NOVEMBER 18 , 2022
How antioxidants support your body
Antioxidants are one of the main things people look for most to consume, but do you know how antioxidants help your body?
We often follow trends; like many others, antioxidants are one of many examples. In recent years, they have become trendy. But, in some cases, that’s one of the reasons we consume them in excess without knowing the correct daily intake, portions and/or how it contributes to our health.
But don't worry. The following blog will tell you what antioxidants are, how they may help the body, and where you may find them naturally.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are essential components for the human body's cells because they can help slow down the oxidation of the cells.
When a person has a diet high in antioxidants, their health can improve in long term significantly by making the organs function better, keeping the skin smooth and soft, and preventing wrinkles and malfunctions in many body parts.
According to the Pan American Health Organization, the central role of antioxidants is to slow down a process known as oxidative stress. This problem worsens with age, but can certainly be slowed down to a great extent by antioxidants.
The critical point about antioxidants is that we should include them in our daily diet so that the oxidation or wear and tear processes in our leather and organs are much slower or, even sometimes, null.
How many antioxidants help the body?
It is essential to consume them in the products we buy. We can find them as internal and external antioxidants. Some of their main functions are:
They help the anti-inflammatory process
They help stop and reverse cellular oxidation
It enables the skin elasticity
They may delay cellular oxidation
Some studies suggest that it helps prevent and reduce the risk of cancer
They help prevent diseases such as senile dementia and other diseases related to memory loss
They can help increase the body's defenses by acting on the immunological system.
Likewise, they help in the repair of body tissues
They help to take care of the maintenance of the bones, hair, and nails
It helps with the collagen production
They can help with heart problems and prevent heart attacks
They help blood circulation
They help prevent wrinkles and dry skin and improve its appearance
Is it better to have antioxidants via supplements or food intake?
Supplements are an excellent way to help our body to be able to get the benefits and quantity that we bring to our body, but in general, food supplements are usually more expensive than the food itself.
Dietary supplements are a unique way to provide what our body cannot get from food, but having a balanced diet will always be a better option.
In line with the recommendations of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, a balanced diet is sufficient to obtain the benefits our body needs to get the best results.
In addition, food has better absorption for our body because they naturally come in our meals.
Oils, vegetables, fruits, and some proteins contain the necessary antioxidants for our body. For further reference, we will tell you more in the next paragraph about which foods can have more nutrients and antioxidants to help you improve your health.
In which foods can we find antioxidants?
Many types of antioxidants, from those that may come in vitamins, such as C, D, and E, or those that we find naturally in oils.
We can also find them artificially with supplements and multivitamins, but natural products will always have better cellular absorption due to their natural origin. However, fruits and vegetables are the richest sources of antioxidants. Some of them are:
Blueberries
BlackBerry
Cherry
Strawberry
Raspberry
Gooseberry
Orange
Pepper
Vegetable oils from seeds such as soy or sunflower
Carrots
Tomato
Watermelon
Eggplant
Coffee
Green tea
Pomegranates
Olive oil
Oils as a possible primary source of antioxidants
It is a reality that we can find the antioxidants necessary for health benefits or many foods we usually consume if we have a balanced diet.
However, many of the oils can function as natural antioxidants. For example, with only a tiny layer of crude oil on guacamole or exposed fruit. You will see that its oxidation will be significantly delayed, making avocados, for example, last much longer.
The same goes for our body and our cells. If we put oil in our food, we can obtain many more antioxidants necessary to reduce oxidation and aging in our cells and, therefore, our bodies. In short, essential oils support the largest source of antioxidants we have.
Plant-based oils, such as soybean oil, may help make your meals much more delicious and support the delay of aging and oxidizing cells and lead to a much more balanced life.
Find out more about the many benefits you can get from vegetable or olive oils that can make more delicious and nutritious meals. Feel free to listen to your body's needs and find the best products with us.