Most people work hard to keep their body, mind and spirit healthy. Some do it with yoga, some with meditation, and some take vitamins to keep their bodies feeling and functioning well. If you are looking for a way to stave off colds, to have more stamina, or just to feel healthier, consider the antioxidant vitamin. It’s a simple way to get yourself on your feet and staying on your feet. Here is some background for the antioxidant vitamin, and why it may work for you:

The Basics

Antioxidants are chemicals that fight off the damaging effects of oxidation within the body. Free radical molecules that contain oxygen (which obviously enters the body from breathing, eating and simply moving) can form harmful strands of lipids, which attach themselves to the body cells and can cause cell mutation.

Types of Antioxidants

Antioxidants can be found in nutrient rich foods such as berries, leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and even tea and coffee. The antioxidant vitamin contained in these foods is mainly Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Beta-Carotene along with Lycopene. There are also other vitamins that are contained in these foods and for more information you can consult the Food and Drug Administration.

Effects of the Antioxidant Vitamin

The antioxidant vitamin is very important when it come to maintaining health. Vitamin C, which is found in foods such as oranges, helps boost the immune system. Vitamin E helps with memory and is found in green vegetables. Beta-Carotene aids vision, and can be found in carrots or turnips. Lycopene also can help with the immune system and is found in tomatoes.

Ways of Consumption

You can choose to have you antioxidant vitamin through consumption of antioxidant food, such as those mentioned above. Or, you can opt to take an actual antioxidant vitamin, which comes in the form of a capsule. These can be found in the nutrition aisle of your local grocery store, or at any supplement outlet. Most capsules only have to be taken once a day, and can be chewed or swallowed.

The antioxidant vitamin has very powerful effects on your body. It not only helps keep you from physically getting ill, but it gives you a peace of mind knowing that you are taking good care of your body. With a combination of exercise, eating foods rich in antioxidants, or simply taking an antioxidant vitamin with water every day, you are set to lead a very long, vigorous life.

Traditionally men used to work outside – hunting for meat, herding cattle and whatnot. These outdoor activities exposed them to massive doses of sunshine. While this gave them a deep tan it also gave their skin the look of wrinkled leather.

A man’s skin care routine at that time would include splashing water on the face to cool off, an occasional shave and an even more occasional bath. Needless to say the term ‘skin care’ would have made them laugh their spurs off or completely confound them.

Obviously, times changed as men started putting on suits and ties, but their skin routine was still lacking. The occasional shave of yore became a daily ritual, soap was added to the splashing of the face, and the infrequent bath evolved into daily showers. Applying alcohol based colognes and after-shaves was an added option for special occasions. This was all a step up to be sure, but for healthy skin it just wasn’t enough.

All in all a man’s skin care routine had not changed that much, until recently. Within the past decade or so there has been a general explosion in the interest of men’s health this includes caring for the skin. It is almost as though men are starting to notice they really have skin that needs to be cared for.

However for many men the idea of skin care remains completely foreign – or worse: too girly! (in their opinion). Women may find it difficult to explain their skin care regimen to the men in their lives. Of course, more men than ever before do take care of their skin and there has been a likewise explosion in skin care products made specifically for the male market.

Masks, exfoliants, cleansers, moisturizers and any combination of those alone or added to ‘traditional’ products. Facials, manicures and full spa treatments, once the exclusive domain of women, are now gaining acceptance among men. The current buzzword for these men is “metrosexual”, but, to be honest, most men find that term suspect.

Some men still think skin care isn’t ‘manly’. There is nothing ‘girly’ about wanting healthy skin nor is there anything wrong with wanting to prevent acne or skin cancer. Many men who use skin care products don’t want other guys to know; but real men don’t worry about what other people think. Still, manufacturers know that men do not want to smell like flowers or fruit, so they make products that have a more masculine scent, or no scent at all.

Guys like to be tough but need to be gentle when washing their faces. Men’s skin tends to be thicker than a woman’s. Yet, the same basics of skin care apply to both sexes. Keep the skin clean, avoid the sun, stay moisturized, eat right, drink plenty of water and do not smoke.

If you have a man in your life who does not yet practice good skin care, take a few moments to explain the benefits to him. Making more money or looking their best are two reasons most men can relate to.