CosBeauty Magazine #76

The benefits
of
antioxidants
Antioxidant is a word we’ve all become familiar
with in relation to ageing, good nutrition and
longevity. Antioxidants are compounds or
substances that protect the body against an overload
of oxidants, better known as free radicals.
Free radicals form from natural processes within
the body such as oxidation, when oxygen
is metabolised. Other sources such as smoking,
sunlight and pollution also cause the formation
of free radicals.
Free radicals cause damage and destruction to cell
walls and organic structures. An overload of free
radicals has been linked to many degenerative and
age-related illnesses such as heart and liver disease,
deterioration of the eye lens, inflammation of the
joints, damage to nerve cells in the brain and the
formation of cancers. Antioxidants neutralise the
free radicals and, in doing so, protect the body.
Antioxidants exist as vitamins, minerals and
other compounds in foods. Vitamins A, C and E,
and the minerals copper, zinc and selenium are
antioxidants. Good sources found in the food we
eat include a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, lean meats and dairy products.
Ensuring a daily intake of antioxidants will help
the body to ‘mop up’ or neutralise free radicals,
thus reducing the risk of degenerative diseases, as
well as visual signs of ageing such as lines, wrinkles
and loss of skin elasticity.
Antioxidants help keep skin firm by boosting
collagen and protecting elastic tissue from free
radicals. In addition to a balanced diet, it may
also be beneficial to apply skincare containing
antioxidants directly onto the skin. However,
for antioxidants to penetrate into the dermis
they should be delivered in the correct form for
absorption – such as l-ascorbic acid for Vitamin C
and alpha tocopherol for Vitamin E. All products
based on derivatives of vitamins need proper
delivery systems to be effective.
Antioxidants in skincare can certainly help
improve the form and function of your skin, but the
best thing you can do for your complexion is protect
it from the sun at all times. CBM
www.cosbeauty.com.au 69