Did you hear about antioxidants? Do you know about these nutrients, what is it and why it is important? Can antioxidants help your health? To understand, go through here, you can get a comprehensive explanation.
Antioxidants and their importance
An antioxidant is regarded as a free radical scavenger. It fights various diseases including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. The balance of free radicals helps human metabolism as a natural part. However, if there are problems, the antioxidants are thrown away. Such an imbalance is known as oxidative stress.
Antioxidants have exposure to heavy metals, air pollution, and cigarette smoking, causing damage to free radicals, thereby increasing diabetes, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Every day, the cells in your body face threats. The infections and viruses attack causing harm, and even the free radicals damage your DNA or cells. Antioxidants are chemicals helping in restricting or stopping damage caused due to free radicals. It happens when your body uses antioxidants to balance free radicals. The advantage is Antioxidants safeguard and reverse some damages. They boost your immunity.
Improved health path
Free radicals are man-made or natural elements. Getting antioxidants is possible through vitamins and certain foods. The antioxidants include:
- Vitamin A, C, E, selenium, beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene
These antioxidants are available with a healthy diet. Combine with colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, providing good nutrients.
Vitamin A is available in butter, milk, liver, and eggs. Vitamin C is in most vegetables and fruits. Eat oranges, papayas, berries, cantaloupes, and kiwis. Eat vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, sprouts, cauliflower, and kale. Vitamin E is in seeds and nuts. Include leafy green vegetables, eat peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, squash, and in fruits mangoes, apricots, peaches, and cantaloupes. Lutein includes leafy vegetables, and Lycopene includes tomatoes, watermelon, and grapefruits.
Too much is too bad
There are various reasons that even antioxidants in high concentrations can be harmful. Too much is not good even with antioxidants, as it may:
- Increase oxidation, acting as pro-oxidants
- Safeguard cancer cells and healthy cells
- Decrease the exercise health benefits
- Unwanted side effects such as reaching toxic levels, headaches, and nausea.
- A healthy diet can give you the required antioxidants to combat free radical damage.
The Bottom Line
Antioxidants are influential components protecting your body from several diseases. Enjoy foods abundant with antioxidants in a variety and reap health benefits. However, to supplement or get your fix, you may consult and ensure the right fit with a healthcare team.