Amazingly, this drink perfectly rejuvenates skin after 40. Here’s what scientists discovered

Science is always looking for an answer to a question that worries many: how to slow down aging. Before buying expensive skin care products, try one affordable product. Scientists have recently discovered that it helps the skin to maintain its elasticity. Collaborators from “Doctor Peter”.

Scientists from the University of Florida Department of Dermatology decided to test how regular cranberry juice would affect women’s health. Cranberries are known to be rich in polyphenols – natural antioxidants.

For the test, they invited 22 women in two age groups: 25-39 years and 40-65. All participants were given two bottles: one with cranberry juice and one with a placebo. Of course, they didn’t know what the bottle contained. Each drink had to be drunk for six weeks with a break between courses of 21 days.

– Cranberry drink was made from pure cranberry juice. There were 193 mg of procyanidins, 19.5 mg of anthocyanins and 24.2 mg of flavonols per bottle. The placebo did not contain these compounds, but the study drink had a similar appearance, taste and color, say the authors of the study published in the journal Nutrition.

After drinking cranberry juice, the participants noted that their facial skin became smoother and tighter. However, the authors did not make hasty conclusions and double-checked the test participants’ assumptions.

Skin elasticity was measured using a special device that absorbs a small area of ​​skin for a few seconds. Another device registered changes in the surface of the skin: the degree of roughness, peeling and wrinkles. In addition, scientists looked at changes in skin microflora and its lipid level.

– The main function of epidermal lipids is to prevent the evaporation of moisture and protect against the attack of microorganisms. Six weeks after drinking cranberry juice, the lipid composition of the stratum corneum changed, the researchers said.

There were also changes in the number of bacteria in the skin microflora. There was an increase in Cutibacterium granulosum, which is related to the stimulation of the immune system. And also Propionibacterium, which can protect against some diseases by removing pathogens. Cranberry juice also affected the number of Staphylococcus epidermidis, bacteria that are considered part of the normal microflora of the skin.

In addition to that A rejuvenating effect was observed in women aged 40 years and older. But the drink did not have the same effect on the younger participants.

– Skin aging is caused by two main mechanisms: intrinsic and extrinsic aging. Internally – due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species over time during the natural aging process. Caused externally by factors such as sun exposure, pollution, diet, and cigarette smoke, the authors explain.

Meanwhile, UV radiation is the main cause of outdoor aging. It causes the production of free radicals and inflammatory reactions in the skin, leading to solar erythema, and destroys collagen and elastin fibers.

in turn Polyphenols, which cranberries contain, protect against this radiation, and also preserve skin collagen, regulating the production of type I collagen.

“Six weeks of consuming cranberry drink protected the skin from UV-induced erythema in all study participants,” the scientists say. – Cranberries contain many polyphenols, including procyanidins, anthocyanins, flavonols and phenolic acid. Interventional studies have shown that cranberry juice can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in plasma and show anti-aging effects, the researchers concluded. science.