Finding the Perfect Anti-Aging Skin Care Treatment
Are you tired of wasting time and money looking for anti-aging skin care treatment plans that work? If so, you are probably not overly comforted by the knowledge that you are not alone in this frustration. Truth is, while there are some remedies which are effective, how you treated your skin growing up may be just as important as anything you can do to it now.
Beyond the Creams – Getting Radical
Anti-aging skin care treatment is in more than just the form of creams or lotions. Treatments are also in supplement forms made by different companies. When you are looking at supplements it is a good practice to read about the product, and research its origins. In these supplements there are vitamins extracted many times from dark green vegetables and other organic sources.
These vitamins help reduce the free radicals which destroy your skin over time, this is what naturally causes the aging process in our lives. Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage -- the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases.
How Radicals Destroy Your Skin
Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes.
The chief danger they present comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants.
Antioxidants – Fighting Back
Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.
Additionally, selenium, a trace metal that is required for proper function of one of the body's antioxidant enzyme systems, is sometimes included in this category. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet. Look for upcoming FDA recommendations, but be wary of advertising and media hype.
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