Free Radicals May Speed Signs of Aging

If you’ve paid attention to any health news over the last decade or so, you’ve probably seen at least some mention of free radicals. Free radicals are usually discussed in relation to antioxidants, and it’s usually made clear that free radicals are bad for you, and that antioxidants can help. This relationship between free radicals and antioxidants seems to be particularly important in the fight against aging, so if you’re interested in slowing down the aging process, you should probably take an interest in free radicals and what they do.

What Are Free Radicals?

The processes that go on in your body can release oxygen molecules. The oxygen molecules that are not otherwise absorbed by the body can roam free throughout your system, and these oxygen molecules are known as free radicals. These free radicals can damage your organs at the cellular level and increase the effects of aging. To get an idea of the effect of free radicals, take a look at a piece of metal that has begun to rust. That rust is the effect of oxygen molecules on the metal. Consider the fact that these same oxygen molecules may be running rampant throughout your body and you can understand the danger of free radicals.

What Are Antoxidants?

If free radicals cause rust, then antioxidants are rust proofing for your organs. Antioxidants are compounds that bind to the free radicals, rendering them unable to do damage to your body. Antoxidants are typically found in fruits, and the concentration of antioxidants that can be absorbed by your body will vary with the type of fruit you consume. Some fruits that are high in antioxidants include pomegranates, acai berries, blueberries and certain types of melons.

Free Radicals and Aging

When free radicals attack your cells, the aging process accelerates. Aging occurs when the replication of your cells results in the destruction of telomeres, strands of material that protect your DNA. The less cell damage your body experiences, the slower the aging process. Since free radicals can cause this type of damage, reducing the number of free radicals in your body should reduce the effects of aging.

Antioxidants and the Visible Effects of Aging

Current speculation is that even the visible effects of aging can be slowed by antioxidants. More specifically, some skin care products have been developed that harness the power of antioxidants to reduce free radical damage and promote healthy skin. While in the past, antioxidants were almost exclusively consumed through eating of fruits, drinking of juices or taking pills, now one can apply topical skin creams containing antioxidants in order to promote skin health.

Using Antioxidant Skin Products

These products will have varying levels of effectiveness, and different products affect different skin types in different ways, but if you are interested in younger looking skin, you may wish to consider looking into a skin care regimen that includes products with effective antioxidant complexes. Such products can be a perfect complement to a diet and health regiment that incorporates antioxidants.