Health is a topic that encompasses many different solutions. Endless studies point to what habits people need to pick up or drop to maintain wellness for themselves, and everyone has their own opinions about what practices work best. Should you focus on changing up your diet, exercising more, getting better sleep, finding time to rest, or a combination of all four? Are there other methods that can increase longevity and independence as you age?

One of the biggest priorities for maintaining a healthy lifestyle is dietary choices. Consuming a balance of the basic food groups ensures that your body is getting the proper nutrients. Your cells require energy and the right ingredients to perform the various functions of the body.

Antioxidants are one of those key ingredients that can support cellular health. They can come from either natural or artificial sources and can promote overall wellness with a steady intake.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants play an important role in the body because they are substances that help defend the cells against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules within that body that are either produced as byproducts during metabolization or come from the outside environment. Their presence can put undue stress on the cells of the body, potentially causing them to break down or decay.

Antioxidants are designed to neutralize this threat. When the body is attempting to hold off the attacks of free radicals against the cells, antioxidants, some of which come from diet and some which are produced in the body, will be deployed to do so.

Types of Antioxidants

Various types of antioxidants are important minerals to consume to arm your body against cellular damage. These include vitamins A, C, and E, manganese, selenium, and beta-carotene. There are others, but these are some of the most well-known.

What Causes the Need for Antioxidants?

Many circumstances can lead to free radicals causing stress to the body’s cells that will require the use of antioxidants. Metabolism creates waste byproducts that take the form of free radicals. This can be caused by excessive exercise, tissue trauma, exposure to smoking, exposure to radiation, or consumption of processed foods.

All these scenarios can cause a build-up of free radicals that will cause harm to your cells, signaling the body to deploy antioxidants as a defense. The key to maintaining health and a steady supply of antioxidants is all about your dietary choices. By eating balanced foods that provide the necessary nutrients, you are providing the body with the tools it needs to promote long-term health and help rid the body of waste.

Sources of Antioxidants

These minerals should be a crucial part of your diet. The function that they perform in your body is necessary to maintain health. To support your antioxidant intake, try some of the following foods:

• Berries
• Oranges
• Bell peppers
• Dairy produce
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Leafy green vegetables
• Red fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Dark chocolate

In addition to a balanced diet that supplies your body with the necessary antioxidants, there are ways to give yourself even more. Supplements can be a great source of additional minerals, especially antioxidants that promote cellular health. However, supplements should not act as a replacement for a healthy diet, but rather as a method to support a balanced plan.

Your body also creates its own antioxidants called endogenous antioxidants. Those that are brought in from outside sources are known as exogenous. The best source of these minerals is antioxidant-rich foods that are listed above.

Why This Matters

Your antioxidant levels are extremely important and can be a significant indicator of overall health. Eliminating waste and neutralizing threats to your cells helps prevent the build-up of hazardous materials within your system. When your cells go through the usual metabolic processes, they produce waste known as free radicals which can be a threat to the integrity of the cells.

Since antioxidants can prevent the potential breakdown of cells, they are extremely important minerals to focus on in your diet. An antioxidant-rich food plan will supply your body with the necessary materials for defense against free radicals, promoting cellular health and therefore overall wellness.

Make Changes to Promote Cellular Health

The best time to make a change is now. Take some time to analyze your diet choices to measure how many antioxidant-rich foods you are consuming regularly. The more of these foods that you consume, the better you can support your antioxidant intake and provide key nutrients for your cells to maintain a healthy body.

Incorporate some of these superfoods into your diet plan to ensure that your body is well-supplied with the nutrients it needs. Antioxidants are extremely important to support cellular health throughout the body. A lack of this valuable element in your eating habits can be detrimental to your physical health. Promote cellular health today by analyzing your dietary intake and ensuring that the foods you eat are supporting your antioxidant levels and overall wellness.