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How Do Antioxidants Slow The Aging Process?

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Antioxidants can have a range of benefits on our bodies since they can help reduce the level of oxidative stress inside the body. This kind of ability can also make it possible for these antioxidants, present in both natural and synthetic/man-made substances, to help us deal with the aging process.

It is, however, important to consider how effective this actually is and whether or not antioxidants can actually delay or slow down the aging process. If so, how does it manage to do this? Let’s find out.

Can Antioxidants Slow The Aging Process?

Antioxidants are properties that can be present in certain substances. Commonly, you can find such antioxidant properties in artificial or natural substances that are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and other vitamins and minerals. You can obtain these from various food sources as well as beauty or skin protection products.

Before we figure out if antioxidants can actually slow the aging process, it is important to understand how they function in this sense.

Our bodies not only contain useful free radicals but may also contain excessive and harmful free radicals that might enter the body and penetrate the skin due to external factors like harsh UV rays, smoke, microplastics and pollution.

These can then lead to oxidative stress in the body due to weak cells, making our skin more vulnerable to quick aging and our bodies prone to chronic diseases.

However, when you increase your intake or application of antioxidant-rich substances, you can combat such free radicals since the antioxidants can help neutralize them, thereby reducing the oxidative stress and once again equipping our cells to fight against harm.

Based on this kind of functioning, then, antioxidants have the ability to slow down the aging process by dealing with the free radicals that enter our bodies through external factors. However, you should note that this can also prevent premature aging and not natural and healthy aging.


How Do Antioxidants Slow The Aging Process?

It is clear that antioxidants can slow down the aging process but only that which takes place prematurely. You can go through how it manages to do this in further detail below.

Improving Skin Condition

Antioxidants can be quite useful in improving your skin condition. It can make skin repair easier since it can allow newer and more nourished skin to replace the older and damaged skin.

This is because antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties and can also strengthen the skin cells to fight against damage and renew themselves better.

Antioxidants can also boost the production of collagen which can offer a good amount of protection to your skin and prevent the formation of early wrinkles, folds and loose skin.

Reducing The Risk Of Diseases

Aging does not simply take place externally. If your body is exposed to harmful and chronic diseases and conditions, then this can also equally speed up the process of aging in our bodies.

Free radicals can usually increase the risk of such diseases since these radicals can weaken our cells and DNA, preventing their ability to fight against cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Antioxidant properties obtained through food can then help reduce the risk of such diseases by fighting against such free radicals. However, antioxidant-rich supplements may not necessarily be able to do this, so make sure you avoid relying on them.

Improving Immunity

Antioxidants can certainly help boost your immune system by strengthening the cells and improving certain immune responses. This can not only prove to be effective against more harmful diseases but can also protect the body against bacteria and viruses that can harm our health.

By increasing the body’s ability to form antibodies against certain conditions, you can expect to fall sick less often or, at least, with lesser severity and intensity. This can then help slow down the aging process that can otherwise take place prematurely.

Antioxidants are not solely responsible and sufficient for this, so make sure you boost this with a balanced diet.

Improving Cognition

Oxidative stress has several associations with cognitive decline, which is quite a significant feature when it comes to aging.

In this regard, then, increasing the intake of natural antioxidants can help prevent major cognitive decline by improving factors like memory, motor function, awareness, focus, concentration, associations and learning.

While it might not be completely possible to avoid a small loss of cognitive functions as one naturally ages, antioxidants can help limit this kind of decline and keep you aware and mentally healthy and sharp even when you grow old.


How Do Antioxidants Slow The Aging Process? The Bottom Line

To sum up, antioxidants can neutralize the excess free radicals present in the body, thereby reducing oxidative stress and equipping our cells to become stronger. This can then reduce the risk of harmful diseases, improve our skin, boost immunity and improve cognitive health, making us healthier and less prone to premature and quick aging.

Rosemary Richards