February 21, 2020
Imagine an office where everyone is busy, processes are clearly allocated, and responsibilities and tasks are completed efficiently and on time. But then someone with too few duties and plenty of free time appears on the team. They start approaching other employees, talking to them and distracting them from work. At the same time, that person seems busy, but the rest of the workers begin to fall apart, and the workflow unravels.
Free radicals in the body behave in much the same way — particles that have unpaired electrons on their outer shell. In their effort to find a partner, free radicals actively interact with other “employees”: they take an electron from other molecules, becoming stable, and the damaged particle will seek a new victim. See? Free radicals aren't born, they become.
In the skin and other tissues of our body, it is the oxygen molecules that lose electrons most easily. If many “damaged” particles form, the body “oxidizes” and the aging process accelerates significantly.
Where do free radicals get their “freedom”?
Most often, literally speaking, from the air. When we inhale cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes or emissions from industrial plants, the “saboteurs” enter our body. There are other dangers as well: particles can be damaged due to stress, an irregular or poor-quality diet, poor sleep, excess ultraviolet radiation, etc.
You're probably wondering: So what now? Should we stop working, stop eating or stop breathing? Know that such radical measures to fight free radicals are not necessary. Still, there are things you can do. For example:
● Arrange your work schedule so that you have enough time for sleep and rest.
● If you live in a metropolis, plan getaways out of the city where you can “pamper” your body with clean air.
● Avoid stress and give up bad habits.
You can also be helped by the “soldiers of the invisible front” — antioxidants.
What antioxidants are, why you need them, and where to get them
Antioxidants are substances that can neutralize the oxidative action of free radicals. In other words, they stop the chain reaction in which molecules are targeted for electron capture and, in doing so, help slow the body's aging. That's exactly the goal, right?
Antioxidants include: catalytic proteins, vitamins, tannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids. In other words, there are many antioxidants and most of them can be obtained from foods — assuming a proper diet, of course. Here is a short list of food sources of natural antioxidants:
● Berries: blueberries, sea buckthorn, currants, pomegranates, grapes.
● Nuts and most legumes.
● Artichoke.
● Green tea, cocoa, red wine.
But let's be honest: how many of us eat well enough to provide the body with the necessary amount of antioxidants? There is another side to antioxidation — free radicals are not always “enemies” and it's not good to eliminate them completely. In moderate amounts they support the body's protective functions and help nutrient absorption. So an excess of antioxidants is also undesirable. How do you find a middle ground?
In this respect cosmetologists can help you. Some cosmetic lines have an antioxidant complex selected to stabilize oxidative processes in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. This is the best solution to maintain your skin's elasticity and youthfulness.
You can find such products at Viorica-Cosmetic too. In the antioxidant product line with grape seed oil and vine leaf extract:
- Day face cream
- Hand cream
- Antioxidant micellar water
Grapes of the “Viorica” variety are used as raw material — a standout product for their high content of magnesium, calcium, polyphenols and amino acids.
When creating cosmetic products under the Viorica-Cosmetic brand, herbs and crops grown in Moldova are used, in specially selected areas with excellent ecology. Scientists say that vitamins and substances obtained from plants cultivated in the same region where you live are best assimilated. In this respect, Viorica-Cosmetic offers only the very best: sourced and inspired by nature.