How Antioxidants Help in Slowing the Aging Process?

People can age at different rates. Some people still look young at the age of 40 or 50 while others may look even older than their age. The rate of aging are caused by certain factors such as the genes, environment and how you take of yourself. The aging process can be slowed down by knowing what changes our body has undergone and how we let these changes affect us. Extend life for several years by maintaining good health and that can be accomplished by eating the right foods, regular exercise and living a healthy lifestyle. Antioxidants will help in slowing the aging process as it prevents the damages caused by free radicals in the body. These substances have anti-aging properties that work by neutralizing the actions of free radicals in the body.

Antioxidants: Defined

Antioxidants are substances that work by protecting the cells against free radicals (molecular fragments). Free radical damage is known to cause cancer, macular degeneration, heart problems, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer and other diseases. Antioxidants counteract the damaging effects of the physiological process of oxidation in the human cells. These substances are found in foods and act as free radical scavengers that help prevent and repair the damage caused by the free radicals.

Antioxidants: Best Sources

Abundant sources of antioxidants are fruits, vegetables, beans and grain products. Vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin A and carotenoids are most common antioxidants. Other common antioxidants are lycopene, lignin, lutein and flavonoids/polyphenols. There are also antioxidants that are made by the body such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Glutathione and Coenzyme Q10 are vitamin-like antioxidants.

Selenium can be sourced from grains, red meat, garlic, chicken, fish and shellfish. Vitamin E can be found in green leafy vegetables, liver oil, whole grain, nuts and seeds. Fruits and vegetables that are brightly-colored such as squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, apricots and cantaloupe are some of the best sources of carotenoids and vitamin A. Rich source of vitamin C are green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits like lemon, lime and oranges.

Antioxidants: Health Benefits

Oxidative damage is one of the causes of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, tissue/muscle degeneration, cardiovascular diseases and other health problems. The body is exposed to free radicals due to air pollutants, smoking and exposure to ultraviolet rays. The job of antioxidants is to neutralize free radicals to stop oxidation. By consuming antioxidant-rich foods, you are helping your body to stay away from free radical damage. Always include antioxidants in your daily diet. Eat natural foods rich in antioxidants. Green coffee extract has also anti-aging benefits. It contains a substance called chlorogenic acid, which works as an antioxidant. Thus, it helps in destroying toxins in the body.

Getting rid of toxic substances will help in slowing the aging process, giving you a healthy and glowing skin. Aside from the benefit of having that young look, antioxidants bring several health benefits by helping in the prevention of common diseases such as cancer, eye problems (cataracts),high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts and other chronic diseases.