Can antioxidants — those cell-protective substances found in lots of the fruits and vegetables we eat — actually detoxify our bodies and make us younger in the process?
Yes, and no, says Newsmax health contributor Dr. David Brownstein. Yes, antioxidants safeguard us against free radicals which are produced when our bodies break down food, and toxins in the environment like radiation and tobacco smoke. But antioxidants won’t actually make us younger although they help combat the aging process, he says.
“Antioxidants can’t make you younger, but they can certainly minimize signs of aging and help your body grow old much more appropriately, much more gracefully,” says Brownstein, editor of “The Natural Way to Health” newsletter.
Consider vitamins C and E, the two most important antioxidants available, according to Brownstein. Both have been linked to preserving muscle function in older adults. What’s more, vitamin C is critical for healthy bones, skin, and connective tissue; helps promote healing; and aids in iron absorption. Vitamin E helps us maintain a healthy immune system and works to ensure our metabolic processes are functioning.
Antioxidants may help us fight illnesses like cancer and heart disease, which free radicals seem to play a role in. The best way to get your antioxidants, which also include vitamin A, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene, is by eating whole foods, Brownstein says. Broccoli, greens, tomatoes, red and green peppers, and citrus fruits are great sources of vitamin C. Get your vitamin E by eating leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. Some meats, fish, poultry, and grains also offer antioxidants.
“We are exposed to toxic agents on a daily basis, and antioxidants are used by our body to buffet these toxic agents,” Brownstein says.
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