Antioxidants – What are they and why do we need them?

At some point, you will certainly have heard that antioxidants are good for your health. However, what are antioxidants really, and why do you actually need them?

As the term itself suggests, essentially antioxidants are substances that help reverse oxidation. Oxidation refers to a process whereby a substance is exposed to, and gains, oxygen. Although oxygen is vital to life, the process of oxidation is actually harmful because it leads to damage or destruction.

What do free radicals do to the body?

Indeed, oxidation triggers free radicals, which are molecules that are unstable and need to be captured and brought under control. Otherwise they can damage or destroy other healthy cells. These free radicals negatively impact cell membrane health, proteins and DNA expression. Which in turn, can result in disease. Here’s where antioxidants come into play to act as natural protectors of our health.

Generally, antioxidants are abundant in nature, because plants contain antioxidants that they use to protect themselves. For this reason, as we regularly and consistently emphasise to our +boost community, it is important to prioritise a balanced intake of nutritious and natural whole foods. This is because it is just what our bodies need to maintain good health and reverse the negative side-effects of our own biochemical processes.

In the modern, fast-paced society in which we currently live, processed foods are abundant and stressful lifestyles are prevalent. This makes it extremely difficult to provide our body with the appropriate nutrition required to protect sufficiently against free radical activity.

Free radicals are also present in the external environment.

For example, we can absorb free radicals from exposure to air pollution, chemicals such as pesticides, artificial ingredients in cosmetic and domestic products, as well as various other sources.

Antioxidants are required to protect our health

To counteract these free radicals, therefore, antioxidants are required to protect our health. They promote:

• cognitive health,
• boost our immunity and
• promote healthy ageing and longevity,
• enhance one’s overall health as well as physical and mental well-being.

So what steps can we take to ensure sufficient antioxidant intake?

• A clean and balanced diet based on natural whole foods is key, including fresh fruit and vegetables, and high quality natural sources of protein. Highly processed foods are typically devoid of any antioxidants (and indeed other healthy nutrients), and therefore should ideally be minimised.
• It is also important to ensure proper hydration, rest and recovery, and gut health. In this respect, we strongly recommend the use of probiotics for digestive health.
• Another excellent way to boost your body’s antioxidant supply is the strategic intake of specific vitamins and minerals, in particular the following:-