subject: Anti-aging With Antioxidants [print this page] It is odd to view our bodies as things that can actually rust, but over time, they become stiff due to oxidative stress.
Perhaps you might remember the terms mitochondria from your high school biology class, well this powerhouse stores your body's energy and this begins to literally rust. This rusting process, or rather the oxidative stress, is a byproduct of free radical damage. And, this particular kind of damage occurs when molecules that are unstable impair how cells and tissues perform inside and out.
A prime visual example of free radical damage is evidenced in the presence of wrinkles in the skin which are often a result of exposure to the harmful effects of the sun. There are, however, protective antioxidants such as alpha lipoic acid, gluthathione as well as more familiar nutrients: vitamins A, C, E, which help to minimize any damage done to one's cells.
A surefire way to stop the clock and stall the aging process is to work to prevent free radical damage from occurring within your body as well as externally on your skin. In order to slow the aging process, it is essential that you incorporate a quality multivitamin into your personal nutritional regimen.
A good multivitamin will contain a wide range of vitamins known for their antioxidant benefits as well as with a wide range of minerals. Alpha lipoic acid which is naturally produced by the body should still be obtained through supplement form which will further protect the cells. Many anti-aging experts have come to believe that gluthathione is really the most important antioxidant of all; however, it is not easily obtained from food, nor is it properly absorbed from supplements.
Some anti-aging doctors believe that if you combine N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and selenium, both co-factors of gluthathione, your body utilizes these supplements as building blocks to make the powerful antioxidant.
A crucial step in preventing free radical damage--the rusting of the body--is to eat a well-balanced anti-aging diet. Foods that are highly nutritious are key factors in keeping you looking and feeling young. We have a choice in what foods we decide to eat daily, and when selecting our meals and various snacks, it is wise to look at foods as age-fighters.
The best anti-aging foods are those that are anti-inflammatory like salmon, tuna, flax seeds, a variety of plant and fruits, whole grains and unsalted nuts and seeds. It is also necessary to stay properly hydrated. This is a key factor because any biochemical process happens when water is present. This means that any degree of dehydration produces a pro-inflammatory state for your body which is most certainly a con when working to achieve an anti-aging status and overall youthful body.
To stay hydrated, one should drink eight to 10 eight ounce glasses of water per day. An interesting note, the more water-based foods you eat, such as fruit and vegetables, the more our body is hydrated for water-based foods contribute to your daily water intake.
