What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are substances whose molecules help neutralize free-radicals by donating one of their electrons stabilizing others. Our cells use oxygen to produce energy and carry out metabolic functions. The human body needs oxygen to repair tissue and exchanges with carrying out waste byproducts. In the process of building tissue and breaking down byproducts free radicals form. Free radicals are unstable molecules for they are missing electrons on their outer shell, however if there are enough antioxidants in the body and tissues it helps to neutralize them making them stable. Stress, poor diet, cigarette smoke and pollution also contribute to the forming of free radicals. Free radical formation is part of daily living and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables help neutralize them. This is a natural part of being human for if not we would live forever and not that an individual is not doing something right or wrong for the body is constantly building the tissues and breaking down wastes. The cells especially in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, is continuously slowly exfoliating while creating new ones at the basal layer.

Pumpkin is an excellent source of Vitamin A and unfiltered fermented pumpkin has many other nutritional ingredients that have been added to our skin toner from PCA skin to help quench free radicals and skin conditions. The skin nutrient toner we have from PCA skin has in addition Phenyl-N- Butyl Nitrone a spin trap antioxidant. Spin traps create a barrier or trap that holds free-radicals preventing them from damaging the cells especially on the surface of the skin. Credit to its discovery comes from scientists studying free radicals and trapping them to analyze their effects on aging and pioneers were Pamela E. Starke PhD, and John Carney PhD, who used phenyl-n-butyl or (PBN) for short as an effective antioxidant spin trap. (Nicholas Perricone, M.D. (2000). The Wrinkle Cure, (Warner Books: New York), pgs. 183-184). We are lucky to have Margaret Encira founder of PCA skin to also include this effective science based cosmetic ingredient in the nutrient toner that also has antioxidants from fermented pumpkin extract. These important ingredients help relieve skin inflammation, rosacea and help neutralize free-radicals on the skin surface compliments of Mother Nature and skin care science. So lets enjoy the fall harvest, family time and the beautiful radiant skin both from good nutrition and topically applied skin care ingredients.

Nutritional Ingredients of Pumpkin 

The following is a partial list of the nutrional benefits in pumpkin provided by pca skin systems scientific research. This will help you undertand the many benefits you will see using pca Pumpkin derived nutrient skin toner product. This is some of what fermented, unfiltered whole pumpkin has to offer:
1. ABSCISIC ACID- a plant based growth hormone that slows the cellular biological clock.

2. ADENINE- a nucleic acid base which attracts vitamin B into the repair process of DNA damaged by ultraviolet radiation.

3. ADENOSINE- a sugar of adenine (see#2) that smoothly and uniformly rebuilds subcutaneous fat with the help of niacin attached by adenine (see#2).

4. ALANINE- a protein building amino acid which suppresses crystallization of glucose around protein fibrils.

5. ALPHA-AMINO-ADIPIC ACID- protein building amino acid that greatly strengthens the lysine (essential amino acid)subunits which make up collagen and elastin.

6. AMINO BUTYRIC ACID- (alpha, beta, and gamma), a potent inhibitory amino acid also found in the brain. Its potent, neutral antioxidant properties have been found to inhibit production of super
oxygen free radicals in the skin by preventing disconnection with the skin's natural spin traps!

7. ARACHIDIC ACID- moisturizing fatty acid also found in sun flowers.

8. ARGININE- a semi-essential amini acid responsible for "fixing" (securing and concentrating) nitrogen-based spin traps in the skin thereby thwarting runaway free radical production. It also works with Alanine (see#4) to suppress crystallization of glucose in protein fibrils.

9. ASCORBIC ACID- vitamin C, the powerful antioxidant that directly stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.

10. ASPARTIC ACID- a protein building amino acid responsible for DNA production supporting all areas of tissue respiration.

11. BORON- elemental plant growth factor which is a catalyst for abscisic acid's benefits in the skin (see#1).

12. CAFFEIC ACID- cinnamic acid derivative, which has a softening effect on pigmentation.

13. CALCIUM- keeps epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation on a healthy, non-malignant path through activation of epidermal calcium binding protein. This is made possible only through the
photosynthesis of pre-vitamin D, which co-activates this protein with calcium.

14. CARBOXY-PHENYLALANINE- moisturizing fatty acid form of protein-building amino acid phenylalaine.

15. BETA-CAROTENE- antioxidant pro-vitamin.

16. CHROMIUM- a mineral that improves RNA structure and function, and also helps in the prevention of A.G.E.

17. CITRULLIN- amino acid that improves the communications between the skin and the liver.

18. COBALT- an important bioelement and coenzyme component that increases nitrogen access for the production of
spin traps in the realignment of free-radical processing.

19. COPPER- important bioelement involved in radical-free oxygen transport from blood to skin.

20. CODECARBOXYLASE- vitamin B-type coenzyme that removes carbon dioxide from the more sensitive tissue respiratory mechanisms (preventing age-related "smothering" effect).