Your Health Center

Looking younger and living longer are not just signs of vanity. They are also signs of good health. Aging however is unfortunately a result of both genetic and environmental factors. We may not be able to do anything to stop aging by manipulating our genetic make-up. We may however, be able to slow down aging by controlling our environment through our lifestyles. How do we do it?

Antioxidants

Burning oxygen or oxidation is a normal metabolic process in our bodies. The process however creates molecules called free radicals with lone electrons. These electrons steal the electrons of cells in the body and continue to produce even more free radicals. Lifestyle activities like smoking and excessive drinking eventually speed up free radical production. The result is body damage which may take the form of cancer, heart disease, skin aging and muscular degeneration. The answer to stop free radical damage is to introduce antioxidants into your environment or lifestyle.

Antioxidants are actually molecules that freely offer themselves to free radicals in the place of body cells. These antioxidants however are very stable and therefore do not produce more free radicals after binding. Where can we get antioxidants?

Fruits and Vegetables

There are numerous foods that are good for the health. Fruits and vegetables however should be eaten in greater amounts. This is because this particular food group contains numerous antioxidants that can fight the cell damaging effects of free radicals. Vitamins A, C and E in particular are top antioxidants that prevent the fast degeneration of muscles and tissues due to oxidation.

Vitamin A can be found in carrots and tomatoes. Vitamin C is present in oranges and broccoli. Vitamin E rich foods include nuts and fish. Other antioxidant rich foods include red beans, blueberries, cranberries, artichoke, dried plums, raspberries, red apples, pecans, green and red peppers.

Aside from introducing antioxidants into our diet there are other ways to slow down the aging process.