Antioxidants is the latest health craze and their importance is discussed all over the media as if they are a new discovery when they have in fact been around for as long as vitamin and mineral supplements. They play a vital role in feeling and looking healthy and keeping young.

The Importance Of Antioxidants For A Healthy Body

• The production of free radicals in the body comes from unstable molecules and atoms in the body that are trying to be more stable. To be able to do this they try and grab electrons from the healthy cells causing these healthy cells to become more unstable and unhealthy. This is where antioxidants come in reversing this reaction and keeping the cells working properly.

• The anti-aging effects of these antioxidants has to be the most well known benefit. As we get older our body is constantly replicating cells so that those that die can be replaced. When errors occur in this process and accumulate our body ages. The free radicals created will increase the promotion of wrinkles, problems with memory loss, weaken the immune system, reduce tissue cell elasticity - which all contribute to the process of aging. While you can not prevent aging, you can slow down the aging process considerably with sufficient antioxidants.

• Cancer is also thought to be caused by the damage these unwanted free radicals cause and so by increasing your antioxidant intake you can also reduce your risk of some cancers like: breast, colon, bladder, prostrate, esophageal and pancreatic cancer to name a few. The full disease fighting benefits of antioxidants have not been fully researched but so far they have helped other disorders such as strokes, Alzheimer’s, sight problems, Parkinson’s and cardiovascular diseases.

• Bad cholesterol oxidizes and attaches to blood vessel walls which leads to heart disease and greater risk of a stroke or heart attack. The walls of blood vessels may also harden due to this oxidization leading to high blood pressure risk. Antioxidants combat this by preventing the oxidization of the bad cholesterol and helping to maintain a healthy heart and circulatory system.

With enough antioxidants in your system your immune system will get a great boost which means you will get sick less often and be stronger fighting off diseases and heal quicker if you get any injuries. You will also feel and look younger.

So it not just a media fad and they genuinely have a vital role to play in keeping us healthy and preventing diseases and giving you a greater ability to fight disease if you get it. With so many benefits it would be madness not to ensure that you have a steady supply of antioxidants which you can easily get from a good diet rich in antioxidant foods and from a good quality supplement.