DOHA: Right food is the best anti-ageing drug according to an expert at the tenth GCC Dermatology and Venereology Conference and Exhibition (GCC Derma 2009), which was opened by Dr Saleh Ali Al Marri, Assistant Secretary General for Health Affairs, Supreme Council of Health, at Doha Sheraton, yesterday.
According to Dr Claude Chauchard, founder of the International Institute for Preventive Anti-ageing Medicine and a former Assistant Professor at the University of Montpellier, the heavy junk-food content in the diet is the root cause for pre-mature ageing.
“If you have to maintain a good health, body shape, and mental sharpness, everything starts from the food. Today we make two mistakes – we do not have a consistent meal with the family and we all are eating fast food. This has a huge impact on bio-ageing,” he told The Peninsula.
Apart from the inclusion of salads and fruits in the diet, proper cooking method also plays a major role. Too much oil and salt and also extremely high cooking temperatures can produce toxins in the food, which when taken into the body can cause problems. The best foods would by those with low glycemic index.
“Oil and junk food cause high temperatures inside the body during metabolism, which can accelerate ageing. These foods also have toxins which are unknown to the body. On the contrary right food can drop this inflammation, maintaining the natural ageing pace.”
High cooking temperature, artificial additives, preservatives, sugar, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, microorganisms and the environment pollutants all cause toxins inside the body.
The human body, if it cannot get rid of these toxins after specific interval of time, produces a fat which covers up these toxins and deposit it in belly, hips and other parts. These are called toxin fats.
“This is one reason that many people do not lose weight even though they cut food consumption. There are much toxins in the body from the whatever food they eat which gets covered up in fat produced by the liver and deposited in the body. So only by food regulation can these fats be lost; not by exercising which can burn up the needed fats in the body. When proper food habits are followed, liver can slowly reverse the whole process which can help reduce the weight and give good body shape,” Dr Chauchard said
Health is in our dish as it is what goes into the cells – the basic building blocks. If the cell does not receive good nutrients it cannot work well. “If cells do not work, all the systems become dysfunctional and results in fast ageing. If cell has to work, you should have the right food. Then you age slowly, live longer and healthier, have good immune system, strong body shape for long time and will be happy,” he said.
GCC Derma is the premier educational opportunity for dermatologists and plastic surgeons in the Gulf and the Middle East, showcasing the latest in the science and technology in the field through specialised exhibitions, lectures, courses and workshops. Distinguished speakers will share their insights and research data, and pharmaceutical and medical technology firms will introduce their products.
The opening event was attended by Dr Omar Al Shiekh, Secretary-General, Pan Arab League of Dermatologists; Dr Abdul Wahab Fawzaan, Secretary General, League of Dermatologists of the GCC States and other senor officials from Qatar and the GCC
Dr Al Marri also opened an exhibition as part of the conference. The exhibition showcases various skin care products to combat ageing, wrinkle and other skin issues, beauty products, skin-care equipment, body shaping and contouring machines, and laser, light and radio frequency based systems.
The Conference, with the participation of some of the foremost cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and other related experts, provides opportunities to discuss skin health issues and an update of latest cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. The goal is to offer a balance of the basic and the clinical as well as of the preventative and therapeutic.