Here is Why Adding Antioxidants to Your Diet Helps
Herbs and spices are well known globally for their healing power.
But do you know why?
Very few people understand the importance of adding antioxidants and how they help.
This article details everything about antioxidants, including their food sources.
Let’s understand more about them.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are molecules in your body that fight free harmful radicals.
Free radicals are byproducts of energy production. If levels of these molecules increase in your body, they may cause multiple diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
While your body can produce natural antioxidants, they may not be sufficient.
Fortunately, antioxidants are also present in various food such as fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. Vitamins including vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants.
More About Free Radicals
There harmful compounds are produced constantly, and without antioxidants, they can harm you quickly, even resulting in death.
Free radicals have vital roles in your body, such as fighting infection. So, your body needs to produce them.
However, a balance between antioxidants and free radicals is essential for maintaining health.
When the free radicals outnumber antioxidants, it results in oxidative stress that may damage your DNA and other molecules in your body.
Several lifestyle factors can also promote the formation of free radicals, such as:
- Cigarette smoking
- Toxins
- Air pollution
- Alcohol intake
- Radiation
- Excessive high or low levels of oxygen
- Prolonged or intense exercise
- High blood sugar levels
- High intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids
- Fungal, bacterial, or viral infections
- Antioxidant deficiency
Benefits of Antioxidants
Oxidative stress is linked with atherosclerosis, cancer, and vision loss. Experts believe that free radicals make changes in the cells that may produce harmful effects on your body.
Antioxidants are seen to be protective against:
- Vision loss
- Age-related degenerative changes
- Inflammatory disorders
- Autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Autoimmune disorders
- Alzheimer’s disease
Antioxidants in Foods
You may have now understood the importance of adding antioxidants to your diet.
Here are some essential antioxidants present in plant-based foods:
- Vitamin C: It is a water-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin C is present in broccoli, leafy greens, citrus fruits, bell peppers, and beetroot.
- Vitamin E: It is a fat-soluble antioxidant. This vitamin is present in leafy green, red bell peppers, spinach, and sunflower seeds.
- Flavonoids: They are a group of plant antioxidants present in spices, berries, red wine, and onions.
- Carotenoids: They are fat-soluble compounds present in asparagus, broccoli, beetroot, bell peppers, leafy greens, and oranges.
Should You Take Antioxidant Supplements
Despite the health benefits of antioxidants, their excess consumption can have toxic effects on your body.
So, a high dose of antioxidants is not recommended. Studies also suggest that consuming antioxidant foods is a healthier option than taking supplements.
Adding multiple antioxidant foods have more advantages than consuming a single nutrient.
For instance, it is seen that drinking orange and beet juice had significantly greater antioxidant power when compared to a single ingredient.
Final Thoughts
Antioxidants are healthy compounds that protect your body from the harmful effect of free radicals.
Whenever possible, add a variety of antioxidants to reap optimal health benefits!
