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.
> Ascorbic 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.
