What are antioxidants...?

From the day we are born, our cells spend their days facing threats from all angles. These include, but are not limited to numerous bacteria, fungi, viruses and dangerous free radical chemicals, all of which are carefully monitored by our biological systems. 

While our bodies work to keep up with these threats as we go through life, one of the tools that our cells rely on is antioxidants.   

In their most basic form, antioxidants provide natural support to our bodies as they fight against the threat of free-radical chemicals which form during exposure to pollutants like cigarette smoke, smog, and ultraviolet light from the sun. Free radicals even occur as part of our own bodies process of turning food into energy, meaning that no-one can avoid them. Evidence suggests that the prevalence of free radicals has become even more prominent as consumers' eating habits have changed over the last 20 years, and diets have evolved from being full of fresh seasonal produce. 

After scores of research around the world, many companies are now fortifying foods, beverages, and other health, wellness and beauty products with antioxidants to support their customers' growing health and wellness needs and goals.

...and why do your customers want them?

Antioxidants have the unique ability to slow down signs of the ageing processes, including arthritis, diabetes, loss of eyesight, loss of cognitive function, and in helping support the body’s own immune system. They also help the body fight other chronic diseases and work to protect cells from oxidative stress.

Since the 1990s when the general public was made aware of the free-radical damage that was causing disease and other noticeable effects like premature ageing in their bodies, they have sought out consumables rich in antioxidants to support their diet, lifestyle and health goals. 

While populations across the world continue to age, younger groups of consumers are starting to seek support for holistic wellness and to slow or reverse the ageing process. This growing consumer trend continues to drive sales for functional foods, bio-active blends and even specific varieties of fruit extract that offer antioxidant benefits, like grape-seed extract, often publicised using its scientific classification Vitis vinifera. 

Maximising the efficacy of Antioxidants in your products using New Zealand Fruits 

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, antioxidants tend to have increased positive outcomes when they are combined with other nutrients and plant chemicals like polyphenols. 

Our fruit-based natural antioxidant ingredients deliver high levels of antioxidants and phenolic activity as they include bioactive blends of locally grown blackcurrants, boysenberries, Sauvignon Blanc grape seeds and kiwifruit extracts. These are the furthest things you can find from the synthetic antioxidants that some producers use. 

The intense southern hemisphere sunlight, high levels of UVA and UVB, and low levels of pollution in New Zealand force our fruit to work overtime to build up protection from the sun. The result is New Zealand grown fruit with much higher levels of antioxidants & polyphenolic compounds than fruit grown anywhere else in the world. That means the fruit we produce here can lead to better outcomes for the consumers who use it. 

At NZ Extracts, we are proud to offer two premium-standard ranges of New Zealand grown bioactive functional Health, Beauty & Wellbeing extracts with clinically proven high antioxidant levels & phenolic activity to protect cells from oxidative stress.

OXI-FEND® can be used in several food & beverage applications including nutraceutical supplements for heart health, weight loss and hair, skin & nails and sports and workout enhancements or bars. 

VINANZA® offers topical or oral applications which have been specially formulated & clinically proven to improve the appearance of the skin.