Polyphenols, protective shields for the skin
The sun, this star that brightens our moods, is essential to the life of all terrestrial species. Like us, plants cannot live without its light and suffer from the antioxidant effects of its radiation. But unlike us, they cannot move around for shade or sunscreens... They were then able to adapt and develop protection and repair strategies to guard against it. What then are these miracle nutrients that give them this defense capacity?
The answer is simple, it is the presence in them of anti-free radical substances, called polyphenols, which allow them to fight very effectively against the harmful effects of UV rays. The mechanism of natural selection just shows that the plants which have made the desert their place of predilection (prickly pear, date palm, desert date palm, Aloe vera, etc…) are the plants which precisely hold a high content of polyphenols allowing them to defend themselves and to repair themselves from the harmful effects of oxidative stress.
Polyphenols, what are they?
These are very powerful molecules that allow the plant to defend itself against environmental attacks (radiation, temperature, pollution) or attacks from pathogens. There is an extreme diversity of polyphenols depending on the species, the most active or the best known of which are tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids and anthocyanins.
The anti-aging action of polyphenols
They are able to inactivate free radicals, these toxic oxidizing species that accelerate cell aging and damage DNA. They also have antimicrobial and antifungal functions. The action of these molecules is, for example, twice as powerful as those of vitamin C that you all know.
Where can you find polyphenols?
In most fruits, vegetables, roots, leaves and seeds of the sun which are very colorful since they also participate in their coloring (red, blue, purple...). They are generally found in greater concentration in the skins of fruits or in the leaves of vegetables. You have, no doubt, already heard of the presence of polyphenols in red wine (this is what gives the color of the dress), dark chocolate, green tea leaves, dates, persimmon, fruits. reds, citrus fruits, apples, grapes, pomegranates, etc ...
It is true that these foods often rhyme with calories... but rest assured, you will not have to use this subterfuge! In fact, to provide your skin with the necessary dose, you just need to supplement the intake by choosing a cream or mask that is very rich in polyphenols. Note that these "nuggets" are found in high concentrations in dates, a revolutionary flagship active in our Ange Sensationnel and our Sève Divine Mask, so it is up to you to treat your skin with these powerful antioxidants!
