Antioxidants can be added to food or products to prevent or delay oxidation. Oxidation is a natural process of the breakdown of a substance that can cause certain products, such as food, fuels, and electronics, to deteriorate, discolor, and lose their potency.
Instead of letting the product break down, oxidation is prevented or delayed by using an antioxidant to stop or slow down the oxidation process. Antioxidants are typically stabilizers and preservatives, which helps extend the shelf life of food items like bread, cereal, dried fruit and oils, while eliminating the need to add artificial chemicals.
Antioxidants can also be added to cosmetics, paint, rubber, fuel, and lubricants to extend their shelf life and improve their performance. It can also help products resist rapid deterioration and reduce the chances of forming harmful oxidation byproducts that can lead to additional wear and tear.
Using antioxidants in the food industry is especially important because the process of oxidation degrades food quality and reduces its nutritional value. It can also cause food to spoil more quickly, making it no longer safe to consume. By preventing oxidation from happening in the first place, the shelf life of food is extended and food safety is ensured.
In addition to food safety, antioxidants can also improve product performance and make them last longer. In these cases, rather than slowing down the oxidation process, antioxidants can actually prevent it from starting in the first place. This is because antioxidants contain active, stabilizing ingredients that can protect against corrosion, rust and general damage due to environmental factors, such as sunlight and heat.
In the food industry, antioxidants have become especially important in the past few decades due to advances in food processing and packaging. In order to increase the shelf life of processed foods, foods can be added with antioxidants in order to ensure their safety and extend their shelf life.
Antioxidants are also popular in skin care and hair care products. The same antioxidant properties that work to extend the shelf life of food, can also help protect the skin and hair from daily damage caused by the environment. Antioxidants play a key role in fighting the free radical production in the skin and helping to maintain and improve its overall health.
Overall, antioxidants play a key role in extending the shelf life of food and other products. They help to keep food safe for consumption, prevent environmental damage and oxidation, and improve the performance and durability of products. Antioxidants can also help to maintain skin and hair health by fighting off free radicals.
