5 Important Insights on Antioxidants: Curated by a Leading Senior Citizen Housing in India

June 12, 2021

It would not be wrong to say that antioxidants are like immunity superheroes. They are the reason why a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts is recommended. People know that antioxidants are good for their health. But what exactly are antioxidants, anyway? And, what do they do?

As one of the leading operators of retirement homes in India, we share with you some useful insights on antioxidants:

Antioxidants fight off radical damage: Every day your body’s cells face threats from viruses and infections. These free radicals damage the cells and contribute to the ageing process. They also play a part in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Antioxidants are chemicals that help stop or limit the damage caused by free radicals. The body uses antioxidants to balance free radicals. This keeps them from causing damage to other cells. In simple words, antioxidants help to keep infections such as cold, flu, and even serious diseases at bay.

Antioxidants repair damaged immune cells: The immune system defends us against sickness and disease, but it can’t do it alone. When a virus or bacteria enters our body, the immune cells start to defend the body. But these cells cannot do much without antioxidants. Antioxidants don’t just neutralise free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons but also repair damaged immune cells. If the immune cells do not have enough antioxidants, they won’t be able to recover.

Not all antioxidants are equal: Any molecule that protects your cells against oxidation is an antioxidant. However, there are about 8,000 different types of antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols and they operate in different ways. Some antioxidants excel at fighting certain types of free radicals. Therefore, it is important to have a variety of foods and vegetables so that you get different types of antioxidants. For instance, fruits rich in Vitamin C cannot substitute the body’s need for Vitamin E.

The body generates its own antioxidants: To defend itself against free radicals and oxidative damage, the human body generates its own antioxidants. Plants and animals and other forms of life, all generate antioxidants.

Not all antioxidants come from fruits and vegetables: Antioxidants are found naturally in fruits and vegetables, especially dark and bright coloured vegetables. But not all antioxidants come from fruits and vegetables. Even meat, dairy products, and eggs contain some antioxidants. However, eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables is the ideal way to get antioxidants.

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