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Antioxidants and Skin Care
Antioxidant is a popular term in all health care articles.
We always encounter such a term whenever we read or browse health
articles in the papers, books or magazines. Moreover, almost all advertisements
and commercials of beauty and health products always mention antioxidants.
The question to ask ourselves to be able to understand
the sudden hype about antioxidants is to know what it is and what
can it do to our body.
Antioxidants are chemicals that prevent the oxidation
of other chemicals. In biological systems, the normal processes of
oxidation produce highly reactive free radicals that can readily react
with and damage other molecules which may continue to damage even
the body’s own cells.
Antioxidants play the housekeeper's role, "mopping
up" free radicals before they get a chance to do harm in your
body.
Although all the hype about antioxidants slowing down
the signs of aging and promoting skin rejuvenation do not have a solid
scientific basis, most skin experts are claiming that antioxidant
vitamins and minerals can help in our overall well being by combating
the free radicals in our body.
Here are several antioxidant nutrients which appear
the most likely to produce benefits to your skin.
- Vitamin A or Beta Carotene. It has been discovered
that beta-carotene protects dark green, yellow and orange vegetables
and fruits from solar radiation damage and it is thought that it
plays a similar role in human body. Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet
potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots
are particularly rich sources of beta-carotene.
- Ascorbyl
Acid (Vitamin C)
is a water-soluble compound that fulfills antioxidant role,
among others, in living systems. Important sources include citrus
fruits (like oranges, sweet lime etc.), green peppers, broccoli,
green leafy vegetables, strawberries, raw cabbage and tomatoes.
- Vitamin E is a principal fat-soluble antioxidant
vitamin in the body. It protects cellular membranes, lipoproteins
and other "oily" structures. Skin is high in unsaturated
fatty acids ("oily" molecules especially susceptible to
free radical damage), and can benefit from vitamin E protection
(both oral and topical). Sources include wheat germ, nuts, seeds,
whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and fish-liver
oil.
- Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant pigments
with antioxidant properties that contain proanthocyanins and polyphenols
that are good for the skin. These substances are responsible for
color in many fruits, vegetables and flowers. In addition to providing
color that attracts insects or animals, these pigments protect plants
from environmental stress. In addition to being potent antioxidants,
some flavonoids have antiallergic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral
and anti-inflammatory activity. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been
characterized and classified, but only a few have been researched.
- Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, cysteine and methionine
are potent antioxidants.
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