One of the things most people look for when it comes to slowing down aging is the use of antioxidants, which are important substances that can help protect the body from the effects of deterioration and wrinkles that occur with age. Free radicals are chemicals that are produced in the body from food metabolism and contribute to cell damage. If not controlled, it can cause the skin and organs in the body to deteriorate prematurely.
In this article, we will introduce you to antioxidants and how to choose the right antioxidants to slow down aging so you can live a healthy and youthful life for a long time.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals , which are molecules that are produced by the body’s energy metabolism and external factors such as pollution, sunlight, or smoking. Free radicals can damage cells in the body and accelerate the aging process, which can lead to diseases, including wrinkled skin and visible lines.
Antioxidants work by destroying or capturing free radicals from the body, which helps slow down the aging process and prevent diseases related to cell degeneration, such as heart disease, cancer, and neurological diseases.
Antioxidants that help slow down aging
There are many types of antioxidants found in foods and dietary supplements that can help slow down aging.
1. Vitamin C Vitamin C is one of the best-known antioxidants. It plays a key role in the production of collagen, a protein that keeps the skin elastic and firm. A lack of vitamin C can make the skin dull and prone to wrinkles. Vitamin C also helps prevent wrinkles from free radical damage from the sun and pollution. Therefore, getting enough vitamin C is important for skin care. Vitamin C can be found in a variety of foods, such as citrus fruits such as oranges, kiwis, lemons, strawberries, and green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. Consuming vitamin C from natural sources or using products that contain vitamin C to nourish the skin can help brighten the skin and effectively reduce wrinkles.
Sources of vitamin C: Citrus fruits such as oranges, guavas, lemons, or green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale.
2. Vitamin E (Vitamin E) Vitamin E also has the ability to restore damaged skin by helping to repair skin cells that have been damaged by sunlight or pollution. This restoration helps the skin to look brighter and healthier. In addition, vitamin E also helps maintain the skin’s moisture, preventing the skin from drying out and maintaining its softness at all times. By strengthening the skin’s natural protective barrier, the skin can retain moisture better.
3. Coenzyme Q10 Coenzyme Q10, often abbreviated as CoQ10, is an antioxidant that plays an important role in caring for the health of the body and skin. CoQ10 is a substance found in every cell in the body and is responsible for generating energy for cells, especially in a process called energy production in mitochondria, which is the energy source of cells. Having sufficient CoQ10 in the body provides cells with the energy they need to perform various functions, which is beneficial for long-term health maintenance. The main benefit of CoQ10 is to slow down cell deterioration , especially in the skin and internal organs. Because CoQ10 is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage by free radicals, which is one of the causes of wrinkles and skin aging, supplementing CoQ10 in the body helps slow down wrinkles and make the skin look younger.
4. Beta-Carotene Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A, which helps maintain skin and vision. It protects the skin from UV rays and reduces wrinkles. Beta-carotene deficiency can lead to dry skin and skin problems.
Sources of beta-carotene: Carrots, pumpkin, papaya, and dark green leafy vegetables.
5. Green Tea Extract Green tea is another good source of antioxidants. It contains catechins, which are antioxidants that help reduce damage to skin cells from pollution and sunlight. It also helps reduce skin inflammation that can cause wrinkles.
Sources of green tea extract: Green tea
How to Choose an Effective Antioxidant
Choosing the right antioxidants requires considering your body’s needs and your skin concerns. For example, if you want to restore your skin to be bright, choosing Vitamin C may be appropriate, but if you want to nourish your skin and prevent wrinkles, you should choose Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10.
In addition, you should choose antioxidants that can be absorbed and used well by the body, such as choosing products that contain antioxidants that can be dissolved in fat and water, to get the best results.
summarize
Antioxidants are important substances that help protect cells in the body from being damaged by free radicals, which are substances that are caused by food metabolism or external factors such as pollution and sunlight. Free radicals can cause cell and tissue deterioration in the body, which is a major cause of disease and skin deterioration that we call aging. Therefore, antioxidants are considered an important tool to delay aging and maintain health effectively, making the body and skin look younger and healthier. However, choosing antioxidants must be done carefully. You must choose antioxidants that are appropriate for your body’s needs , which depend on your age and physical condition.
