By now, we’ve all heard of the amazing health benefits of antioxidants. Not only do they help prevent heart disease, liver disease and certain forms of cancer, they may also offer some protection against neuro-degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. And if these aren’t good enough reasons to convince you to start guzzling the pomegranate juice, I can also give you another one: antioxidants also help prevent wrinkles.

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Antioxidants are substances that protect the body against free radicals–unstable molecules that cause damage to cell membranes, lipids, proteins, and DNA. Besides wreaking havoc on your insides, free radicals also damage the skin and are a major contributor to premature aging. The good news is, you can protect your skin from sun damage and even prevent new wrinkles from forming by using a combination of oral and topical antioxidants.

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One of the best ways to harness the powers of antioxidants is by adding them to your diet. Antioxidants are found in the Vitamins A, C and E and in the minerals copper, zinc and selenium. There are a number of dietary compounds that are believed to offer more powerful antioxidants than even these vitamins and minerals can provide. These include lycopene (tomatoes), anthocyanins (cranberries), lutein (leafy greens) and flavonoids (tea, citrus fruits, red wine). Other excellent sources of antioxidants include acai, pomegranate, and herbs and spices like turmeric, curry, oregano, ginger and cinnamon.

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Although antioxidants are also available in supplement form, the jury is still out on whether these are as effective as food sources. Personally, I think supplements are worth taking. As well as drinking three cups of green tea a day and eating plenty of veggies and fruits, I take a daily 200 mg dose of Coenzyme Q10, my favorite individual antioxidant and one that’s proven to fight skin aging. I also take Standard Process OPC Synergy supplements, which are loaded with grape seed extract and resveratrol, one of the most exciting antioxidant and anti-aging substances we know of.

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Trendy vitamin waters are another way to get your antioxidant fix, but beware! Many are loaded with sugar, which pretty much cancels out any skin-enhancing properties these products might offer. Try Enviga or BORBA waters, which are both sugar-free. Even better are “water booster” drops that you can add to any beverage. They come in dropper-style bottles you can tuck into your purse and are the best way to get nutrients when you’re on the go–a dropperful of Dr. Brandt Antioxidant Water Booster, for example, is equivalent to 15 cups of green tea, and you’d have to eat a lot of mushrooms to get the benefits in a single dose of Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega–Mushroom Supplement.

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When it comes to antioxidants, you don’t need to pick just one; incorporating a variety into your routine is the best approach. In fact, research suggests that certain combinations of antioxidants–lycopene and vitamin E, for example–are more effective together than either would be alone. Just be aware that it’s possible to get too much of a good thing when taking supplements: follow the recommended daily amounts on the bottles, particularly with Vitamin E. You should also discontinue taking Vitamin E at least 10 days before having a cosmetic procedure like Botox or dermal fillers because it can make you more likely to bruise.

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To get the full anti–aging benefits of antioxidants, you have to work from the outside in as well as the inside out. In addition to dietary and supplement sources, there are a number of highly effective topical products that really pack an antioxidant punch. Vitamins A, C and E, lycopene, grape seed extract, green tea and pomegranate are all common skincare ingredients, but not every antioxidant is suited to topical application. Cosmetics companies would love to harness the power of acai berry, for example, but unfortunately it would have the unwelcome side effect of turning the face blue!

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Besides their anti-aging properties, topical antioxidants can also help minimize sun damage and should be applied twice daily or 30 minutes before sun exposure. Try Revaléskin CoffeeBerry Night Cream, Topix Replenix Caffeine Enhanced Green Tea Cream and Kiehl’s Lycopene Facial Moisturizing Lotion. Eidelweiss, that small white flower from The Sound of Music, is the star ingredient in Darphin Vital Protection, and Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil features rosewood and geranium.

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As with all miracle cures, there is a catch. Antioxidants are preventative measures only–they can prevent new wrinkles from forming and minimize sun damage, but, sadly, they won’t make wrinkles you already have go away. However, when you consider the myriad and delicious dietary sources, the ease of supplementation, the efficacy of topical treatments and the sheer scope of all-over health benefits, I think antioxidants are the single best way to fight premature aging from the inside out.

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Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some pomegranate juice to guzzle.

Dr. Leslie Baumann