Finally, More is Better!!!

Antioxidants. It's a buzz word in the medical community, and sometimes it's even hot in the media. If you are like one of my neighbors and friends, who I love dearly, you may be thinking just what she recently asked me: "What are they, do I need them, and how do I get them".

 Antioxidants -What are they?

As described in another blog I wrote for Ask Amy, antioxidants inhibit the process of oxidation.  Oxidation is a naturally occurring process that results from the burning of oxygen.  Excessive sunlight exposure, alcohol, smoking, pesticides, and stress increase the oxidative process.These examples along with the oxidation process create free radicals.  Free radicals cause damage to cells by stealing electrons from cells causing damage and eventually death.  This is when your antioxidants come into play.  The antioxidants lend that electron your free radicals are searching for to prevent damage. 

Do I need them?

Of course you do. Research proves that antioxidants can help protect your heart by not allowing your LDL (aka lousy) cholesterol to increase. Antioxidants, particularly Vitamin A, can protect your sight and research from the New England Journal of Medicine has proven that large doses of Vitamin E (2000 IUs) delays the onset of Alzheimer's. In addition, Beta Carotene is thought to potentially be one of the most important antioxidants to ward off Cancers. Let's face it, who doesn't have stress in their lives? To me that's the single most important reason to start increasing your antioxidant consumption TODAY.

How do I get them?

Antioxidant Name	Color	Sources
Beta Carotene	Orange	Sweet potatoes, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Mangos
Lycopene	Red	Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce
Selenium	Multiple colors	Meats, Breads, Brazil Nuts
Vitamin A	Multiple colors	Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Milk, Egg Yolk, Mozzarella Cheese
Vitamin C	Multiple colors	Fruits, Vegetables, Cereal, Beef, Poultry, Fish
Vitamin E	Multiple colors	Wheat Germ, Safflower Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Mangos, Nuts, Broccoli

These are 2 of my favorite Antioxidant Creams

So, Antioxidants in skin care are beneficial to for exactly the same reasons that Amy discussed above!! Good news is that they don't need to be exotic or flown in from the Great Barrier Reef!

Antioxidants make sunscreen more effective and help to slow down the aging process (that means those fine lines and wrinkles!!)

Consumers will see the word "antioxidants included" on so many creams out there on the market.  When you turn the bottle around and read the label, you will see some of the same ingredients that Amy listed above, but maybe by a different name.

Vitamin C may be called  Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin A is called Retinoic Acid

Vitamin E has many names including Alpha Tocopherol

This is the back of a sunscreen containing Vitamin C, Green Tea, and Vitamin E

Other antioxidants you can see in skin care products are 

Coffeeberry

Green tea

Resveratrol (this is found in red grapes and therefore red wine!! See, we knew it all along!)

It has been shown that with Antioxidants MORE IS BETTER, so the more you get, the better, whether absorbed through the skin or through your gut by the foods you eat.

In good health,

Amy & Kris