Why Antioxidants Are Important for Us

As we age, most of us are concerned about how we look on the outside, so we buy creams, serums, and even injections. But, what many of us don’t realize, it’s also what’s on the inside that counts. What we put into our bodies is a reflection of what the outside would look like and make us feel. You put in junk, you get junk, you feel like junk. It’s as simple as that.

One may ask “so, what should I be consuming if I want to keep my youthful appearance and stay internally healthy?” The answer is simple. Antioxidants.

Here’s the lowdown on antioxidants. These helpful substances are either man-made or natural and helps to prevent or even delay some type of cell damage. In other words, they help minimize the impact of free radicals, which are an unstable byproduct of natural cell metabolism. These harmful free radicals can be found in everyday life from our environment, when you sunbathe, or any exposure to sunlight, air pollution, and cigarette smoke! When exposed to free radicals, our cells and tissues become damaged through a process called oxidation. With oxidation, it speeds up various diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinsons, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and even diabetes.  

Antioxidants are easily available to us in the foods we eat and can find in many food stores and vitamin shops. Purchase a handful antioxidants at your local food store and pick up these bad boys:

Berries – These lovelies provide heart-healthy effects and may even lower blood pressure as well as have a positive impact on blood vessel health.

Curcumin – This antioxidant can be found in the golden goddess of spices, turmeric. Curucumin is a great anti-inflammatory property and can help decrease swelling. Some studies have also shown that curcumin can help prevent or slow the spread of cancer. However, more research is needed.

Cruciferous vegetables – Think broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, and good old turnips. Ingest these antioxidants to aid in the prevention of prostate, colorectal and lung cancers.  

Of course you can always visit your local vitamin store, but you won’t get the same potency as compared to ingesting an antioxidant from foods. Please keep in mind that taking high-dose antioxidant supplements can be harmful in some cases and can interact with certain medications. 

In all, let’s get started on eating healthy so we can feel and look healthy!