Mental Health

NASA's Drink For Astronauts Can Fight Wrinkles, Sun Spots and Blemishes

By Staff Reporter | Update Date: May 28, 2012 12:33 PM EDT

Good news for ladies! A drink developed by NASA to protect astronauts from high levels of radiations from the sun, outside the earth's atmosphere, might be the latest breakthrough in fight against wrinkles and blemishes.

A study has shown that the fruit drink, known as AS10 can reduce sun damage and wrinkles on the skin and rejuvenate it within four months of consuming the drink twice a day.

AS10 contains cupuacu (a Brazilian fruit from the cacao plant family), acai, acerola, prickly pear and yumberry, which all provide vitamins and phytochemicals - compounds known to block the harmful effects of radiation, reports Mail Online. Also, grape, green tea, pomegranate and vegetables are other ingredients of the drink.

For the study, 180 participants, at the start of the trial were photographed using Visia Photography, which reveals the condition of the skin below the top surface. Visia Photographs are taken with different light settings. After the participants consumed AS10 for four months twice a day, they were photographed again, only to be found with a 30% reduction in UV spots and 17% lesser wrinkles.

How the drink works on wrinkles is explained as follows:

The harmful radiations from the sun alter oxygen molecules in the body, creating reactive oxygen species, also known as "free radicals."The free radicals damage cells in our body, in a process known as oxidative stress which can cause cancer, Alzheimer's and is also thought to play a role in ageing process.

Apart from the natural environment, free radicals are also generated due to mobile phone radiations, cigarette smoke and alcohol.

"Think of them as little Pac-men taking bites out of molecules that are essential for cells to function,' Mail Online quoted Dr Aaron Barson, nutritional scientist from Utah as saying. Barson conducted the study on the AS10 drink after patients reported remarkable improvement after consumption.

AS10 contains antioxidants in large quantities and that is thought to improve skin, allowing it to heal naturally.

"The skin is the first body tissue to be exposed to UV rays and we know it is sensitive to oxidative stress. Our study shows it greatly benefits from a reduction in this stress. The effects of oxidative stress on the skin can be quickly modified and the skin can heal itself by drinking AS10," says Barson.

Further studies and research on the drink is yet to be conducted to understand for how long the effects of the drink last and to see if the skin condition remains stable or deteriorates when the consumption of the drink is stopped. However, according to Barson, the results of the current study might have been better if conducted during winter, with less exposure to ultraviolet light.

One main drawback is the cost of the dink. For the study, women consumed 60ml - of AS10 a day. A 750 ml bottle costs £30.

Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Mervyn Patterson, of Woodford Medical, although agrees with the benefits of the drink, also says that an everyday use of sunscreen with UVB/UVA sun protection factor of 50+ could deliver similar results as AS10.

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