Antioxidants — your everyday ‘elixir of youth’

Antioxidants are compounds produced by the human body that fight free radicals, substances that are by-products of our body's regular metabolism. These radicals do not pose much threat when present in moderate amounts. However, excess amounts jeopardise human health and have been linked to a wide variety of diseases.

Fortunately, our bodies produce their own 'free-radical scavengers', better known as antioxidants, that keep the number of free radicals in check, and neutralise their harmful effects. Antioxidants come with promising benefits because they counteract free radical-induced cell and tissue damage. These notorious radicals have been linked to heart, inflammatory and respiratory diseases, diabetes, deterioration of eye lenses, certain types of cancer, arthritis, stroke, immune deficiency, emphysema, and Parkinson's disease.

Antioxidants play a significant role in keeping these at bay. Moreover, antioxidants have been hypothesised to slow down the entire ageing process as they prevent cell damage, and thus, keep our cells rejuvenated.

Although our body does produce its own antioxidants, it does not hurt to add to its amount. Certain foods serve as excellent sources of antioxidants and the best sources are plant-based foods.

Food high in antioxidants are often referred to as a "superfood" or "functional food." They include —

Most fruits and vegetables, especially berries, oranges, carrots, peas, spinach, mangoes, tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, pomegranate, red grapes, broccoli, apples, pumpkins, and avocado.

Other sources include:

Dairy products, eggs, and liver.

Nuts and seeds, sunflower, and other vegetable oils.

Green, leafy vegetables.

Rice, corn, wheat, and other whole grains.

Legumes such as black beans or kidney beans.

Green and black teas.

Eggplant.

Dark chocolate.

Onions and garlic.

Soybean.

Sesame seed.

Including these in your diet will protect your cells from damage, keep them more 'alive' and boost your overall health remarkably!

Photo: LS Archive/ Sazzad