ANTIOXIDANT FOODS: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHY TAKE THEM

It has not yet been discovered the elixir of long life that many, over the centuries, have been looking for, but one thing is certain: there are many antioxidant foods that promote longevity and help to live more years and in health. Together we can find out what they are, what they are for, in which foods they are.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances able to neutralize free radicals and protect the organism from their negative action. During the numerous metabolic processes, a small amount of oxygen gives rise to molecules chemically reactive due to the presence in the outer orbital of one or more unpaired electrons. Such molecules, called free radicals, are able to damage cell structures such as plasma membrane and DNA. They act by attacking healthy cells by damaging them. In this way they replicate to the detriment of our organism. The negative action of free radicals affects the health of the entire organism, accelerating cellular ageing processes, depressing the immune system and encouraging the emergence of numerous diseases.

What do antioxidants do?

Antioxidants are valuable substances for our health because they act against the harmful action of free radicals.

Cellular ageing is one of the aspects that must be considered when we talk about free radicals and preventive action against them. When the cell system is attacked, our immune system comes out defeated and debilitated. What does it mean? It is easy to guess that if the organism is weak and defenceless it will be more easily exposed to become ill and to age before the time. The antioxidants therefore serve precisely to avoid all this and to preserve health and beauty throughout our body, both inside and outside.

Our body is able to control the activity of free radicals through special antioxidants endogenous (synthesized autonomously) and exogenous (present in food). While many foods have a protective effect on free radicals, incorrect eating habits can increase their activity, such as a diet too rich in animal fats, an excessive consumption of fatty fish or food intolerances.

Antioxidant foods

Eating healthy is the best way to stay strong and young and it is demonstrated by the variety of antioxidant foods that we can propose at the table every day without difficulty. We are surrounded by antioxidant foods. Basically, all fruits and vegetables are rich in them but let’s see in detail which contain more.

When we choose foods rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other substances, we are certain to be on the right way. Here the list of foods rich in antioxidants:

-Lemons. They are citrus fruits extremely antioxidant due to the presence of naringenin within them. These fruits, moreover, are also a cure-all for the heart;

-Unsaturated fats. They are also called good fats and are very present in extra virgin olive oil, in oilseeds (flax and sunflower), in dried fruit and in fish, in particular salmon;

-Tomatoes. They are excellent antioxidants thanks to lycopene, contained within the skin, which helps to combat the loss of tissue elasticity;

-Omega 3. They are contained on a large scale from salmon, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables such as spinach, salad and Brussels sprouts;

-Cocoa. It is very rich in polyphenols, excellent to counter the onset of diseases characterized by cognitive decline.

To combat the production of free radicals it is good to limit the overall calorie intake and to avoid the consumption of fat, salt, frying and meats.

In ProLon® you will find also antioxidant foods: tomato soup, L-bar with cocoa, algal oil with omega 3 and the spearmint and lemon tea. Buy your ProLon® kit now!