How antioxidants can help improve skin health
Healthy skin isn’t just beautiful; it also can serve as the body’s protection against sun damage and environmental toxins. Skin keeps water in and bacteria out, and it helps maintain core body temperature. Keeping skin strong is a factor in overall well-being, and researchers have suggest that antioxidants may be a large part of the equation.
How Antioxidants Can Promote Healthy Skin
Sun exposure harms the skin because radiation from UV light changes skin. UV rays create reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin, which includes chemicals like hydrogen peroxide. Elevated ROS levels can damage cells.
Antioxidants, which include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carotenoids, and polyphenols, can help neutralize ROS. The water-soluble micronutrients like Vitamin C can help neutralize the ROS.
Increasing Antioxidants in Skin
Boosting antioxidant levels throughout the body starts with a diet rich in foods that contain antioxidants. Examples of antioxidants and where they can be found include:
Carotenoids – These antioxidants can be found in orange, yellow, and red fruits and vegetables. Add brightly colored produce like sweet potatoes, red peppers, watermelon and cantaloupe to meals for greater carotenoid intake.
Polyphenols – These antioxidants can be found in a wide variety of foods, including fruits like plums, kiwis, and blueberries. Cereal grains such as wheat germ contain another form of polyphenols, and caffeinated foods like coffee and chocolate have still another type.
Vitamin E – Focus on leafy green vegetables for the greatest Vitamin E concentrations. Top choices include spinach, kale, and broccoli.
Vitamin C – Dark, leafy greens are a good source of Vitamin C, as are citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
It is difficult to consume enough antioxidants to increase their concentration in skin to the optimal level. However, with new technology, experts have created antioxidant-rich products that are applied externally. These products are designed to transport antioxidants to skin, where they help defend against ROS. Antioxidant-rich skincare is offered in multiple forms.
Antioxidants are important for the well-being of the entire body, and they offer special benefits for skin. Increasing antioxidants through both diet and topically can help fight the effects of ROS and promote skin health.
