Antioxidants are a class of nutrients that protect the body from damage caused by different factors, most importantly oxidative damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals are known as "reactive oxygen species", or ROS.
They are produced when your body uses oxygen for energy. Just as fire emits smoke as a by-product, ROS are emitted from the conversion of oxygen to energy in the human body, eventually causing oxidative damage to body systems. Free radicals are also created when the body is exposed to pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust and other harmful environmental toxins.
There are different types of antioxidants, and most work better when paired with other antioxidants. This is called synergism. Vitamins can be antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. The tripeptide glutathione, loosely classified as an amino acid, acts as an antioxidant, along with other true amino acids such as methionine.
This is not to say that cosmetics have no place in the fight against aging. There's nothing wrong with having beautiful skin well into your twilight years; it just needs to be recognised that any cosmetic regime must be combined with other anti-aging practices to be truly beneficial.Living Longer Naturally -- the Healthy Lifestyle ApproachYou may have heard the expression that 'age is a state of mind'. In many ways we can see this to be true. We all know people who should be in the peak of life but, due to circumstance or attitude, lead the life of someone much older.Conversely, we also know 'elderly' people that could give the average 40-year-old a run for their money. Why is this?If you watch people that still seem to have boundless energy as they age, you will probably notice that those people are very active, and approach everything -- even simple day to day things -- with a positive attitude.The more that you remind yourself of your age, the older you will feel. If you constantly focus on negatives then your health will be negatively impacted. It's simple common sense: we all know that laughing makes us feel better. Therefore it's logical that spending much of our time in a dissatisfied or depressive state would have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing.Really, it all comes back to healthy mind, healthy body. And it works both ways.For example, it's a scientific fact that plenty of daylight and sunshine helps to ward of depression. Exercise releases endorphins that make us feel good. Eating well gives us energy and bolsters our immune system.
One important factor of a healthy lifestyle, especially with regard to anti-aging, is the minimisation of stress. There are countless negative side effects of too much stress in our lives, so anything that you can do to alleviate stress is beneficial. Go for quiet walks, surround yourself with positive people, meditate, and make sure that you have some time to yourself occasionally.Learn to say 'no' - you can't be all things to all people.Lastly, a diet consisting of lots of fresh fruits and veggies is invaluable. The body thrives on all things raw and vital. Grains and nuts are also full of necessary protein, and sprouts such as wheatgrass are the ultimate mineral supplement when juiced. Buy yourself a good cold press juicer, such as the Greenpower Kempo, and make your own fresh fruit juices.
Pure water is also important. Our bodies are 70% water so it makes sense to drink the purest water possible. Dehydration also has a negative impact on energy, so if you're tired you may want to try drinking lots of water.The fact is that, at this stage, we aren't really sure why the human body ages. Until we have a better grip on the process of aging we won't be able to combat it effectively. Despite this, chances are that, if we lead a healthy lifestyle and occasionally indulge in anti-aging products such as cosmetics, we have a reasonable chance of aging gracefully.Budda had the right idea when he said: "Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care." So far, even science can't beat that advice.
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