Antioxidant Skin Care: Wine and Chocolate
source: flickr by:beatbull
Antioxidant Skin Care: Wine and Chocolate
By now, we’re all familiar with antioxidants. They’ve been on the buzzword list for quite some time, but unlike some buzzwords, antioxidants are here to stay. The benefits they can provide to our bodies and skin are proven, and more uses and benefits are currently being researched.
Antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals, the “bad guys” responsible for visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, hyperpigmentation and more. In addition, oxidative stress, which is countered by antioxidants, is thought to be a main contributor to many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. Therefore, many believe that antioxidants could have positive effects on these and other diseases.
Some people feel as if antioxidants are simply another step in their daily dietary and skin care routines, as well as another weight on their pocketbook. Nothing could be further from the truth! If only everyone knew how easy (and sometimes fun) it was to get their daily allowance of antioxidants, everyone would be feeling and looking healthier and more youthful. The best antioxidant secret? Chocolate and wine!
Dark chocolate and red wine contain some of the highest levels of food antioxidants. Based on the ORAC unit scale (the scale by which antioxidant levels are determined), dark chocolate with a minimum of 70% cocoa solids contains up to 8,849 ORAC units per one and a half ounces consumed, while red wine contains 3,873-5,034 units for five ounces. With the daily ORAC unit recommendation set at a minimum of 3,000 units, it doesn’t seem too difficult to protect your body and skin from oxidative stress!
Many topical anti-aging skin care products contain chocolate or resveratrol, the powerful antioxidant in wine. These skin care product additions allow you to target visible signs of aging from the outside while your daily antioxidant diet combats both internal and external damage, fine lines, wrinkles and more. For the ultimate antioxidant treatment, choose an antioxidant-fortified face mask and let it work on your skin while you enjoy a rich, velvety piece of chocolate and a relaxing glass of red wine. Staying healthy and combating visible signs of aging never tasted so great!