What are antioxidants?

You know antioxidants are good for you, but what do they do? The scientific process is complex, but basically during metabolism, by products called free radicals are produced. Antioxidant compounds remove these free radicals from your body.

And it’s a good thing they do because free radicals can cause a lot of damage in the body including cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological diseases. Free radicals are also behind the general break down and decline of our bodies over time.

Environmental factors such as pollution, smoking, drugs and alcohol can introduce free radicals into the body and make us vulnerable to disease and premature aging. A diet rich in antioxidants can help to counter the effects of these free radicals.

The problem is that individual antioxidant agents such as Vitamin E don’t seem to have a profound effect when taken on their own. Many scientists believe that eating fruits and vegetables has such a protective effect on the body because of the numerous components contained in each and the way they interact together in the body. No single supplement could hope to replicate it.

Since you can’t just pop a pill to get your antioxidants, what can you do? The best choice is to choose a wholesome, varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables and other plant food sources and limit your consumption of substances known to produce free radicals in the body. Here are some of the best ways to up your intake of antioxidants and reduce the number of free radicals:

●     Quit smoking and limit your exposure to second hand smoke.

●     Avoid air pollution as much as possible. Head warnings about diminished air quality and make an effort to stay indoors on those days.

●     Drink in moderation. A glass of red wine contains healthy antioxidants but too much alcohol is not good for you physically.

●     Get plenty of exercise and rest.

●     Limit your intake of fatty foods, those with artificial ingredients or preservatives and smoked or charred foods.

●     Choose the freshest, most colorful produce you can find.

●     Eat organic foods when possible to avoid environmental toxins.

●     Eat as low on the food chain as possible to avoid toxins and the antibiotics and hormones found in commercial farmed meats.

●     Make seafood choices that are known to be lower in mercury.

The antioxidants found in natural foods are powerful stuff but they can’t completely erase the effects of reckless living. Do the best you can to limit your exposure to sources of free radicals and eat a diet rich in antioxidants and you’ll be taking great steps to live the longest, healthiest life possible.

Nicole Spencer is a ghostwriter who enjoys writing about health and wellness.

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