What are antioxidants and why do we need them?

Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals. Free radicals are compounds that are being formed in the body and they can harm your cells. 

Antioxidants already exist in the body and help to keep free radicals in check by neutralising them. We can find antioxidants in foods and skincare that can help to give our DNA a boost to fight the free radicals and prevent cell damage. 

Free radicals are important as they help to fight infection in some ways and support functions that contribute to keeping us in good health, so we do need them, but we need to find the right balance of both. Too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants results in a process called Oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a process that leads to cell and tissue damage. It’s also responsible for accelerating the ageing process and can contribute to the development of poor health and serious conditions.

We can control some factors in the fight against free radical production with our lifestyle and diet. Environmental factors i.e sun exposure, pollution, medication, sugar all effect free radical production. 

The good news is that we can add antioxidants to our diet and skincare in the form of vitamins and minerals. Some great foods that are high in antioxidants are; Blueberries, Strawberries, Pecans, Kale, Dark Chocolate, Beets, Bell Peppers, Goji berries & so many more.

Antioxidants in skincare come in the form of Vitamin A, C & E and B3, Niacinamide, Coenzyme Q10, Resveratrol & Polyphenols. They help to repair the skin, reverse signs of ageing and brighten the skin’s tone. 

In a nutshell, antioxidants in skincare formulas reduce inflammation and protect against the sun & photoaging. By doing this, it allows the skin to repair itself and some forms of antioxidants (vit.c) boost collagen production, which is vital for good skin health.