Studies have linked free radicals to several diseases and disorders popping up recently in scientific journals. The chemical reactions that take place in our body produce free radicals which adversely affect our internal system. Our natural defense system, our immune system, is sometimes not enough to fight these free radicals, which is why it requires outside help.
Antioxidants are chemical compounds that are naturally present in the food that we consume, which help fight side by side with your white blood cells to protect your internal organs from the damage caused by free radicals.
If you are not sure how it works, then not to worry. Today in this article, we are going to be looking at some of the significant benefits that antioxidants have to provide to our bodies, which prove vital for our health.
Benefits of Antioxidants
Antioxidants have a ton of benefits to offer to our bodies. If you are planning on adding them to your diet, then here are a few significant benefits that will help you make up your mind.
1. Combat Heart Disease
One of the major health benefits offered by antioxidants is that they help prevent and combat heart diseases. Your caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee are rich in polyphenol, an antioxidant that is known to prevent inflammation in the blood vessels. The antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of fat molecules within the blood vessels and help reduce the risk of heart-related disorders.
It is proven that lightly roasted coffee beans are richer in polyphenol as compared to dark roasts. So in case you have any heart diseases or are at risk of one, it is always best to consult your doctor when consuming antioxidants in any form or manner.
2. May Fight Neurological Disorders
Most neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are believed to be caused by free radicals produced within the body or inhibit the body from the outside. They are also known for causing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety as well.
Scientists have found a proven link between mental disorders and free radicals. Therefore they believe that consuming or adding more antioxidants to your diet can help fight against those free radicals and prevent mood disorders and serious mental illnesses. The antioxidants help reduce inflammation caused by the free radicals in your brain to help fight and prevent neurological disorders.
3. Boost Your Immune System
When nutrients consumed by you are undergone a certain process in your body, free radicals are produced at the same time. Your body produces antioxidants in the form of enzymes to protect your system from their attack. But in certain cases, your natural defense system can get overwhelmed.
Therefore to add an extra layer of protection and help your immune system fight these free radicals, it is always best to add more beneficial antioxidants to your diet. Antioxidants, using their oxidizing power, add an extra electron to the free radicals to neutralize them completely.
4. Combat the Effects of Aging
Your body works much like a machine. Over time, due to constant pressure, the body parts tend to lose their value and ability just like any regular machine. Such deterioration of body cells is called aging and has adverse effects on your health.
Studies have proven that vitamins that can help you are found in fruits and vegetables. Vitamins such as E and C help you fight against the free radicals that might cause aging. They help rebuild skin cells, main elasticity, and keep the tissues alive. At the same time, they also help your nerve cells maintain a connection with your body to enhance your will to respond and reverse memory loss.
5. Preserve Produce
Outside our human body, antioxidants have been used by farmers to preserve products for a longer period. Similar to how antioxidants work with human bodies to prevent aging, they are used for the same purpose to preserve fruits and vegetables as well. These antioxidants work together to help keep the product ripped for longer.
6. Improve Vision
Vitamin A is popular among individuals with vision problems. Most dark fruits and vegetables include Carotenoids, a pigment that protects the dark color of these fruits from sun damage. Similarly, when consumed, the pigment forms Vitamin A in your body and helps protect the retina of your eye from sun damage.
7. Promotes healthy skin
Your skin is affected by free radicals as much as any other organ in your body. As you age, you begin to notice wrinkles, dark spots, and loss in elasticity, and so much more. Studies show that antioxidants help promotes healthy-looking skin by reducing the harmful effect caused by free radicals.
Top Food Sources of Antioxidants
Several popular food items are known to be rich in antioxidants. We will be looking at some of the few, which will help you start if you are planning on adding more antioxidants to your diet. Natural is always better than artificial, so it is recommended that you stick to the natural consumption of antioxidants instead of opting for artificially produced supplements.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the most beneficial spices ever found. Curcumin, an active compound found in turmeric is what gives it its antioxidant properties. Studies prove that it is an essential antioxidant that helps with inflammation, heart diseases, and mental disorders. Turmeric benefits are endless, so you should use it in your meals to benefit the most from it.
2. Green vegetables and orange fruits
Green veggies such as kale, broccoli, lettuce, and spinach contain a beneficial antioxidant called Lutein, which helps protect your eye from sun damage and prevent heart diseases. In certain cases, it is also known to help prevent cancer. Other than green vegetables, this antioxidant, a precursor to Vitamin A, is also found in orange fruits such as apricots, oranges, pumpkins, etc.
3. Dark Chocolate and Red Wine
Resveratrol is an essential antioxidant that is found in dark chocolate and grapes used for manufacturing red wine. The antioxidant helps promote heart health, combat breathing problems, prevent certain types of cancer and help fight inflammation in your body.
Antioxidants play a crucial role as both natural and synthetic chemicals that help control and neutralize oxidative free radicals, safeguarding cells from potential damage. Yet, here’s the intriguing twist: the effectiveness of antioxidants hinges on a key factor – their activation by redox signaling molecules. In essence, it’s these redox signaling molecules that breathe life into antioxidants, enabling them to fulfill their vital task of cellular protection.
Throughout each passing day, the intricate dance of communication among your body’s cells is what sustains the optimal functioning of our intricate systems. This intercellular dialogue is vital for maintaining peak vitality. However, as time goes by, this phenomenon known as “cell signaling” can gradually diminish, especially as we age. But here’s the exciting part: it doesn’t have to be an irreversible course. Enter Redox Cell Signaling Molecules – they hold the key to reigniting and fortifying this crucial cellular conversation.
Imagine a scenario where our cells are prompted to operate at their full potential, firing on all cylinders. This is precisely the aspiration driving redox technology – a quest to discover a mechanism that can effectively signal our cells to function at their utmost capacity.
ASEA Redox Cell Signaling harnesses the power of these redox molecules, employing a groundbreaking technology that acts like a bio-switch. It taps into intricate signaling pathways that hold the potential to impact various facets of your well-being, creating a ripple effect of positive influence across multiple aspects of your health. It’s a vision of science that seeks to empower your body’s innate abilities and enhance the symphony of communication between cells – a symphony that orchestrates the harmony of your vitality.
Final Words
Although antioxidants come with several health benefits, the excess of everything is bad. It is always best to talk to your doctor before you start adding extra antioxidants to your diet, especially if you have any serious diseases or disorders. Plus, you need to remember that these antioxidants only help with certain diseases. They do not prevent them entirely. So do not expect your health problems to go away because of antioxidants.