Antioxidants and their importance to your health regimen!

What are antioxidants?

When you cut and apple and let it be for a few minutes/hours, the apple will eventually turn brown right? This process is called oxidation. The sliced apple being exposed to the external factors (free radicals) changes its colour and loses its nutrients the longer it is left uneaten. This can apply to our skin and health as well! We go out everyday being exposed to free radicals such as air pollution, excessive sunlight and stress. All these create free radicals that harming our cells and fights to stay alive by triggering the goods ones to be like them. Therefore, we need anti-oxidants to balance out the effects of oxidant levels in our body. Remaining unprotected from these radicals for an excessive period of time can cause premature aging, sicknesses and diseases such as cancer and heart disease. 

The oxidation process 

How to maintain your antioxidant levels?

There are mainly 4 essential things you can to do to get higher antioxidant levels! These steps should be incorporated in your lifestyle and routine to get the best results possible. 

The first one is, predictable, eating more fruits and vegetables will enhance the level of antioxidants in your body. Some fruits rich in antioxidants are raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, onions and corn can bring up your score as well. Keep in mind that this is not enough to fight against all the free radicals and oxidants in your body. Skincare products with ingredients Vitamin C & E, green tea can enhance the antioxidant levels can also prevent premature aging. 

Moreover, enough sleep is one of the most crucial elements with a diet rich in antioxidants to give yourself a healthier lifestyle. A lot of us have known this for a very long time, that sleeping 8 hours increases your energy and performance levels at work or school. But only some may know that sleep actually helps to restore our cellular level. Our body produces melatonin (a powerful antioxidant to fight cancers) in the dark, our melatonin levels have significantly reduced due to artificial lights and technology. Thus, our sleep is more affected than we allow us to see. 

Another factor is exercise. Although it seems cliche, a lot people may not know that light or intensive exercise can cause cellular damage as it creates free radicals but the damage is repaired quickly. As your body adapts to this pattern over and over, it strengthens your antioxidant defences and makes it less likely for you to get sick. Consistent and adequate exercise can protect you against oxidative stress. 

Last solution is the least known, supplement containing vitamins and minerals can help to increase anti-oxidants by increasing the required nutrition value going into your body. With a busy lifestyle nowadays and so many good choices of restaurants to go for lunches and dinners, it can be difficult to get the right amount of antioxidants or nutritions to fight against free radicals everyday. Some supplements can help you improve your health and wellbeing. 

Do you think you incorporate some of these factors into your lifestyle? If not, its good to start now!