There are millions of processes occurring in the body and all of them require oxygen.
Approximately 2-3% of the oxygen consumed by every cell is converted into free radicals.
Over time, oxygen can kill or destroy cells and eventually lead to disease, premature aging or even death.
These oxidants can also be produced or introduced by external agents such as pollution, stress, etc.
The body usually produces its own antioxidants but if the damage is too extensive or the menace is too high then this production is never enough.
When there is an imbalance between free radicals and detoxification we have what is called "oxidative stress".
A diet rich in antioxidant foods can help, but if you take into consideration that on a daily basis the body is bombarded by smoke, pollution, stress, etc.
, you can easily understand why it is so important to seek added help.
A number of enzymes and vitamins are known to counteract the damaging effects of oxidation.
Some enzymes are produced by the body.
The most common ones are Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, and Glutathione.
These antioxidants break-down the harmful radicals and help eliminate them through the system in the form of bodily waste.
Antioxidants and the Skin If free radicals are formed when an electron is taken from an oxygen molecule then it makes perfect sense that you can eliminate free radicals by furnishing them with that missing electron.
This is exactly what antioxidants do.
They willingly give up their electrons to free radicals and in turn the free radical no longer needs to steal an electron from a neighboring molecule.
This does not, however, stop the aging process but it does keep it from accelerating due to sun damage, smoke or pollution.
In reference to skin protection it has been proven that by applying antioxidants directly to the skin you can protect and slow down the aging process.
Stressed skin For years doctors have struggled with finding the right definition for stress.
Dr.
Hans Selye, a Canadian endocrinologist, probably explained it best when he said, "[stress is] the rate of wear and tear on the body".
Therefore increased stress produces an accelerated deterioration of the body.
Other theories state that stress causes your adrenal glands to produce powerful hormones which generate free radicals.
The body tries to detox itself by pushing these free radicals out through the liver, which in turn, produces more free radicals.
No matter how you look at it, stress is a free-radical-producing agent.
Lack of proper skin care Most people don't take proper care of their skin.
They use harsh chemicals or simply forget to apply any cream at all.
Some people don't even realize that their diet or bad habits greatly influence the over all look of healthy skin.
In a world where we are constantly being attacked by elements that strip our bodies of beauty and health it's a wonder there can even exist a product that can help us deal with it, but there is.
Natural ingredients found in Nature are a natural complement to all skin care regimens and are incorporated with antioxidants that derive from two miraculous natural products: rose hip oil and olive oil.
What is Rose hip oil? Rose hip oil is a natural antioxidant, found in Chile, with hydrating qualities.
It contains a Vitamin A derivative (Trans-Retionic Acid) and is high in Vitamin E, both of which are known antioxidants.
It also contains 80% essential fatty acids, predominantly linoleic and linolenic and is naturally enriched with beta-carotene and lycopene, two more known antioxidants.
Why is Olive Oil an important antioxidant? Europeans have known that olive oil has properties that help protect and prolong a healthy lifestyle this for ages and have made olive oil a staple in their diet.
Most scientist say that the benefits reaped from this oil are due to the 30 plant compounds that it contains.
Scientists also link the beneficial consumption of this ingredient to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and antioxidants such as phenolic compounds, vitamin E and beta-carotene.
Moreover, a study done in Italy's Department of Drug Research and Evaluation, reported that while tyrosol has a weak antioxidant power, it may play an important role in maintaining the cell's antioxidant defenses.
Nature's most complete antioxidant For ages it has been known that the snail secretes a serum that helps regenerate and restore damaged skin cells.
However, its ability to counteract the "rusting" effects caused by stress, pollution or simple bodily functions has only recently been discovered.
A study done by the Universidade de Brasília, showed that the Helix Aspera snail's free radical metabolism had an internal clock that could control the regulation of free radical metabolism during different seasons.
This meant that the creature had year round protection.
Studies done on the snail's secretion also revealed the presence of antioxidant enzymes such as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST).
SOD is also found in the human body and is in charge of removing superoxide radicals produced in the mitochondrial electron transport chain.
The superoxide radicals are converted into hydrogen peroxide; however, the rate of production is usually too much for our body to handle on its own.
So having an extra supply of superoxide dismutase can be beneficial.
As for Glutathione-S-transferase, it is a protective enzyme that repairs oxidative damage.
Glutathione (GSH), often called the "master anti oxidant", binds itself to proteins damaged by oxidation, allowing these toxins to be excreted from the body.
This process is known as glutathionylation.
Unfortunately, as the body ages, glutathione production decreases resulting in a decrease in detoxification.
Snail serum also contains hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer and while it may not be an antioxidant it may have some antioxidant abilities.
When hyaluronic acid is mixed with antioxidants it helps prevent aging and heal cells damaged by UV exposure.
Other biological ingredients found in snail serum are enzyme-proteins tightly bound to oligoelements (Copper and Zinc) that act as co-enzymes and also have antioxidant capabilities.
Using products that contain snail serum create a complete line of antioxidant defense.
And is also a potent skin regenerator because the creature's skin is made of very much the same molecules and structures that human skin is made of: collagen, elastin and fibrin protein fibers and water holding sugars: glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins (sugars bound to proteins) and the same types of cells.
So if you really want to have a full line of antioxidant defense then complementing your skin care with natural products and ingredients that contain antioxidant properties is a sure way of fighting the depleting effects of free radicals.