Slow Your Aging Process With Antioxidants
by Naomi Delacroix
http://www.antioxidantnet.com
This may not sound too good, but you're rusting inside
even as you're reading this. Of course, you're not really
rusting. But there are chemical reactions in your body
similar to rusting, called oxidation, that are making you
wear out bit by bit. The good news is that you can slow
down this process. If you choose to help your body fight
this "rusting," you'll feel young longer.
What causes the body to "rust?" Chemical reactions by the
billions are taking place in your body every moment. They
provide life-giving oxygen to the body. Usually these
reactions rumble along happily. However, every so often one
of them goes haywire, becoming part of a rogue reaction
that damages the body, like rusting. It's known as "free
radical damage."
Your body usually minimizes this "rusting," or oxidation,
with the help of nutrients called antioxidants. However,
your natural "anti-rusting" defenses are easily overwhelmed
in today's world. Toxins in our food, radiation,
pollution, processed food, intense exercise, aging and
other influences make it difficult for our bodies to stop
these rogue chemical reactions.
Free radical damage is part of many degenerative disease
processes, like heart disease. It also gives you wrinkles.
Cancer, too, is caused in part by free radical damage.
How much help do our over-taxed bodies need in their fight
against free radical damage? There's a great deal of
ongoing research about this subject. We do know that
common supplements such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E and
Selenium help in the fight to reduce free radical damage.
That's only the beginning. More exotic supplements are
much more potent free radical warriors. Some of these
include grapeseed extract, green tea, glutathione and
alpha lipoic acid.
Getting an extra dose of antioxidants doesn't have to mean
popping pills. Extensive research has shown that cherries
and blueberries contain highly potent antioxidants. They
are nature's yummy little oxidant fighters! Have you ever
tried to stop eating them fresh from a bush? Blueberries
protect against memory loss from age, as well.
Your mom probably told you to eat your vegetables.
Broccoli, leafy greens and tomatoes are all filled with
antioxidants. They are good for you, your mom was right!
And, believe it or not, chocolate is packed with
antioxidants, too.
Will extra antioxidants protect you from disease and slow
the aging process very much? That question is still under
debate by scientists. This is because it's extremely
difficult to measure all the effects of antioxidants.
Maybe in ten years or so, scientists will have more
answers. By then, you'll be ten years older too! So take
your antioxidants now and you won't feel a decade older
ten years from now.
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