Anyone unfamiliar with antioxidants should know they are a potent and important molecule that prevents oxidation and cellular damage within the body. Once in the bloodstream, they remove free radicals and other toxins associated with cancer, heart disease, and other severe or fatal diseases. Foods rich sources of antioxidants include strawberries, blueberries, green tea, salmon, dark chocolate, pecans, kale, red cabbage, and many others. Any diet that aims to heal the body and increase its ability to ward off disease should include multiple antioxidant food servings per day.
8 Ways Antioxidants Benefit the Human Body
Improved Neurological and Brain Health
Clinical studies have conclusively proven that diets rich in antioxidants can remove enough free radicals and toxins from the body that the brain and nervous system will run more optimally. Antioxidants have also been linked to lower incidence rates of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The antioxidants dramatically reduce tissue inflammation throughout the brain and nerves, thus reducing the possibility of chronic diseases occurring.
A Significant Reduction of Heart Disease
Numerous studies have shown that consuming large quantities of antioxidants can help ward off heart disease development. The oxidation of fat cells within the bloodstream is one of the primary causes of heart disease, as oxidized fats will stick to the artery walls and eventually harden into a thick plaque. Antioxidants prevent the fats from oxidizing and, in turn, reduce their ability to latch onto blood vessel walls throughout the cardiovascular system.
Improved Skin Health
The skin is one of the most sensitive organs throughout the body to free radical and toxin damage. Acne, eczema, plaque psoriasis, and skin allergies have all been proven to benefit from an increased volume of dietary antioxidants. Blueberries, kale, oatmeal, strawberries, and carrots all possess potent antioxidants that have been proven to be highly beneficial to the skin. When consumed regularly, they can significantly reduce the rate at which diseases of the skin occur.
Improved Joint Health
Over time joints can become plagued with tissue inflammation. If this inflammation is left unchecked, it can eventually turn into chronic joint diseases such as Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis. Antioxidants can help to vastly reduce inflammation within the joints, thus allowing them to heal much more effectively and significantly lessen the chances of long-term or permanent tissue damage from taking place.
A Huge Boost to the Immune System
One of the most effective ways of strengthening the body’s immune system is to flood it with food-based antioxidants. Diets rich in coffee, blueberries, fatty fish, and beans have been shown to reduce free radicals throughout the body and lessen the rate of tissue inflammation. When the immune system has less inflammation and free radicals to combat, it is freed up to combat and ward off diseases more effectively.
A Reduction in Cancer Rates
Antioxidants help combat many of the underlying factors that lead to increased risk rates for many different types of cancer. Free radicals, DNA damage, tissue inflammation, and toxins are all linked to high cancer rates. However, diets rich in antioxidants have been proven to help reduce DNA damage and tissue inflammation and remove excess toxins and free radicals from the body.
Greatly Slow the Aging Process
For anyone unfamiliar with the mechanics behind aging, it is the process by which the DNA structures known as telomeres are shortened due to damage. When these telomeres are compressed, they significantly reduce the lifespan of individual cells throughout the body, thus leading to aging. Diets rich in antioxidants are powerful enough to slow down the rate at which telomeres are damaged, thus warding off the effects of premature DNA and cellular damage.
Significantly Improved EyesightÂ
A powerful antioxidant within carrots is known as vitamin A. This antioxidant has been proven to protect the eyes by healing more quickly from the damaging sun and harmful UV light. With enough vitamin A, the eyes can produce more pigment within the tissues, creating a much-needed protective layer against bright light and other harmful environmental factors.