What is an antioxidant?

You must have heard that vitamin E was a great antioxidant, but what does it really mean? In this article My day explains everything to you so that antioxidants have no secrets for you!

Definition of antioxidant

Our body is always in contact with the oxygen in our environment. Even if oxygen is essential to breathe and live, it also produces so -called “oxidizing” molecules in our body.

These molecules, called reactive oxygen species (ROS), cause stress in our cells, the famous oxidative stress, which very toxic and can cause various diseases. Fortunately, our body has a way to defend itself by producing molecules called antioxidants which neutralize these ROS. Normally, there is a balance between oxidizing molecules and antioxidants.

However, factors such as pollution, alcohol, smoking and exposure to UV can cause ROS overproduction, disturbing this balance and causing damage to our body.

Our environment rich in antioxidant

To help our body make barrier with oxidizing molecules, we can help it by consuming certain foods rich in antioxidants but also thanks to antioxidant active ingredients in our cosmetics.

The best known antioxidant molecules found in food and cosmetics:

Vitamins: Vitamin C (oranges, strawberries, broccoli, peppers), vitamin E (vegetable oils)

Carotenoids: Carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, spinach

Polyphenols: Green tea, apple, grapes, blueberries, onions, citrus fruits, coffee beans This list contains examples of antioxidants but there is so much that it would be difficult to identify them all!