By Matt Balmeseda

Summer is just about over and Fall is on its way. It's the perfect time to start taking care of that sun damaged skin you've incurred over the last few months. Creams and moisturizers full of healthy antioxidants will do the trick, and luckily, you don't have to look hard to find them.

But what exactly are antioxidants? And how can they help you not only achieve healthier skin, but also better health overall? In addition to skincare products, just about every month there seems to be some new “super food” or dietary advice surfacing that promotes the importance of these biological blessings. In fact, antioxidants happen to have a heavy hand in keeping heart disease, cancer, and other health hazards at bay.

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants act like cleanup crews in the body. They stop harmful agents from damaging cells which speed up the aging process. Antioxidants come in many different forms with common names most of us probably already know. Vitamins A, C, and E are all essential vitamins, as well as powerful antioxidants. Selenium, a mineral commonly found in fish, poultry, and meat is also an antioxidant abundant in the foods we eat. They all work together in the body to take on free radicals, which are the natural particles produced by cells during a process called oxidation. You already know that oxygen is an important element and we need it regularly to survive, but what you may not know is that when oxygen is used (oxidation), it can cause some harmful side effects. We explain more below:


Oxidation: Where Free Radicals are Formed   

When we breathe in oxygen it is distributed from the lungs and through the body. It interacts with cells and naturally creates damaging free radicals. When oxygen comes into contact with almost anything, it plays off it with a burning or damaging effect. One of the best ways to show the effects of this is on metal. When oxygen comes into contact with these elements it forms rust. In fruits, oxidation forms brown spots and causes them to go bad, which is a form of biological rust. In humans, the damaging effects of oxidation are caused by free radicals, which can lead to damage to skin, tissue and the entire body system.


Fighting Back with Antioxidants

Because antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals and make them biologically stable, they are a powerful ally in the fight against cellular damage. As a result, antioxidants have taken a position front stage in skincare products and diets. Berries, broccoli, tomatoes, green tea, garlic, spinach and whole grains are just some of the many delicious foods that have high levels of antioxidants.

Steve Smith, co-founder of AntiOXinabox, a company that creates unique gift and wellness baskets full of antioxidant-rich products, says, “In addition to reduction of cellular damage, research has shown that a diet rich in foods with antioxidants, such as cherries and acai berries, can lower blood pressure and the risk of cancer and heart disease.”

Bottom line: Reclaim that image of youth and vitality by eating a diet rich in antioxidants and protecting your skin regularly and early on with antioxidant-rich skin products.