What Are Antioxidant Vitamins?
10/17/2008
Aging is a natural process and so are the signs of aging. You must have noticed the skin in older people, which has lost its elasticity and firmness and seems to sag from everywhere. The skin loses its firmness and elasticity because the collagen and elastin production reduces with age, and as a result, the skin begins to sag and the signs of aging such as the fine lines and wrinkles begin to show on our skin. It is to hide these signs of aging and to delay their onset that the beauty industry is churning out hundreds of anti wrinkle creams and serums every year. However, the effect of these wrinkle creams can be much more obvious and sustained for longer periods if these anti wrinkle creams contain antioxidant vitamins. But what exactly is meant by ‘antioxidant vitamins’? Just like grape seed and green tea extract, and minerals such as zinc, calcium and selenium, which are very well known for their antioxidant properties, there are a few vitamins also, such as Vitamin A (beta carotenes), vitamin C and vitamin E that possess exceptionally strong antioxidant properties. These vitamins are therefore classified as antioxidant vitamins.
Fresh fruits (such as mangoes, papayas, oranges, grapes, etc) and vegetables (such as Spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc), and whole grain cereals, nuts, low fat milk, etc are considered to be the best sources of antioxidant vitamins. But what are the benefits of using antioxidant vitamins? Well, antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E have the power to destroy free radicals (which may be produced due to exposure to the sun’s harmful UV radiations), which are very damaging for the skin and for the other organs in the body as well. If not removed from the body, then the accumulation of free radicals in the body can lead to serious diseases such as cancer, heart problems, etc.
These free radicals can also accelerate the aging process and lead to the development of premature wrinkles, and make your skin appear very shriveled and dry. The antioxidant vitamins help combat free radicals in whichever form they are used. You can either opt to eat foods that are naturally rich in antioxidant vitamins or start using a great anti aging wrinkle cream which contain optimum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins. These days, a lot of very good quality wrinkle creams are available in the market, which are quite effective and reliable enough in curing the problem of wrinkles and fine lines in an amazingly short time span. All thanks to antioxidant vitamins present in them!! Alternatively, one can also take dietary vitamin supplements containing these antioxidant vitamins in a higher dose.