Aging: Free Radicals and Antioxidants

Aging is inevitable. We all know that. We also know that as we age there are changes that would happen to our body both internally and externally. Our modern generation is quite obsessed in finding ways to make sure that we still look and feel good as well as remain healthy well into our golden years. And with such desire many of would look for quick fixes and believe almost anything that promises what we want to hear.

There had been anti-aging fads that have come and gone and some still have a strong following even when these fads are actually not effective. Some anti-aging fads called on for restrictive diets focusing only on certain types of foods which resulted to nutritional deficiencies. Those who want to keep looking and feeling good and keep their body in good health well into their senior years should know that diet alone is not enough to address the increasing free radicals that our busy lifestyles have caused. Since free radicals cause much damage to our body including the skin, antioxidants should be given more attention.

Keep a Close Eye on Free Radicals

When it comes to free radicals the popular saying “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” applies. For 20 years already, scientists have been keeping a close eye on free radicals and its aging effects on the skin, body and the brain. What are free radicals? They are unstable atoms or molecules that are naturally occurring. These unstable atoms or molecules are produced naturally by the body from metabolism and inflammation.

Free radicals are also naturally present in the environment, from sunlight, pollution, etc. Most of our modern ways have also allowed free radicals to form. Stress, too much exercise, x-rays, smoking and drinking alcohol give rise to free radicals. Free radicals are bad news since they tramp damaged cells, proteins as well as DNA. Studies have shown that collective free radical-damage is strongly connected to the degenerative changes of growing older as well as diseases related to age.

Arm Yourself with Antioxidants

This is where antioxidants step in! Antioxidants are nutrients with the power to neutralize or stop free radicals before they start doing havoc in the body. Studies have shown that antioxidants play a great role in reducing risk for cancer, cardiovascular diseases as well as Alzheimer’s. Many studies have also shown that they play a crucial role in keeping the skin’s integrity.

Antioxidants come in different forms. Vitamins A, C, E, pigments like carotenoids and anthocyanins as well as minerals like selenium are called antioxidant nutrients which we can get from the foods we eat. Glutathione, Super Oxide Dismutase or SOD ans catalase are enzymes and another type of antioxidant. These enzymes are the body’s natural defense against free radicals.

If you want to keep looking and feeling good well into your senior years, remember to feed your body with antioxidants.

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