Everyone Needs Antioxidants: Prevention Against Aging
Aging is something that is unavoidable, yet millions of people all over the world spend exorbitant amounts of money to find the elusive fountain of youth and stave off the effects of growing old. Enter antioxidants, prevention against aging. They keep the cells healthy and in good repair, and this in turn helps keep the body's systems functioning properly. As a result, even though we get on in years, we do it gracefully and in a healthy manner.
Antioxidants' prevention against aging can be realized in the form of dietary supplements that contain the essential vitamins and minerals for health. We all should follow the recommended daily allowance for vitamin intake, but there are many of us who need more of them than others because of special health conditions. Antioxidants are abundant in the food we eat, especially in fruits and vegetables, but we can take supplements to help make up for whatever we may be missing in our diets.
Antioxidants help negate the effects of oxidation caused by free radicals. Think of a newly peeled apple that turns brown in a few minutes -- that's oxidation. This happens when free radicals, which are very volatile molecules, react with oxygen and create peroxides. These peroxides are very harmful to the body, damaging cells and genes; and over time, they can cause not only conditions that make a seem person seem older than he/she really is, but also a host of diseases that includes cancer and age-related ailments like Alzheimer's disease and eye disorders.
When it comes to vitamin supplementation, vitamins E and C are viewed as super antioxidants that prevent the effects of aging from occurring. Vitamin E in particular does not only help a person look and feel young, but it can also extend life by a number of years, according to a number of scientists. It has a protective effect against free radicals and is instrumental in blood circulation -- a must for looking young. Vitamin C, taken by itself or in conjunction with vitamin E, produces many health benefits as well. Like vitamin E, it helps prevent oxidation caused by free radicals and reduces one's risk of acquiring major ailments like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Dietary supplements that are chock-full of vitamins and minerals are readily available almost everywhere, but you should consult a medical professional about which ones are the best for you. Also, try to have regular and ample servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. With antioxidants, prevention against aging is not only possible, but achievable.
