Every generation is interested in looking their best. Baby boomers, along with 20 and 30 year olds enjoy retaining their youthful appearance. Exotic fruits are very hot in the cosmetic industry right now. These fruits contain high antioxidant levels, are extremely popular and contain numerous anti aging benefits. Many of these ingredients are also being used in nutritional drinks. Super Fruit Blends may also be combined with herbs such as Green Tea in many skin care product that contains green tea and exotic fruits.

Antioxidants are a group of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and enzymes found in plant foods. These vital substances help to protect our cells from free radicals, the culprits responsible for causing damage to cells, including skin cells. Free radicals are groups of unstable atoms looking to obtain electrons in order to become stable. They can pull electrons off cell membranes, unleashing a vicious cycle of cell destruction, known as a “free radical cascade.” In addition to causing various diseases, free radical damage activates an enzyme called metalloproteinase which breaks down collagen and cell membranes, leading to aging and illness. Luckily there are literally thousands of antioxidants from natural sources to help us win the “free radical battle”.

Antioxidants are often incorporated in all types of skin care products, such as day creams, night creams, foundations, lip products, moisturizers, SPF products, bath, hair care and acne products.

While antioxidants have been around forever, they are now getting a lot more attention. Consumers today are reading labels and they are looking for products with ingredients that sound familiar, rather than a host of strange chemicals. Antioxidants occur naturally in a large number of botanicals and they are being used in cosmetic and personal care products. Consumers are correctly associating the presence of these naturally occurring antioxidants with healthy skin.

The trend towards natural products has been increasing every year. We have seen a large increase in the use and demand for botanical extracts in foods and supplements. Baby boomers spend billions each year in an effort to look youthful and healthy. Technology and science are now validating the folkloric and traditional use of natural fruits and vegetables to enhance health and beauty.

Recently a test method called ORAC has been developed to measure the antioxidant potency of skin care products. Although many folks are still unaware of ORAC testing, the ORAC value is becoming an important evaluation in terms of the antioxidant level in foods, cosmetics and other skin care products. ORAC stands for “Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity”. ORAC describes a laboratory analysis of the antioxidant activity against various free radicals, such as the peroxyl radical, which is one of the most common reactive oxygen species(ROS) that cause damage to cell membranes in the body. ORAC measures the ability of substances to neutralize this free radical. The greater the amount of free radicals a nutrient or product can combat, the higher its ORAC score. This standard was developed in a collaborated effort by the National Institute on Aging and the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging . People who are knowledgably about the meaning of ORAC become more interested in this measurement value. Some fruits with highest ORAC scoring value include Acai, Mangosteen and Goji, along with Green Tea. Here is some information about these fruits:

ACAI Berry– Brazil-high concentration of antioxidants:Vitamin C, E, B1, B2,B3, Fe, K, Ph, Ca, Omega 3’s

Mangosteen– Asia- “queen of the fruit” -antioxidants such as mangostin.

Goji Berry– Asia-wolfberry, polysaccharides, that ‘amplify signals’ between cells, and improve immune defense.

Pomegranate– Middle East-Vitamin C, potassium, polyphenols and a host of other beneficial antioxidants

Red Coffee Fruit– Central America- high in bioflavonoids, Vitamin C and other antioxidants

Muscadine Grape– Southeastern US, resveratrol and anthocyanidins, with powerful free radical scavengers

Blueberries– US, Europe-phytonutrients including Vitamin C, Phenolics, Anthocyanins

When choosing skin care products, take some time to read the ingredients. The exotic fruits listed above can enhance the antioxidant activity of the product, and provide additional support for skin health. Be sure to read ‘other ingredients’ and avoid products that feature a long paragraph list of chemicals.

Ellen Kamhi, PhD, RN is the author of The Natural Medicine Chest. She offers individual consultations
Contact Dr. Kamhi at (954) 418-2388