Can you drink yourself younger?

In a bid to keep the skin smooth and more youthful, brands are constantly launching new products and treatments. While most would rather not resort to the needle, the latest beauty fad is drinks, sometimes known as beauty shots that claim to have a range of benefits. Liquid collagen drinks that apparently boost the body’s natural collagen production, others made from ingredients like seabuckthorn, bee pollen, green tea, acai berry and raspberries are some of the many in the market. These are supposed to be rich in natural antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that enrich one’s skin. However, do they really work?

No scientific proof
Collagen shots have become the latest fad, however, the role of a drink stimulating collagen synthesis is not convincing says Dr Shefali Trasi-Nerurkar, MD Dermatology, Trasi’s Clinic. “The collagen which is ingested is split down into its component individual amino acids long before it gets anywhere near the skin. So the exact role of such drinks is uncertain. Instead, including food that is part of a vegetarian diet which is full of collagen precursors is more beneficial,” she adds.
Fruits like banana, lemon, orange, papaya, mango, berries etc are rich in vitamin A, B, E and C, and antioxidants. They build up the collagen in the skin and prevent cell and tissue damage which help in skin rejuvenation.

Such drinks are avoidable
Dr Manjyot Gautam, consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist says he doesn’t think these shots work. “Various studies have shown that these antioxidants work only when given in pure forms. They don’t work when taken in such forms as health drinks. Better benefits can be achieved by consuming these ingredients in their raw form. In fact, I generally tell my patients to avoid succumbing to such fads and if they want they can consume them at their own will,” he explains.

Try with caution
The content present in these shots is really helpful, says Tisha Kapur Khurana, beauty expert, Bottega Di Lungavita. “However, these ingredients when eaten raw have better and bigger benefits. Bee pollen is known to be an accelerator of human growth. It regulates the action of the intestinal functions, especially in cases of chronic constipation or diarrhoea, which have been resistant to antibiotic treatment. Pollen self-digests and aids the digestion of other foods. Others like Himalayan berries are potent dietary sources of beta-carotene-derived vitamin A, vitamin C and riboflavin,” she says adding, “Beauty drinks are a new concept in India. Such things should be tried under the scrutiny of a skin expert or doctor.”