Dr. N.V. Perricone & his anti-aging secrets

“There are a lot of things about Dr. Perricone’s science that really resonate with me. Here is one of them: growing up Italian has kept me in touch with the magical properties of olive oil. Dr. Perricone has taken this wisdom — and a lot more — to a whole new level!”  — Steven Tyler, lead singer, Aerosmith

 “Dr. Perricone presents a program that is sensible and easy to follow and delivers great results.” — Sheryl Crow, singer/songwriter

Ascientist-doctor is the newest icon of beauty counters in New York. He has a prescription on how to look good, feel good, fight aging, as well as prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart diseases. And Americans are listening. They are getting less wrinkled and shifting to healthier lifestyles. They listened to him on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show when he was invited to present “before” and “after” proofs to prove the effectiveness of his prescriptions. They are reading the books of this award-winning New York Times best-selling author, and trooping to his Madison Avenue shop for his nutritional and anti-aging products. Celebrities such as Uma Thurman are embracing his formula and have the powerful Bill-Killer looks to show for it.

He is Nicholas V. Perricone, M.D., better known as The Father of the Inflammation Theory of Aging. His theory is simple: Inflammation is the single, most powerful cause of aging skin and age-related diseases.

“I’m not referring to a sunburn or swollen skin. This inflammation is invisible to the eye and takes place on a cellular level in our body,” Dr. Perricone says over a cup of tea at the St. Regis Hotel lounge in Manhattan, looking good in a neat, dark suit.

Inflammation, he explains, is caused by the wrong food choices, pollution, excessive exposure to ultraviolet light and stress. Aggravating this are excess alcohol, cigarette smoke and sleep deprivation that cause the skin to wrinkle and sag.

“Inflammation leads to cell damage caused by renegade free radicals which accelerate aging. Inflammation breaks up our cells and causes wrinkles. It helps trigger obesity and chronic degenerative diseases such as heart ailments, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and certain cancers.”

The Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Aging Diet

One of Perricone’s companies focuses on developing fuel efficiency for airplanes and military aircraft, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand his advice: To prevent wrinkles and stay disease-free, eat the right anti-inflammatory foods and choose a healthier way of living.

“If your skin is lousy, you’re not doing well inside,” he says. “The skin is the visual parameter of what you feel inside. It tells what’s happening in your brain, in your heart.

“When I was a medical student, I looked under a microscope and got no information about nutrition. I got the idea of my inflammation theory when I asked my professors and found out that nutrition can reduce inflammation. If you eat the right foods, you not only look good. You will also feel good,” Dr. Perricone adds.

“The right diet will reduce wrinkles. It will also speed up metabolism and weight loss. It will enhance mood, brain function and overall health,” he emphasizes.

The right diet has high-quality protein, which Dr Perricone suggests we get from salmon. Salmon has the most profound effect on our skin. It has astaxanthin, the unique antioxidant that reduces fine lines and improves skin elasticity, reduces eye fatigue and improves muscle endurance. It is astaxanthin that makes salmon the leading superstar among anti-aging foods. It reduces blood pressure, helps control diabetes and inhibits kidney damage.

Another vital ingredient in salmon is Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA), which are anti-inflammatory. The EFAs in salmon decrease wrinkling and sagging of our skin, increase our energy level, elevate our mood, improve our brain function, decrease body fat, give us stronger bones and strengthen our immune system.

We must eat salmon and other coldwater fish such as mackerel, bass and trout because fish is the only significant dietary source of DMAE (dimethyl amino ethanol), an antioxidant cell stabilizer that improves memory and keeps the muscle toned.

Nutritional Supplements: Nature’s Anti-Inflammatories

Aside from vitamins recommended by nutrition experts, Dr. Perricone says that nutrients with antioxidant properties act as natural anti-inflammatories. These include Dr. Perricone’s Omega-3, Super Berry Powder, and Skin and Total Body Dietary Supplements, which contain packets of Omega 3 fish oils, calcium/magnesium blend, astaxanthin, and other supplements for the skin and joints. In the Philippines, these supplements are now available at Rustan’s Essenses in Makati and Rustan’s Tower at Edsa Shangri-La.

Clinical Skin Care: Topical Antioxidants

Now also available at Rustan’s Essenses is the N.V. Perricone, M.D. skincare line. The bestsellers are the Nutritive Cleanser (which contains Alpha Lipoic Acid [ALA], a powerful antioxidant that cleanses and removes makeup without over-drying and reduces enlarged pores) and the Face Firming Activator which has ALA and DMAE.

Perhaps the most effective agent in giving an instant lift is the Neuropeptide Facial Conformer, which tightens the skin muscles and improves facial tone and evenness. Dr. Perricone created this in response to a friend’s request for a skincare product that would give an instant beauty fix for a special date or event, regardless of the cost.

The Concentrated Restorative Cream is another powerful product that delivers the highest level of antioxidant therapy. The Activator, Conformer and Restorative Cream are the three most powerful anti-aging treatments from Dr. Perricone.

Perhaps what makes N.V. Perricone, M.D. tower above beauty brands is his prescription mixing the right diet, the right lifestyle and the right nutritional supplements with his skincare line. It is the product of 20 years of research. And this scientist-doctor’s firm belief that beauty comes from within.