You may have often come across the term ‘free radicals’ and how it can lead to oxidative stress. Over the years, medical science has touted the ability of antioxidants to help repair cell damage. Some claim that controlling damage caused due to free radicals could even help prevent cancer and cardiac health issues while others laud its ability to slow down the signs of aging. Although there is so much being discussed about fighting free radicals, seldom do Experts discuss what it truly means.
Free radicals are fragments of molecules that the human body naturally creates in order to fight bacteria and other harmful pathogens. So, every time you supply the body with something that isn’t right for the body such as alcohol, nicotine, or anything else then the body naturally forms these free radicals. Now, while some of them are essential, too many free radicals can prove to be dangerous and could cause serious cell damage and may even impair the DNA structure.
To prevent damage caused due to free radicals, one needs to eliminate or at least cut back the intake of toxic substances and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Apart from that, it is also recommended that you include certain other natural foods in your diet to help combat the damage caused due to free radicals. Let us now discuss some of these natural foods and what makes them an ideal pick.
Healthy Legumes
Eating a healthy colorful salad can provide your body with all the antioxidants that it needs to combat free radicals. The colors in vegetables represent a certain antioxidant and therefore it is recommended that you consider adding in multiple colored veggies. Doing that provides your body with a diverse set of phytochemicals and antioxidants. For instance, tomatoes are rich in lycopene, kale is packed with quercetin and kaempferol, spinach consists of lutein and zeaxanthin, and so on.
Whole Cereals
Switching to a whole grain diet can help boost your body’s natural ability to combat oxidative stress. According to a study, those who consume a minimum of one serving of it were said to have a lower risk of cardiac health issues. That’s because whole grains are rich in phytochemicals and essential minerals such as zinc and selenium. So, consider baking your own bread or switch to buying whole-grain bread. If you consume rice, then consider consuming brown rice.
Chaga Tea
Chaga mushroom is a type of tar-like substance that grows on birch trees and for centuries, this has been used in the tea form by the Chinese and the Europeans as they were wise enough to know about its healing powers. The ancient Chinese were the earliest to use it as a medicine and have been using Chaga for thousands of years. It is believed that they used to consume it for its immune-boosting traits, which modern-day science attributes to its antioxidant properties.
Back then, the Chinese used to procure it from Siberian forests that have plenty of birch trees. If you are wondering where to buy Chaga tea now, then you are in for many options but first you must decide on which form of Chaga you wish to buy. You can buy the Chaga mushroom, which is a hard substance that needs to be powdered and processed to make the tea. The other option is to buy Chaga extracts and use it to make your Chaga tea. So an easy way to supercharge your body is by starting the day with a cup of Chaga tea.
Berries
Adding in some healthy berries to your smoothies and salads can not only enhance its taste but also help combat free radicals in the body. For instance, strawberries contain anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that is found to be effective in reducing cholesterol levels, and promoting cardiac health. On the other hand, raspberries contain ellagitannins, a bioactive polyphenol that can help reduce oxidative stress. Likewise, bilberries and blueberries contain antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation.
Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices are often taken for granted assuming that they are merely meant for seasoning. In fact, herbs like oregano and mint are rich in antioxidants and can help bring down oxidative stress. While oregano is rich in carvacrol and thymol, mint is loaded with menthol. So, growing fresh herbs on your kitchen’s window sill can prove to be extremely good for your health. You can easily incorporate them into your everyday diet in the form of seasoning in your salads and soups or by adding them to your smoothies. Coming to spices, the two most highly regarded spices include cloves and cinnamon. Cloves contain eugenol and cinnamon contains several beneficial polyphenols that have many health benefits.
A few changes in your everyday diet can go a long way in enabling your body to combat oxidative stress caused due to free radicals. These mainly include natural unprocessed foods that come from plant sources. So, if your goal is to stay healthy in the long run then it’s time you incorporated the above mentioned healthy foods in your diet.