How
they make you look older:
Oxidative stress,
occurs when some molecules (oxidizing agents)
take electrons from other molecules or atoms.
The substances that can exist with missing electrons
are called free radicals. Most of these free radicals
are oxygen molecules or atoms.
Free radicals are
highly reactive, always ready to give away the
odd electron, or to accept one. After they find
a pair for the lonesome electron, they lose their
activity, but the atom that has just lost an electron
becomes a free radical in turn. It is a necessary
part of metabolic process. However, too many free
radicals cause a dangerous chain reaction that
destroys cellular compounds and can damage DNA,
proteins and lipids (fats).
Cellular damage
can result in diseases, such as cancer, inhibit
enzyme activity and produce mutations in genetic
material that makes aging go faster.
How exactly
can oxidative stress speed skin ageing?
Wrinkles occur
when skin loses its elasticity. The loss of elasticity
is caused by extensive formation and accumulation
of collagen cross-links. Collagen cross-linking
is a result of a chemical process that starts
with nonenzymatic attachment of glucose to a collagen
molecule.
When enzymes attach
glucose to collagen, there is a reason for it
and a purpose. Nonezymatic attachment, on the
other hand, is random. Collagen cross linking
in this case is uncontrollable and more often
than not - unnecessary. Once cross-linking occurs,
it is irreversible.
By inhibiting enzyme
production, free radicals lead to chaotic collagen
cross linking.
Metabolism, environmental
toxins and pollution are the main reasons why
free radicals exist. Metabolism is a part of life,
sun and toxins are hard to escape. The only way
to counteract free radical damage is to neutralize
them as they appear.
Antioxidants:
(vitamins E, C, carotenes and flavonoids) are
an easy target for free radicals. They catch free
radicals and bond with them, but don't become
free radicals themselves. As soon as a free radical
is bonded with an antioxidant molecule, it loses
its activity and is no longer dangerous.
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