This is quite a complex subject, but I will try to simplify it as much as I can.
Antioxidants are powerful molecules that help protect your body’s cells from oxidative damage.
As a result, they boost your health in a number of ways, and are what you really want to be adding to your daily food intake if you want to enjoy optimal health.
So let’s take a good look at antioxidants, their benefits and how you can make them part of your diet.
How Antioxidants Work in Your Body
Oxygen is used by your body to extract and utilize the energy and nutrients that are in the foods you eat.
However, these reactions produce nasty little by products that are known as free radicals.
These free radicals are extremely dangerous and once they go to work they damage the cells within your body.
They have been linked with a number of negative symptoms including:
– Increased cancer risk
– Increased diabetes risk
– Increased signs of aging
– Weak immune system
Antioxidants go about neutralizing the free radicals and prevent them from damaging your body further.
Not only do they protect you against all the negative side effects of free radicals but they also allow you to benefit from the nutrients in the foods you eat.
By eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants your body will function much better and you’ll enjoy a lot more health related benefits.
Some of the main benefits of filling up on antioxidants include:
– Healthy hair, nails and skin
– Increased energy levels
– Improved concentration
– Improved memory
– Improved vision
Good Sources of Antioxidants
The majority of antioxidant sources are mainly plant based, so by eating a diet that contains plenty of fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables, you can supply your body with high levels of these health boosting nutrients.
Here are just some of the many sources that you can get your antioxidants from:
– Manganese: Manganese can help the body activate enzymes and can be found in garlic, green tea and pineapples.
– Flavonoids: Flavonoids are a large group of antioxidants that support the body in multiple ways. They can be found in most plant based food with berries, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables and tea being particularly rich sources.
– Vitamin A: Vitamin A’s main role in the body is to promote healthy vision. Carrots, dairy products and spinach are all excellent sources of this vitamin.
– Vitamin C: Vitamin C is responsible for the production of collagen within the body. Some of the top food sources of this antioxidant include berries, citrus fruits and peppers.
– Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a pure antioxidant and its main function is to fight free radicals within the body. It can be sourced from nuts, oils and wheat germ.
So there you have it, there are quite a few reasons for you to top up on your antioxidants.
To get the maximum benefit from these powerful little molecules, try to include in your diet some of the antioxidant rich foods listed above.
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