Aging is an inevitable reality of life. However, how we manage to age is in our hands, up to a great extent. Therefore, aging healthy should be a priority in each individual’s life. To age healthy means to take care of our physical and mental health so that your body is built strongly inside out and is ready to combat any illness. Now, there are many ways of ensuring good health. Regular exercise, nutritionally sound meals, adequate sleep, and low stress are the four major pillars of good health. But, for all these pillars to function at their best, you need to have one crucial element in your body- antioxidants. That’s right. Antioxidants are a part of the many essential micronutrients that can keep you physically fit and mentally happy. Antioxidants are also one of the biggest anti-aging components, which makes them an absolute necessity among seniors. What are antioxidants, and how can you obtain them?
Antioxidants are small particles that carry out oxidation within the body and look for free radicals, which can potentially cause cell damage. So, in a way, antioxidants protect the body from major damages caused by the cells. Since antioxidant content can lower free radical damage, they impose a protective effect by lowering the risk of developing major diseases and infections.
Some good sources of antioxidants are:
- Vegetables- Onions, eggplant, red capsicum, pumpkin, etc.
Fruits- Mangos, grapes, berries, apricots, etc.
Protein- Fish, eggs, tofu, lean meat, etc.
Herbs- Garlic, parsley, tea, etc.
Here are the top health benefits of antioxidants:
Protective Effect
As mentioned previously, antioxidants control the damage caused by free radicals. And you should know that the damaging effect caused by free radicals is quite intense. They can cause impairment of the eye, leading to vision loss. Other than that, free radicals can also cause joint pain, arthritis, nerve cell damage causing Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, all these diseases are becoming increasingly common among older adults. However, antioxidants reduce the risk of developing these diseases due to their protective effect against free radicals.
Prevents Cancer
Studies show that antioxidants can prevent cancer up to a great extent, which is one of the biggest health benefits imposed by antioxidants. As you may know, cancer is a disease related to the cells in our body. When a human develops cancer, the body produces harmful cells uncontrollably in a particular part of the body or multiple parts. If the multiplication of cells is not controlled at an early stage, cancer is inevitable. However, antioxidants are known for controlling rapid cell production. They keep the cells from damaging and hence, stop the multiplication of cancer-causing cells. In this way, antioxidants can prevent cancer.
Better Mental Health
Antioxidants prove to be a magical aid to mental health as well. This is because antioxidants can identify and remove the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which often lead to oxidative stress. Several mental health issues are due to high stress levels. To name a few, anxiety, depression, psychosis, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are some of the most common ones. These can be controlled up to a certain extent if you manage the stress levels, which is what antioxidants do.
Maintains Heart Health
One of the most significant contributors to heart health is cholesterol. Cholesterol is an essential component in ensuring healthy cell formation. However, excess cholesterol can cause the deposition of fatty substances in the arteries, which comes in the way of a smooth blood flow. However, when the body is enriched with antioxidant content, it controls the production of cholesterol. Furthermore, antioxidants also keep the cholesterol from converting into plaques, which block the arteries. Thus, a smooth flow of blood is achieved, which in turn keeps the heart healthy. It also prevents cardiovascular diseases from developing.
CONCLUSION
All in all, it is fair to say that antioxidants may be tiny in size, but their importance is massive in human health. If your body does not receive the ideal antioxidant content naturally through nutrition, you may consider taking an antioxidant supplementation. However, make sure you seek medical advice from a health expert well in advance.