Learn All About Antioxidants And Best Practices For Your Daily Routine
Are you overwhelmed trying to understand the role of antioxidants in your daily health and skincare routine? Don’t worry – we’ve got all the information you need! We’ll walk you through what free radical damage is, and how antioxidants can combat it, plus offer some advice on utilizing them for maximum benefit. So whether it’s kombucha bottles or dietary supplements that have caught your eye, rest assured knowing that with our guidance on this antioxidant journey – you’re one step closer to becoming a wellness expert!
Concept of Free Radicals
Unpaired electrons make molecules known as free radicals incredibly unstable and reactive, with exposure to the environment such as UV light, air pollution, or smoking being their primary source. Oxidative stress, or free radical damage, is caused by an abundance of molecules that may attack proteins, lipids, and DNA.
The inevitable signs of this damage are unsightly wrinkles, fine lines, fragile skin with mottled pigmentation, and inflammation – all leading to the breakdown of collagen! However, there’s no need to worry: antioxidants are here to save the day.
Then What Is An Antioxidant?
Antioxidants are molecules that protect against oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. These versatile compounds come in many shapes and sizes, with long, hard-to-pronounce names, yet can be found almost anywhere – from brightly colored plant foods such as berries and dark greens to more unexpected sources!
Antioxidants In Your Diet
In recent years, there’s been a lot of hype around superfoods. We’ve seen kale, açai berries, avocados, and beetroot all getting their 15 minutes of fame; it appears like every month brings a new superfood! Superfoods are given such titles due to their extremely nutritious content as well as being abundant in antioxidants.
Superfoods are undeniably beneficial, however, many of their antioxidants become impaired during the digestive process or do not reach parts where free radicals exist. Of course, we’re not suggesting you don’t eat superfoods – they offer plenty of advantages! Remember though that variety is better than the concentration (or in other words, eating a multitude of different superfoods rather than copious amounts of just one). So forget “superfood” and opt for a “super plate”!
Did you know that dark chocolate is brimming with antioxidants, more than even blueberries? The higher the percentage of cacao, the greater its antioxidant content. Moreover, some kinds have much more antioxidative power than berries! So don’t hesitate to indulge in a slice of our delicious dark chocolate cake for your health and well-being!
Do Antioxidants Help On Our Skin?
Consuming antioxidants is certainly essential, yet skincare may be the most effective way to combat free radical damage! Due to external factors like UV radiation, your skin has more free radicals than anywhere else in your body. Free radicals are produced 15 minutes following UV exposure and continue for up to an hour. To successfully fight them off, you must apply antioxidants topically because they need to exist at the same location as where the free radicals form.
Best antioxidant ingredients in skincare:
- Vitamin C: this is often listed as “ascorbic acid” on ingredient lists
- Vitamin E: also called tocopherol
- Green Tea Polyphenols
- Niacinamide: scientifically known as vitamin B3
A great trick to remember when hunting for skincare items with antioxidants: the more, the merrier! Antioxidants work best in pairs—their combined effect is even greater than if you were just using one.
Which products contain antioxidants?
100% PURE has an amazing variety of antioxidants products, but here are some of our favorites:
- Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum
- Matcha Cleansing Balm
- Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Facial Oil
- Black Tea Grass Jelly Anti-oxidant Moisturizer
A beneficial suggestion: Antioxidants are very perishable, and can deteriorate if exposed to direct sunlight for too long! For this reason, keep all antioxidant products in dark containers and refrigerate or store them in cool places that aren’t hit by the sun. Furthermore, ensure you use them prior to their expiration date.
We trust that this article has given you an idea of the power of antioxidants. We are passionate about them, so what are your favorite antioxidant-rich items? Share your picks in the comments below!