Your health is all about a delicate balance between good and bad chemicals that are formed in the organism. One of the crucial balances is the one between free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals are used by the body’s immune cells to kill bacteria that try to infect us, but they can damage cells and genetic material if there are not enough antioxidants in the body. As your body turns food into energy, it leaves free radicals as the byproduct. Other your body absorbs through the air you breathe and the sunlight’s action on the skin and eyes. Antioxidants are therefore vital for our well-being because they fend off free radicals and prevent them from wreaking havoc on our metabolism by causing oxidative stress.
Causes of oxidative stress
Free radicals can cause cell damage i.e. oxidative stress after excessive exercise, tissue trauma caused by inflammation or injury as well as mitochondrial activity. Too much refined and processed foods can also lead to oxidative stress, which is why it’s vital that you control your diet and start eating healthy. Foods rich in trans fats, artificial sweeteners and certain dyes and additives can also cause oxidative stress, so stick to fresh fruits and vegetables the most. Environmental pollution, smoking, radiation and exposure to drugs, pesticides and many other chemicals are also ways in which you put your body through oxidative stress if you haven’t taken in enough antioxidants to protect you.
Antioxidants fight heart disease
One of the great benefits of antioxidants is that they help prevent heart disease. Polyphenol antioxidants found in tea and coffee prevent the oxidation of fat which, in return, limits the internal inflammation that is the most common cause of heart disease and diabetes. Curcumin is one of the ingredients with high anti-inflammatory properties as well. It is especially beneficial for low-level inflammation which, if not treated on time, can cause chronic inflammation that further leads to heart disease and many other chronic health problems. Curcumin also improves the function of the endothelium, a very important blood vessel lining which helps regulate blood pressure. Curcumin is the main ingredient in turmeric, which is a very popular spice in India and is starting to gain popularity worldwide too. You can also have curcumin tablets in order to supplement your diet with more curcumin and offer your body a sufficient amount of antioxidants to protect you from various diseases.
Kickstart your body’s natural defences
During exercise as well, your body naturally forms free radicals, just as through various energy processes in the body. The way that antioxidants neutralize free radicals is by suffocating their need for more electrons, which, in return, neutralizes these particles. Therefore, if you introduce more turmeric, coffee and tea in your diet, you’ll increase the body’s natural defences. Aside from those foods, milk, butter, eggs, and liver are also very rich sources of antioxidants because they’re rich in vitamin A. Papayas, kiwis, berries and oranges are filled with vitamin C, just as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes.
Help with neurological and mood disorders
Free radicals have been brought into connection with mood disorders like anxiety and depression, but with complex neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s as well. Free radical damage causes neuroinflammation, which is thought to be a precursor to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and by consuming more antioxidants, your body will be able to fight neuroinflammation. Almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, and peanuts are all filed with vitamin E, one of the great antioxidants. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, soybean, sunflower, corn, and canola oils should all be a part of your diet if you have problems with depression and anxiety, as antioxidants have been shown to help with those mood disorders. Beta-carotene found in carrots, apricots, peaches, mangos and papayas in another powerful antioxidant.
Heart disease, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease are just some of the health problems antioxidants can help with. All you need to make sure is that your diet is diverse, and your meals colourful and rich in healthy unprocessed foods. Aside from being refreshing and energy boosting, coffee and tea will also provide you with a sufficient daily dose of antioxidants, so feel free to enjoy your hot cup of joe a few times a day and fight off various health disease.
