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Soft, supple, clear-looking skin can give a woman or man a youthful glow at any age.  There are certain natural vitamins and nutrients that have been tested recently for their healthy benefits to the skin.  Before discussing these, let’s take a look at some of the factors that can cause skin dryness, wrinkles, blemishes or spots.

The term “free radicals” has been appearing a lot in the nutritional news lately.  These are highly reactive, damaging molecules in the body that have become unbalanced. They attack other molecules and modify their chemical structure. This can create a chain reaction that in essence causes the body to rust from the inside out.  Essentially, this is a form of oxidation where oxygen has combined with other substances in the body.

Free radicals come from pollution, smoke, over-exposure to the sun, medications, drugs, infection, stress, toxic chemicals, a poor diet, and also as a byproduct of normal digestion and metabolism.  Free radicals play a major role in the aging process, including the skin, and they also contribute to many degenerative diseases such as arthritis, heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants are substances that can help to neutralize free radicals. Vitamins A, C, and E are well-known antioxidants that defend the body against free radicals and act to repair the damage.

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a great promoter of youthfulness. Because this antioxidant isn’t produced in the body, it must be gotten from citrus fruits, deeply pigmented vegetables and supplements to maintain healthy levels. Most vitamin C creams perform as antioxidant formulas that protect the skin from damaging free radicals that can lead to wrinkles and prematurely aging skin.

One study from “Skin and Allergy News” showed that topical antioxidants applied to the arms and face reduced lines and wrinkles and also improved skin thickness and elasticity.  Vitamin C can also benefit the skin by stimulating the growth of new collagen tissue (the protein fibers that make up connective tissues), which ultimately makes the skin appear smoother and firmer because it’s better supported by strong collagen underneath. Vitamin C products should be used for at least eight weeks to see a difference in the skin.

Vitamins A and E can are also beneficial the skin.  In one research study from “Cosmetology”, various skin creams containing 5 percent vitamin A (in the form of retinyl palmitate) and 10 percent vitamin E (in the form of alpha-tocopheral acetate) were shown to increase skin moisturization and cellular renewal and to decrease skin wrinkling.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is known as the “Universal Antioxidant”.  It is made in small amounts in the body and is found in flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, walnuts and walnut oil.  ALA acts as a powerful antioxidant and as a scavenger of both water and fat-soluble free radicals.  It spares levels of other antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, which are naturally present in cells and it works to increase their levels.

According to “Skin and Aging”, this ability of ALA to be soluble in both water and fat, is what enables ALA to be rapidly available to skin cells. Use of ALA on the skin helps to promote and develop a supple, youthful and glowing appearance.

Make good use of antioxidants for beautiful skin!

This health news is provided by Nutrition Breakthroughs.  Since 2001 Nutrition Breakthroughs has been providing natural health articles and effective natural remedies.  Their mission is to provide nutritional supplements that get results, and therefore help people to avoid harmful drugs and their side effects.

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