomatoes, berries and oranges will ensure adequate vitamins, minerals and in particular antioxidants to combat the effects of stress. Try this
  • Avoid severe blood sugar fluctuations by reducing refined sugars, fizzy drinks, cakes, sweets, biscuits. These energising bliss balls  are an ideal slow releasing snack
  • Ensuring adequate hydration; around 8 glasses per day
  • Eating fibre rich foods such as oats, beans and pulses to remove harmful toxins Try this delicious Butterbean and Tomato Bruschetta to boost your fibre intake
  • Increasing the intake of antioxidants with a supplement to help to combat the harmful effects of the oxidative stress.
Mar 01
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Connection Vitamin C and Collagen

The connection between Vitamin C & Collagen

By Health, Skin No Comments

Vitamin C and Collagen are two words that often go hand in hand but the link between the two is not always apparent. After all Vitamin C is supposedly an important vitamin to stave of colds and bugs and collagen is something you find in a bone broth. Well, both of these are correct, but there’s another area where these two nutrients plays a crucial role; skin health, particularly when it comes to age management.

One effect of maturing skin is the loss of collagen (and elastin); two fibrous proteins that help form connective tissue in the skin. As we age, these proteins tend to lose their strength and become less elastic, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles. This is why younger skin will appear more plump, taut and wrinkle free, whereas as we age, our skin integrity decreases.

The key to staving off the effects of ageing skin is to increase the production of collagen and effectively replace the natural loss and to do this, we need vitamin C. Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is found in high levels in the outer layers of the skin and is crucial for the collagen production process and without it, the body cannot make replace this collagen. With age, there is a decline in the levels of vitamin C found in these layers of the skin.

So how do we increase the levels of both vitamin C and collagen in the body?

In the first instance, eating foods that are rich in vitamin C will provide good levels. As vitamin C is water soluble, it cannot be stored in the body, so it is important to eat foods rich in vitamin C throughout the day. Foods rich in vitamin C include

  • Tomatoes
  • Kiwi
  • Oranges
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower

A good quality vitamin C supplement can also be considered in addition to good dietary sources.

Although collagen can be consumed by making a slow cooked bone broth, using left over bones from a meal or obtained from the butcher, a good quality collagen supplement is perhaps a more convenient form and will not only provide adequate levels to replenish the collagen loss but will also provide it in a bio-available form that the body “recognises” and can use effectively. It is important to choose a brand that contains pre-digested collagen, otherwise it will not survive the digestive process and will not reach the outer layers of the skin where it is needed.

Whilst intake of vitamin C and collagen will go a long way to ensuring healthy skin as we age, it is also important to consider other factors to prevent further skin damage.

  • Applying sunscreen lotion generously will help protect against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays which also contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin
  • Smoking can also cause sagging skin and wrinkles but encouraging premature breakdown of collagen
  • Some nutrients such as Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) can also slow down the breakdown of collagen. ALA is found in foods such as broccoli, spinach and yeast extract but can also be taken in supplement form on its own or as part of a good quality collagen supplement.
Feb 08
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Great Skin Great Health

Why great skin mirrors inner health

By Health, Skin No Comments

Skin is the largest organ in the body and crucially the only organ we have ongoing visual access to. Your skin is a visible reflection of your health and an important indicator of your inner health, in particular, your gut health.

Many skin conditions such as eczema, dry skin, acne and rosacea can be linked to the gut health as their root cause.  As such, addressing gut health is perhaps the most effective starting point in achieving healthy glowing skin, particularly as we age.

So why is gut health so important for your skin?

We rub off millions of skin cells every day and create a whole new layer of skin every 17-42 days. With a healthy digestive tract and efficient digestion, the digestive process will deliver all the nutrients to effect this turnover.

The role of digestion is to break down the foods we eat, process them and consequently absorb the nutrients from these foods, so that our body has all the nutrients it needs to grow, repair and function optimally.  Compromised gut health will inhibit this process and your body will not receive sufficient nutrients. Whilst the body will prioritise life-threatening functions, hair, skin and nail health are considered less crucial and will not receive adequate nutrients if the nutrients are lacking. This is immediately noticeable visually with symptoms such as splitting nails, lack-lustre hair and dull skin.

Healing your gut is crucial to ensure optimal health. In the first instance, limiting sugar and refined carbohydrates and alcohol as well as eating a diet which includes plenty of colourful vegetables and fruits will provide a rich source of nutrients and fibre, as well as good fats found in nuts/seeds, oily fish, avocado.

However, if gut health has been allowed to deteriorate over time, the lining of the intestines can become damaged and inflamed. This allows undigested food proteins as well as toxic waste products to pass through the intestine barriers, which would otherwise be tight junctions in a healthy gut, directly into the blood stream. This is called Leaky Gut Syndrome and if not addressed, can wreak havoc throughout the body; causing an autoimmune response which can result in symptoms such as allergic reactions, food allergies, migraines and fatigue.

One of the most effective nutrients that can be used to help heal this damage is L-Glutamine, an amino acid that can repair and reverse these damaging effects. Alongside dietary changes, a daily supplement containing this nutrient can begin to rejuvenate the lining of the intestinal wall within 12 weeks.

With a healthy digestive system and a good diet, you can look forward to healthy fresh looking skin with renewed energy and vigour.

Jan 29
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Combatting Stress Totally Derma

Fresh and Ready for the year ahead; Combatting Stress

By Health No Comments

The start of the year is always a time to setting goals and resolving to make positive changes, with your health lifestyle often topping the list. Without doubt, making your health the focus of your new year challenge will leave you feeling less lethargic and more energized; perfect to get your through the colder, dreary winter months.

Stress is one of the biggest factors that affect our wellbeing; do you find that:

  • You’re unusually tired, most of the time?
  • You have trouble waking and getting going for the day despite going to bed at a reasonable time?
  • You are often under the weather and don’t recover quickly after being ill?
    You crave sweet foods?
  • You tend to feel more energized towards the later part of the day, after around 6pm?

These symptoms of stress make our daily lives more difficult to deal and furthermore will result in an inflammatory response.

In our busy lives, reducing inflammation is key and the essence of boosting your inner health.

Why is this?

Inflammation is the body’s natural defence and repair mechamism; if we injure ourselves, your body will react with swelling, redness and pain in the area of damage. This is natural response and should be short lived until the injury is healed. Whilst this is response is familiar for injuries on the outside of the body, it is also important to remember that this same process is taking place inside the body, where and inflammatory response to stress is similar. Modern living exposes us to constant stress, which in turn triggers the inflammatory response within the body and consequently the production of free radicals. Unresolved or chronic inflammation will leave these free radicals to cause further damage and harm.

So how can we reduce inflammation and limit free radical damage to ensure we look and feel our very best?

In the first instance, addressing your diet is very important.

  • Eat more plant based foods which will provide good fibre to help support a healthy digestive system and remove toxins
  • Reduce foods that contain refine sugars and carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, cakes as these will cause a stress response as your blood sugar levels and consequently your insulin levels surge
  • Consume more vegetables and fruits, aiming to reach 7 portions a day. This will provide plenty of vitamins, minerals and fibre to ensure your body processes are working optimally and efficiently. Choosing brightly coloured vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, blueberries and tomatoes that are rich in antioxidants will help to combat free radical damage.
  • Eat whole foods and cook from scratch as far as possible.
  • Increase sources of anti-inflammatory essential fats found in oily fish, flaxseed, nuts and seeds.
  • Avoid processed foods that contain preservatives, colourings and perhaps unhealthy fats that your body will need to prioritise as part of the detoxification process.
  • Consider a daily supplement that contains good quality antioxidants, alongside your daily food choices for an added boost. For example, Vitamin C, Grape Seed Extract and Green Tea extract are all powerful antioxidants that will combat the harmful effects of stress. (Take a look at the Totally Derma® Collagen Drink Supplement that works from the INSIDE to stimulate the body’s optimum production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, addressing both the aesthetic (physical) signs of ageing and the underlying physiological processes).

Taking a whole body approach and it is important to remember that factoring in at exercise and more activity on a daily basis and good sleep hygiene are also key.

  • Aim for a minimum of 30 mins exercise; a daily walk, exercise class or gym session but also habits like taking the stairs instead of the lift/escalator and parking further from your destination will also help to increase your daily activity levels
  • Remember, over-exercising can also be a stressor, so avoid harsh training routines that will leave you exhausted and drained
  • Avoid phones/tablets/laptops at least an hour before bedtime and consider a hot bath, a herbal tea and a book or magazine instead
May 24
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What Happens to Skin When We Exercise

What Happens To Our Skin When We Exercise? – As Explained By Rajiv Grover, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

By Skin No Comments

“Exercise has really quite an important link to ageing. If you are performing a lot of cardiovascular exercise, then, for example, Triathlons, Marathon running, first, you are going to be burning a lot of calories. There seems to be a switch, that from the age of about 35-40 onwards, you tend to lose facial volume, as a consequence of doing this type of cardiovascular exercise. When you are younger, you seem to lose weight from the body, but the face maintains its fat compartments. High impact sports like marathon running, road running, have a secondary effect, which is that, there are ligaments within the cheek, that keep it in place. So, underneath the skin, we don’t just have a sea of fat, we have fibrous areas that are almost like Velcro, that keep the cheek in place, that keep the sides of the mouth in place; and if you are pounding the roads, those ligaments get stretched and as a consequence, actually you have more sagging of the face on top of the volume loss” The facial structure has bones a bit like a brick wall. In fact, what happens in the body, is that every organ and every tissue is in a state of being built and being broken down at the same time. So even something that looks as solid as bones, actually has cells that are destroying the bone, and then putting down new bone, almost at the same time.” Rajiv Grover, Consultant Plastic Surgeon.
Long distance running and endurance exercise can age your face prematurely. High-intensity internal training (HIIT) on the other hand, is better, as it releases growth hormones and helps with anti-ageing.

One Marathon Runner stated, “Marathon Runners DO have a gaunter look about their face and since I’ve taken up the long-distance running, people did start to mention that my face did look more gaunt and slimmer in the cheeks, not necessarily a compliment!”

As we age, the 14 bones in our face change both their shape and their volume. Eye sockets become wider and longer. In the mid face, the angles of the brow, nose and upper jaw bones all reduce. Teeth move around and sometimes fall out completely. With less bone to stretch across, skin becomes saggy and loose, the face becomes bottom-heavy. While the rate our bones changes is determined by genetics, our life choices in our latter years can still affect how old we look.

Apr 24
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Totally Derma Scientifically Proven

I like Totally Derma® because it is scientifically proven

By Testimonials No Comments

I like Totally Derma® because it is scientifically proven and we know what the therapeutic doses are. I strongly advise my patients in between courses of treatment where we are using machines to try and stimulate collagen production, to take Totally Derma® in between treatment times, because everything we can do to get the body to make collagen is only going to help. The overall skin quality of the body improves as do general joint aches and pains, plus patients comment that their hair and nails are much healthier and stronger.”

Light Touch Clinic, Weybridge, Surrey

Apr 24
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Totally Derma Represents a New Era in Skincare

TOTALLY DERMA® represents a new era of skincare

By Testimonials No Comments

“TOTALLY DERMA® represents a new era of skincare, paving the way for an integral approach to staying young and feeling your best. I like their philosophy, it’s a sensible one, a credible one and one that starts from within. Anti-ageing, wellness and aesthetic solutions come with clinical support and proven ingredients. It is products like this that separate the hype from the real deal”.
Antonia Mariconda, The Cosmetic Coach

Apr 24
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Increase Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid

Increase collagen and hyaluronic acid

By Testimonials No Comments

“I was awaiting the kind of drink (medically proven) which will help daily to increase collagen and HA and will help me to achieve better results with the PDO lifting. Totally Derma® came at the right time. The biggest advantage compared to other treatments, is that the collagen and hyaluronic acid in Totally Derma® are increased all over the body, not just in a targeted area.”

Dr Gabriela Mercik, Dr Gabriela 56 Harley Street Clinic