Anti-Aging Antioxidants to Slow Aging

Powerful Antioxidant Protection from Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Nov 1, 2009

It is believed that eating antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables will help to slow aging because of their powerful antioxidant protection.

Anti-aging antioxidants, found in fruits, vegetables, and even green tea, are being closely examined because of the theory that these potent phytochemicals can slow aging and prevent disease. There are many different types of antioxidants, from vitamin C to quercetin, with variations on the power of their antioxidant protection and focus, but in general, they are known to work by neutralizing free radicals that would otherwise cause damage to cells and cellular DNA.

Recent research points to the benefits of eating a healthy diet, filled with a variety of antioxidant-rich foods to promote longevity and well-being, rather than taking antioxidant supplements to slow aging.

Ways that Anti-Aging Antioxidants May Slow Aging

Aging is a natural process due to a number of factors, one of which is free radical damage to cells and tissue. Free radicals are inevitable, as they are a natural byproduct of metabolism; they are also in some situations beneficial, having a place in the whole system of total health. According to an article for the Consumer Health Organization of Canada (March, 1995) by Dr. Hari Sharma, "Free Radicals: A Major Cause of Aging and Disease", an excess of free radicals, due to exposure to toxins, a poor diet and even mental stress, can lead to serious health problems. If these unstable compounds are not balanced by their natural counterpart, antioxidants, then they are able to go on and create all forms of damage, from arthritis to atherosclerosis.

This is why antioxidants are considered anti-aging; they are able to slow aging by stopping the onslaught of an excess of free radicals, protecting cells and body tissue. Does this mean that anti-aging antioxidants are the solution to prolonging youth? Research seems to strongly support eating a diet with many antioxidant-rich foods, but antioxidant protection from supplements is still questionable.

New Doubts as to the Antioxidant Protection of Antioxidant Supplements

There have been a number of studies to test the power of antioxidant supplements to slow aging and prevent disease. The results have been positive, negative, and neutral, leaving even the American Heart Association to not recommend antioxidant vitamin supplements right now, instead promoting antioxidant-rich foods as the most safe and effective choice until further research is done.

Jonathan Scheff points out in his article, "Fact of Fiction: Antioxidant Supplements Will Help You Live Longer," (Scientific American, June 6, 2008) that taking anti-aging antioxidants in supplement form is not a straightforward solution to aging. There are so many different forms of oxidative stress, as well as so many different antioxidants, which may or may not require the support of other phytochemicals only found in whole foods, to be beneficial. It is not necessarily true that antioxidant supplements have to be avoided, although antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are likely to provide the much sought after powerful antioxidant protection.

Benefits of Anti-Aging Antioxidants From Eating Antioxidant Rich Foods

Whole foods are able to supply the body not only with anti-aging antioxidants, but also myriad other beneficial phytochemicals, many of which we do not fully understand at this point. Antioxidant fruits and vegetables are also excellent sources of fiber, water, plant enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, all of which are known to slow aging and promote well-being.

The reason isolated anti-aging antioxidants have been examined in the first place is because of the observation that people who eat a diet filled with high amounts of antioxidant-rich foods, mainly fruits and vegetables, as opposed to a mostly processed food, meat, and dairy focused diet tend to live longer and healthier.

Not only are fruits and vegetables excellent sources of anti-aging antioxidants, but whole grains, nuts, and seeds provide plenty of these beneficial phytochemicals as well. As each food carries its own particular formula of phytonutrients, it is important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods to not only slow aging, but to reduce the risk of many degenerative diseases, and for overall well-being.

Page, Linda. "Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone." Eleventh Edition (Traditional Wisdom, 2003).

The copyright of the article Anti-Aging Antioxidants to Slow Aging in Holistic Nutrition is owned by Brenna Coleman. Permission to republish Anti-Aging Antioxidants to Slow Aging in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.