Benefits of antioxidants for your skin
“Do you have anything for wrinkles?”
I have been asked this question numerous times in the last few months. I cannot personally do anything But YOU can do things that help prevent wrinkle formation and treat the ones you have.
First thing is first WHY do wrinkles appear? Sun, smoking, aging, stress, lack of sleep, lack of vitamins, improper facial care, genetics ect…..There are an abundant reasons why our skin wrinkles and you, yourself will know what has caused yours. I have to say this though, Why are we so concentrated on our wrinkles in the first place?
True Story: After a Show last weekend, i went to the liquor store (another cause of aging…alcohol ….um….ya..)to buy my lovely dark beer. The woman behind the counter was talking to a tall girl looking to be in her early 20’s. After checking her I.D. she was telling her to wait until she has kids, that will put wrinkles on her face! This lead into conversation to the next person in line about kids, wrinkles and crows feet and how you can’t escape them. Next in line was me. I joined in and had to agree that children definitely help scar up your face. She looked at me with a blank stare. “How old are you?” She asked, losing her enthusiasm quickly. “I’m 38” I responded. “I was just about to I.D. you” She looked at me with question. “Really? Wow, thanks” Then she asked me to smile. ????????? So i did. “Where are your wrinkles?” Again staring at me “Oh they are there, Just not as deep yet. I use one of my products that seems to be helping, but aging has so many factors. Wrinkles are a popular thing, everyone’s doing it.” She seemed to like the distraction and laughed.
Suddenly she was super happy again. She started talking about her eye wrinkles and i told her about my serum (of course, seemed like a set up opportunity really) She then started getting giddy again. Now this lady was so beautiful. You could tell she loved to laugh and smile. She told me that she laughs so much that she has now permanently given herself wrinkles. What’s wrong with that!!! Why should she be so self conscience about her wrinkles, especially due to laughter? I told her she was beautiful regardless and to hold her head up high. I gave her a card and wished her a good night.
I felt pretty good about being I.D I must admit. I believe i look my age, whatever that really means. The only thing I had been doing differently all month was use my serum every day. This brings me to the use of antioxidants.
What is an antioxidant?
Antioxidants are dietary substances including some nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium, that can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.
Antioxidants work by slowing or preventing the oxidative – or damage from oxygen – process caused by substances called free radicals that can lead to cell dysfunction . Antioxidants may also improve immune function and perhaps lower your risk for infection and cancer.
Please read the information written By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD:
All living organisms utilize oxygen to metabolize and use the dietary nutrients in order to produce energy for survival. Oxygen thus is a vital component for living. Oxygen meditates chemical reactions that metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to produce energy.
Dark side of oxygen
While oxygen is one of the most essential components for living, it is also a double edged sword. Oxygen is a highly reactive atom that is capable of becoming part of potentially damaging molecules commonly called “free radicals.”
Free radicals
These free radicals are capable of attacking the healthy cells of the body. This may lead to damage, disease and severe disorders. Cell damage caused by free radicals appears to be a major contributor to aging and diseases like:
• cancer
• heart disease
• decline in brain function
• decline in immune system etc.
Overall, free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of at least 50 diseases.
Since free radicals contain an unpaired electron they are unstable and reach out and capture electrons from other substances in order to neutralize themselves. This initially stabilizes the free radical but generates another in the process. Soon a chain reaction begins and thousands of free radical reactions can occur within a few seconds on the primary reaction.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
ROS is a term which encompasses all highly reactive, oxygen-containing molecules, including free radicals. Types of ROS include the hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, the superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, singlet oxygen, hypochlorite radical, and various lipid peroxides. These can react with membrane lipids, nucleic acids, proteins and enzymes, and other small molecules.
Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress means an unbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidant mechanisms. This results in excessive oxidative metabolism. This stress can be due to several environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants, alcohol, medications, infections, poor diet, toxins, radiation etc. Oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and other macromolecules may lead to a wide range of human diseases most notably heart disease and cancer.
Control of free radicals
Normally free radical formation is controlled naturally by various beneficial compounds known as antioxidants. When there is deficiency of these antioxidants damage due to free radicals can become cumulative and debilitating.
Antioxidants are capable of stabilizing, or deactivating, free radicals before they attack cells.
Antioxidants from food
There are several nutrients in food that contain antioxidants. Vitamin C, vitamin E, andbeta carotene are among the most commonly studied dietary antioxidants.
Vitamin C is the most important water-soluble antioxidant in extracellular fluids. Vitamin C helps to neutralize ROS in the water or aqueous phase before it can attack the lipids.
Vitamin E is the most important lipid soluble antioxidant. It is important as the chain-breaking antioxidant within the cell membrane. It can protect the membrane fatty acids from lipid peroxidation. Vitamin C in addition is capable of regenerating vitamin E.
Beta carotene and other carotenoids also have antioxidant properties. Carotenoids work in synergy with vitamin E.
Antioxidant deficiencies
A diet low in fats may impair absorption of beta carotene and vitamin E and other fat-soluble nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are important sources of vitamin C and carotenoids. Whole grains and high quality vegetable oils are major sources of vitamin E.
Many plant-derived substances are known as “phytonutrients,” or “phytochemicals”. These also possess antioxidant properties. Phenolic compounds such as flavonoids are such chemicals. These are found in several fruits, vegetables, green tea extracts etc.
Antioxidants within the human body
Apart from diet, the body also has several antioxidant mechanisms that can protect itself from ROS mediated damage. The antioxidant enzymes – glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are such enzymes. They require micronutrient cofactors such as selenium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese for their activity. It has been suggested that an inadequate dietary intake of these trace minerals may also lead to low antioxidant activity.
This doctor has an way better understanding of this topic as it is a wee bit more complex then citing different benefits.
What to look for in skin care?
When I was creating my Fantastic Face serum, i wanted to use ingredients that had high levels of antioxidents and vitamins to help prevent the formation of new wrinkles and treat the ones already settled. Research had led me to the ingredients chosen specifically for my formula and to work synergistically together to create a wonderful, nourishing serum.
You can find the benefits of the ingredients on my webpage and encourage you to read up on all ingredients to see what benefits you reap
I must go.
Cheers, Tyree
lyckme 