Antioxidants or should we call them the ”Free Radical Feeders”? We’ve all heard about how the body needs antioxidants but have you ever wondered why your body needs them? What role do they play? Do they actually heal the body or is it just a marketing hype? Well, let’s understand what antioxidants are and whether it is safe to take them as supplements and how you can get them from natural food.
Why Do We Need Antioxidants?
Free radicals are waste substances produced by cells as the body processes food. They are produced especially while the body processes refined and processed foods, trans fats, artificial sweeteners and certain additives. Smoking, environmental pollution, exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and drugs and even chemotherapy can produce them. If the body cannot remove free radicals efficiently, oxidative stress can result and harm cells and body function. Antioxidants can protect against the cell damage that free radicals cause, by oxidative stress.
What Are Some Natural Sources?
Each antioxidant serves a different function .This is why it is important to have a varied diet. The best sources of antioxidants are plant-based foods, especially brightly coloured fruits and vegetables.
To obtain some specific antioxidants naturally, try to include dairy produce, eggs, liver, nuts, seeds, corn and mushrooms in your diet. The following tips could help increase your antioxidant intake:
- Include a fruit or a vegetable every time you eat meals and snacks
- Have a cup of green or matcha tea every day
- Use turmeric, cumin, oregano, ginger, clove and cinnamon to spice up the flavour and antioxidant content of your meals.
- Snack on nuts and seeds, especially Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, and dried fruit, but choose those with no added sugar or salt
What About Supplements?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns against high doses of antioxidant supplements as they can be harmful. Antioxidant supplements may also interact with some medications. It is important to speak with a health provider before using any of these products.
However, there may be some benefit for people at risk of age-related macular degeneration, but it is essential to seek advice from a doctor about whether to use supplements, and which ones to use. The best way is to have it in its natural, available form. If you are lacking in fruit and veggies, start by adding two servings of fruits and two to three servings of veggies in your daily routine. Avoid Supplements unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.
We hope this article helps you! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Find more articles on nutrition here.
Still have some doubts and queries about antioxidants? Ask your GOQii Coach directly by subscribing to Personalised Health Coaching here.
#BeTheForce
Very nice!!!! Got to know something good!!
Truly worth reading… I have seen many People taking antioxidants like hell… Excess of anything is bad… As told by Doctor Shikha . Thanks mam, hope you keep guiding us on the right kind of food habits… Cheers…
Yeah, surely A.O are F.R.F.
Nice article to catch on to. Thanx @ Shikha for valuable knowledge. Eagerly waiting for the next one.
Very helpful
Thank you.
Very informative and to the point.
Good information.
Thankyou sir
Very useful, thanks for good information 👍👍👍👌👌👌
Short, precise and to the point.
Well written Dr Shikha Singh.
This is a real eye opener.In our daily life we take things casually and forget the important and essential things that need attention. Great article, very informative and educational.
Superb
Very useful blog about antioxidants👍
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Knowledgeable 👌
Thank you. This is very useful
The antioxidants are very much required to heal our body by revitalizing the damaged cells which is created by our unhealthy food habits or even due to unnoticed intake of attractive foods.
The guidelines given in selection of right antioxidants are very lucidly narrated in this blog.
Thanks for publishing such a nice blog to make us health conscious.
The necessity of antioxidants is very well explained in this article.
It is really a free advice to keep our body healthy at all times without shedding any money on doctors consultation.
This blog is really worth reading and advices mentioned therein must be applied in our daily life to keep us healthy at all times.
Nice and informative 🤗😁
This article is really good for one it really helps knowing about the nutrients in food what u have to consume for your good Appetite and good health..
Great knowledge achieved from this.
Very good information to all of us . It will help to keep healthy life for us.
Hi,
It helps our daily food choices and lead a healthier life.
Thank you so much.
Would love to read such informative blogs more..Thanks for this one…
Great learning.. This will help people develop awareness on lifestyle change with reason.
amazing write up
Thanks for spreading this knowledge to us.
your post was very helpful to me.
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Very good article; it provided me with a lot of useful knowledge. As a blog, please continue to share more. I’ve added it to my bookmarks so that I can keep up with you.