Antioxidants and their Amazing Benefits
Whenever you hear someone talking about health, the issue of antioxidants is probably most likely to come up. We have all heard about them, but do we actually know what they are doing to our bodies and how their positive impact can be quantified? They are, indeed, powerful substances, but where can we find them and, most importantly, how can they help us?
Contents
Fighting free radicals
The human body produces free radicals that are counteracted by antioxidants. Most of the times, the number of free radicals will be larger than the antioxidants produced by the body, so it is important to maintain a balance and take in as many antioxidants as possible.
Antioxidants for every part of the body
There is more than one type of antioxidants, and every class is beneficial for a certain part of the body. For instance, beta-carotene is extremely good for the health of the eyes while flavonoids are great for the health of the heart.
Benefiting the skin
The exposure of skin to the sun will cause the formation of photo-oxidative damage that is stimulated by the formation of some reactive species of oxygen such as singlet oxygen, peroxide radicals and superoxide radicals. These compounds will bring damage to the proteins, DNA, and cellular lipids and they will cause sunburns. They will also accelerate the process of aging and generate skin cancer.
To help protect your skin, astaxanthin along with a combination of beta-carotene and vitamin E is more than necessary.
Supporting the immune system
Due to the fact that it has the ability to catalyze the production of free radicals, singlet oxygen can bring a full damage to a person’s immune system. Spirulina along with astaxanthin, two powerful antioxidants, will take care of the body by placing a layer of protection on the cell membranes and inhibit any DNA cellular mutation. Spirulina is a substance that contains a great number of antioxidants and many other elements that are known for bringing nothing but benefits for the immune system.
How can antioxidants help even more
Given the fact that we are living in a polluted environment, it is crucial to increase the number of antioxidants we take in on a daily basis. The diet should contain all the nutrients that are needed by the body to be able to develop fully and maintain a high level of activity. As a result, your diet needs to include all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytochemicals needed by the body. Most importantly, it has to contain high amounts of antioxidants. Increasing the amount of antioxidants is crucial as it can help the body and protect against a wide variety of health issues such as:
- Heart problems
- Immune system-related conditions
- Mood disorders
- Memory problems
- Eye conditions
We cannot stress enough how important it is to have a diet that is rich in antioxidants. They have become one of the main weapons in fighting any condition and it is important to give them the right place in our lives.