What is an antioxidant and what is its role in the human body

What is an antioxidant and what is its role in the human body
What is an antioxidant and what is its role in the human body
Anonim

A long, he althy, quality life is happiness for any person. In our desire to live more years, we go further and further - yoga classes, morning jogging, taking all kinds of “magic pills” … However, in this pursuit of longevity, we often miss the most important issue regarding he althy nutrition. As Seneca once said: "We are what we eat." And in order to maximize the duration of your life, you need to pay attention to your diet, and you need to approach this problem wisely. Knowing what an antioxidant is will help you create a he althy and wholesome diet.

what is an antioxidant
what is an antioxidant

Before answering this question, it is worth taking a brief digression into biology, which will allow us to better understand what antioxidants are. As we all know, life without oxygen is impossible. Thanks to oxygen, which is part of the air, all life processes take place in the body, in particular, energy is produced by the cells. Unfortunately, this process is constantly accompanied by the emergence of so-called freeradicals - oxygen-oxidized molecules that have an extra electron in their structure. Free radicals damage he althy body cells, causing mutations and carcinogenesis.

It is possible and necessary to fight them. Knowing what an antioxidant is and what foods contain it will help your body destroy dangerous molecules. So, various types of tea are rich in antioxidants (especially green), chocolate with a high content of cocoa (primarily black bitter), fruits and vegetables, berries, olive oil. A sign that a vegetable or fruit is rich in antioxidants is its sour taste. Such products are available and you can easily find them and include them in your daily diet. A person who chooses antioxidants does not need reviews, because now the properties of almost all products are known.

vitamins antioxidants
vitamins antioxidants

If you want to increase the dose of nutrients taken with food, you can advise to pay attention to antioxidant vitamins. The main vitamin that prevents oxidation processes in cells is vitamin C. It is available not only with many types of fruits and vegetables, but also in dosage form. One or two ascorbic tablets per day will be an excellent prevention not only of colds, but also of cancer, as well as premature aging. Also excellent sources of antioxidants are vitamins A, E and carotenoids. Another antioxidant - selenium - although it is a toxic substance to a certain extent, it is simply necessary in microscopic doses, because it also plays the role of a protector against free radicals.

antioxidants reviews
antioxidants reviews

Understanding what an antioxidant is, and knowing which foods are rich in them, you will know what food is most preferable and beneficial for a person. But remember that everything is good in moderation, and an excess of antioxidants, especially in the form of various dietary supplements and other additives, will not lead to anything good. Try to get antioxidants in the form of fresh vegetables, fruits, chocolate, tea, and be he althy!

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