For the last decade or so, the contribution of antioxidants on achieving optimal health condition has been much discussed in media and medical fraternity alike. Our body is known to produce free radicals that are skin cells ruining particles. Not only that, they stock up toxic oxygen in the body thus leading to oxidative stress and a plethora of other ailments. So, antioxidants are crucial for slowing down the ageing process, reducing stress and strengthening the body holistically.
Antioxidants And Free Radicals
Apart from producing free radicals, the human body is also the source of antioxidants like catalase, perexidase and enzymes to name a few. These are highly effective when it comes to the destruction of free-radicals. But many a time the number of free radicals surpasses that of antioxidants by leaps and bounds in the body. In that case, an external source of antioxidants is highly recommended- whether it’s taking antioxidants in the form of fruits or antioxidant supplements.
There are multiple ways in which different antioxidants fight off free radicals. While some form a protective barrier around DNA, others contain hydrogen atoms to diffuse the free radicals. If you want to rely upon dietary sources apart from antioxidant supplements, then increase the rate of consuming fruits and green leafy vegetables to fulfill the daily requirements of vitamin C and E. Also some external measures are necessary to prevent the formation of oxidative stress in the body. Which is why you should stop getting too much sun exposure and resist the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes on a daily basis.
Different antioxidants for different parts of the body
There are multiple antioxidants having diverse functionalities in the body. Are you suffering from feeble eyesight? Then alongside visiting a reputable eye-specialist, you should include vegetables like carrots and pumpkins in your daily diet that have sufficient antioxidant beta-carotene, which takes care of eyes, and restores candid vision power.
For men, the health of the prostate is a big concern, especially during twilight years. Lycopene antioxidant has the healing ability that proves fruitful for keeping the prostate healthy. In the same breath, we can add the names of antioxidants like flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, that are the guardian angels when it comes to the well-being of the heart and urinary tract respectively. It’s not always possible to find every type of vegetable or fruit carrying antioxidants in your local market, and even if they are available, they might not have the nutritional value intact until you consume them. In that case, incorporating antioxidant in the form of supplements would be good idea for holistic healthiness, since it has been designed exclusively to take care of the antioxidant requirements of your body, if it lacks in your daily diet!
The skin and health benefits of antioxidants
If you have seen the various advertisements for anti-ageing creams, you would have noticed that mostly all of them contains antioxidants and vitamin E that can give your skin its lost vigour and youthfulness. Antioxidants have wonderful effects on skin and not only do they resist the process of premature ageing but also protect the skin from the damages caused by ultraviolet rays. Thus, you must apply benefits of antioxidants in your internal body system, apart from treating your skin externally.
But before you start this process, it’s important to know how antioxidants diffuse photo-oxidative damage. Getting too much exposure of sun rays and pollution creates photo-oxidative ruination on the skin, thus producing a host of superoxide and peroxide radicals and singlet oxygen. They, in turn, destroy DNA, cellular lipids and protein through the medium of reactionary oxygen molecules. This chain of events contributes in the formation of sunburn, skin cancer ageing and photodermatoses on the skin. Antioxidant in the form of supplements is a good source of antioxidant Astaxanthin and beta-carotene that are highly useful for restoring skin-health.
Antioxidants support the immune system
The single biggest concern of new parents worldwide is the immune system of their babies. A weak immune system not only affects the children but also the young and the geriatric section of the society. A poor resistant system in the body weakens its power to fight off any major or minor ailment – from common cold to cancer. Failing immunity in a human body is the contribution of free-radicals. Albeit the radicals also need to be in huge numbers in order to deteriorate the body internally.
Massive production of free radicals can be traced back to the presence of singlet oxygen in the blood stream. Once the radicals are born, they collectively alter the DNA and membrane of each cell, resulting in the waning health of specific as well as non-specific human support of the body. If you want your child to acquire a strong immune system or wish it for your own health purposes, then incorporate antioxidants like Astaxanthin and Spirulina in your daily diet. The inclusion of benefits of antioxidants is advised in order to achieve it.
Other benefits of Antioxidants
As the pollution level in the air, water and soil are rising and the whole world is heading towards an unhealthy future, the onus lies upon each individual itself to give his/her best effort to achieve good health. One can blame the presence of UV rays for the outbreak of cancer as an epidemic by 2020 worldwide, but what about the other forms of illnesses?
A majority of urban working population suffers from mood disorders. Apparently they may come as minor problems, but free radicals are behind this as well. Ingestion of antioxidants is required to curb the frequency of mood disorders. On the other hand, memory loss is not only restricted to geriatric section of the society anymore but even 35+ generation is also suffering from it. Here also, antioxidants can play a major optimistic role in eradicating it.
Intake of antioxidants is one of the major ways of leading a healthy life, so make sure you start consuming your daily dose of antioxidants from an early age, to stay young, fit and healthy!
