Everything you should know about antioxidants

Did you know that each of the 70 trillion cells of our body needs a constant supply of oxygen? Yes, this sounds very serious... and it is! Scientists admit that these processes are essential for all life activities, heart, brain, muscle, and digestion to work properly.

While you are breathing, each cell releases reactive oxygen species, called free oxygen radicals or oxidants. What's interesting, approximately 5 percent of the oxygen transforms into them if we think of a healthy person.

The production of free radicals is a natural result of aging. However, the story doesn't end here as oxidants also arise in non-physiological situations, for example as a result of inflammation, illness, sunbathing, and a bad diet. There is one more aspect that plays a key role. It's your biggest enemy... stress.

Let’s talk about free radicals

The free radicals are oxygen atoms with missing electrons. They strive to regain the correct construction, stealing the missing electron from other cells. This theft can lead to cell proteins as well as DNA damage, and contribute to the development of many diseases. Some examples could be cancer, eye issues (like cataracts), or Alzheimer's. Of course, it has quite an impact on the acceleration of body aging.

Don't get us wrong. There are also bright sides to free radicals as we all need their small portion to make sure our body can function in a proper way. Your liver produces and uses them to detoxify the body, while white blood cells send them to destroy bacteria, viruses, and damaged cells. The key here is that once their job is done, thanks to antioxidants, there should be a process of neutralization... They give free radicals one electron as a gift.

With environmental pollution, harmful technologies, and other factors, there are more and more free radicals surrounding and attacking us.

What causes free radicals?

If you already know that free radicals are all around us, why not help yourself and make sure your actions don't increase their quantity? Here are some of the lifestyle, stress, and environmental factors that promote excessive free radical formation:

• cigarette smoke,

• alcohol intake,

• solar radiation,

• exposure to heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) and nitrogen oxides (food, fumes),

• big intake of trans fat,

• intensive sports,

• influence of certain drugs, i.e. antidepressants, birth control pills, steroids, and anticoagulants (Feinstein, 1996).

Our tip? Increase your antioxidant intake!

Thankfully, we have antioxidants which are substances with the unique ability to balance the detrimental effects of oxidizing processes in your body.

They are electron donors and although your body has somewhat like a natural weapon to fight them (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C, E, coenzyme Q10), over time the natural defenses become inadequate. As an effect, the cells of the body are being destroyed.

Where can you find more antioxidants? Make sure to choose the right fruits, veggies, and herbs:

• vitamin E (almonds, spinach, sunflower seeds),

• lutein (kiwi, pumpkin and yellow squash, cilantro, parsley),

• vitamin C (acai, guava, oranges, red bell papers, kiwi, kale, tomatoes),

• beta-carotene (sweet potatoes, carrot, spinach, kale),

• flavonoids and lycopene (watermelon, papaya, grapefruit).

How to build a good skincare routine?

Your daily moisturizer MUST contain at least 1 antioxidant, to protect your skin from free radicals. It will support damaging molecules that come from excessive light, pollution, cigarette smoke, and many other factors.

It's as simple as applying an antioxidant cream that can penetrate your skin into deeper layers. The natural and high-quality cosmetic composition is essential in neutralizing the negative influence of the environment or bad lifestyle choices and allows collagen production to continue.

At Mandala Balance, we have one recipe for success… It’s the combination of the right diet, healthy lifestyle, and well-thought skincare that can help you maintain skin elasticity and strength... Are you ready for the metamorphosis and seeing your skin more firm and younger?