Antioxidants exist in different foods, and they help to neutralize some of the free radicals in your body, thus preventing some of this damage. Some of the most common antioxidants include vitamins C, E and A and minerals like zinc, selenium and copper. It is also believed that dietary food compounds like the phytochemicals in plants have significant antioxidant effects. Some even believe that they might have more anti-oxidation power than minerals and vitamins.
Antioxidants from plants are known as non-nutrient antioxidants. Some phytochemicals include anthocyanins in cranberries and lycopene in tomatoes. Moreover, L-Glutathione is a natural antioxidant that will boost your health. Free radicals come into your body from the environment, and they are responsible for some conditions like joint inflammation, deterioration of vision, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Additionally, they also accelerate the ageing process and cause some cancers resulting from damaged cell DNA. Research from scientists has shown that eating foods rich in antioxidants will help fight some of these free radicals. These are some reasons why your body needs antioxidants.
- Fights free radicals
The first apparent reason antioxidants are essential in the body is that they’ll help protect your skin against damage by free radicals. These molecules are unstable as they lack an electron. Therefore, they are always trying to become stable. What they’ll do is often attack the molecule that’s closest to them, for instance, proteins or lipids, to take an electron. This “stolen” molecules then becomes a free radical attacking the nearby molecule, triggering a chain reaction. This chain reaction damages your cells and DNA.
When there is a lot of damage, you will end up with diseases like cancer and diabetes. Free radicals also cause premature ageing. Antioxidants protect your DNA and cells by providing the missing electron to the radicals but not becoming radicals themselves. Your body will need an abundance of free radicals in your diet to sufficiently diminish free radical damage. It would be best also to try including different types of antioxidants rather than getting from one source.
- Promote brain health
Neuron loss in the brain because of oxidative stress has been linked to advancing the development of degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s. Oxidative stress will often damage and kill your brain cells. This could lead to diseases such as Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic sclerosis and Alzheimer’s. Researchers have found that taking antioxidants reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Because antioxidants have cognitive benefits for your brain, ensure that you take your antioxidants regularly.
- Enables healthy ageing
Ageing is closely related to inflammation and oxidative stress. A proposed theory ox-inflamm-aging suggest that when your body is experiencing chronic oxidative stress, it alters your regulatory system as you age. This includes your immune, nervous and endocrine systems. When your immune system is activated, that leads to inflammation, thus creating a vicious cycle.
Antioxidants will help protect your DNA. Healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise and nutritious diets also help to uphold natural ageing.
Antioxidants have numerous benefits for your body. Apart from these three, there are other advantages like reducing oxidative stress, promoting healthy eyes and upholding mental health.
