Why You Should Incorporate Antioxidants In Your Life
Antioxidants are quite the buzzword in today’s health and wellness community. Not a day goes by that you don’t hear someone recommending a certain food or beverage that will give you the antioxidants you need. The late 90s/early 00s buzz around ‘superfoods’ such as green tea or frozen berries was borne out of the idea that low antioxidant levels may correlate to chronic health conditions later in life. Skincare companies, big and small, all have at least one product that is known for its ‘antioxidant’ properties and antioxidant specific supplements have become very popular on the market.
But what exactly are antioxidants and why is everyone so obsessed with them?
What does antioxidant mean?
The word ‘antioxidant’ is misleading. What most people don’t realise is that the term ‘antioxidant’ actually refers to a chemical ability rather than a specific substance. Scientists classify certain foods and beverages as antioxidants because, like their name suggests, they have the ability to reduce damage done by free radicals due to oxidation.So now we’re getting somewhere! We know that antioxidants help combat damage done by free radicals and oxidation. But what is oxidation and how do these mysterious ‘free radicals’ tie in?
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are compounds that our bodies automatically create when we metabolise food or oxygen into energy (the process known as oxidation). They’re an inevitable byproduct of energy production in our bodies but they’re not all bad! They actually do serve certain important functions, such as helping our immune systems fight off viral infections. Free radicals help out with infection and antioxidants help to keep the free radicals in check.
In theory, this should work out perfectly. But in reality, our bodies are constantly changing and if the level of free radicals is too high, this can lead to oxidative stress which can harm cells and body function. External factors, such as air pollution, smoking, certain foods and even exercise, have also been shown to increase the amount of free radicals.
Our bodies naturally produce antioxidants to balance this out but we can also help by supplementing it with external antioxidants. By maintaining this balance, we may be able to reduce the damage linked to free radicals.
How can I get more antioxidants into my diet?
One great way to increase your antioxidant consumption is by incorporating curcumin into your daily life. Curcumin is the primary ingredient in turmeric, giving it its bright yellow colour, and is a natural antioxidant. . Unfortunately not everyone has the time or ability to incorporate large amounts of turmeric into their diet. That’s why our product is perfect - each capsule contains 495mg of curcumin, which is one of the highest on the market. The perfect way to get your curcumin and antioxidants in one go!
But antioxidants aren’t just one type of substance. There are many types of antioxidants which have different properties and serve various functions. That’s why it’s super important to have a varied diet which is rich with plant food and different vitamins so that you can get all that antioxidant goodness!