Antioxidants
What are Antioxidants?
Everybody talks about Antioxidants, but why are they so invaluable? Unsure of what they do and if you need more antioxidant protection? Read below.
Antioxidants are a chemical compound, produced by the body and also found in food, mainly in the form of vitamins (E & C) from fruit, vegetables and other plant based foods. They are required by the body, in a certain balance with free radicals, see blog to find out more about free radicals (https://www.uglylondon.co.uk/what-are-free-radicals) If this equilibrium is disrupted by too many free radicals, it creates oxidative stress.
Antioxidants are free radical scavengers.
Once the body has an immune response to internal toxins and the remaining free radicals have tuned on the unprotected healthy cells, Antioxidants are needed as a nutrient defence which bind up and neutralise the self attacking cells.
This scavenging is really important as any healthy cells attacked by the free radicals can become stagnated which can lead to tumours, growths, lowered immunity and accelerate the aging process.
Where to find them
Vitamins E, A & C,
Many B vitamins,
Minerals selenium and zinc,
Amino acid cysteine,
Wheat and barley grass,
Dark leafy vegetables,
Sprouts,
Unrefined brown rice, T
The above all contain a high natural concentration of antioxidants and therefore have the savaging and protecting capabilities.
Eating a balanced, varied diet with unprocessed grains and vegetables should provide an adequate amount to protect a healthy person. Although those with a weakened immune system or exposed to a lot of toxins for long periods, either through working and living environment, lifestyle or radiations and drug ingesting, should definitely seek an antioxidant supplement.
So while antioxidants are essential for antiaging protection and boosting immunity, equally as important, from a health perspective, is the reduction of internal stress we create and external toxins we surround ourselves with. Limiting toxins from the external environment, will of course decrease our free radical numbers, which spark this whole chemical, oxidative process in the body.
Top of the range topical Antioxidants are available from Skin Ceuticals.
What are topical Antioxidants?
So as we discussed, antioxidants are available to us via our diet, in the form of vitamins. However, by applying these ingredients directly to the skin, the protective benefits are maximised. The skin is the largest organ of the body, therefore the protective benefits can be focussed on certain parts of the body, namely the face and neck.
Sun protection factor (spf) is the best prevention for skin damage and for anti aging, However the application of an topical antioxidant serum underneath the SPF offers the maximum in UV protection plus anti aging benefits.
Benefits of topical Antioxidants
Protect the skin from harmful UV rays,
Anti inflammatory,
Prevent wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and sun damage,
Protect the skin from external pollutants and toxins,
Scavenge free radicals.
You can find powerful antioxidants in cosmeuticals, which are a bridge product, between over the counter and prescription products. They contain biologically active ingredients, including antioxidants, in the skin care which improve skin health, slow down the aging process and repair oxidative damage.
Key Antioxidants?
Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid)
Oily or combination skin,
Neutralises free radicals,
Defend skin from oxidative stress,
Improvement sun damage
works even better when combined with vitamin E.
vitamin A
Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol)
Dryer, mature skin,
The most powerful antioxidant,
Absorbs energy from UV light,
Found naturally in the skin.
Ferulic Acid
Combines Vitamins A, C & E
Phloretin
Extracted from apple tree leaves,
soothes problematic skin,
Prevents natural reduction of collagen
Reduces pigmentation.
Copper Peptide
Antioxidant properties
