The emerging market for products claiming to slow aging is undeniably astounding. Among these, supplements containing antioxidants perhaps give the best promises to the consumers. Aside from the fact that these are a wound to the pocket, antioxidant products offer a delight to those who would like to look young in a flash. But how does this “free-radical sponge” really work?
Free Radicals Defined
First identified by Moses Gomberg in 1900, free radicals are molecular species that are highly reactive. These tiny things play a role in chemical reactions including that of humans. As the cells produce energy (for function and survival), they also create oxygen molecules that are unstable because their electrons are unpaired. These unpaired electrons make this thing to be highly labile.
In the human body, if these unstable molecules go together with other molecules, they would kill their newly acquainted fellows, thereby speeding up the aging process. If we persistently have stress and do not take them away by way of exercise, we give way to the formation of free radicals. If we don’t have a good sleep at least seven hours, we are actually exciting the production of more free radicals.
A lot of changes in our body are a result of the activities of the free radicals. They damage the DNA and impair other vital functions of cells, causing premature death to these cells. Over time, all these damages would mount up and cause our body to accelerate aging.
Upon breathing, oxygen induces a process called oxidation. And it is in here where free radicals form. This process is likened to the oxidation of metals. Once oxidized, aluminum turns to be white, iron becomes rusty, and copper transforms into the green. In the same logic that oxidation damages metals; free radicals are also detrimental to our body.
How Antioxidants Work
Antioxidants are molecules that have the capability of preventing oxidation of other molecules (by the name itself: antioxidant). In the light of anti-aging, antioxidants prevent the formation of free radicals. Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances found in plants. If our body has an abundance of antioxidants, we will be able to prevent the harm brought about by free radicals.
Benefits of Antioxidants
Antioxidants can help you look younger, live longer, and be at your optimum health.
Foods rich in antioxidants like fruits and vegetables can give you great protection from coronary heart diseases, and age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Antioxidants can also strengthen our immune resistance to diseases such as influenza and other bacterial and viral infections.
These substances also reduce a person’s risk of acquiring cancer, an incurable disease. Antioxidants also prevent glaucoma and the age-related degeneration of our macula, the part of the eye that is dedicated to superior acuity vision. Antioxidants also beat down the passing of the aging clock making your skin and other organs rejoice.
Carotenoids, zinc, selenium, and Vitamins A, C, and E are some of the main antioxidants. Glutathione is said to be the most powerful among all forms of antioxidants. They are naturally present in our body since we were young but deplete as we get older.
If antioxidant supplements are not your type, you may take some delectable bites of the superfruits such as blueberry and raspberry which are said to contain the most antioxidants.
So now that you have understood well how these miracle supplements work, you would realize why these wonder tablets cost a lot.
May you have a healthily long and young life!