5 Ways Antioxidant Supplements Can Benefit Your Health

Antioxidants have gained a lot of attention as powerful allies in helping us stay healthy — yet many of us don’t know how these key vitamins and minerals work to benefit our health and wellness, especially as we get older. 

In many healthy foods and supplements, antioxidants fight off free radicals, unstable molecules or atoms associated with inflammation, and other damaging processes. Unfortunately, today’s busy lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits mean many of us don’t get enough antioxidants from our food intake.

The good news is antioxidant supplements can help. In this post, the beYOU bioidenticals team offers a list of five essential ways supplementing your antioxidant intake could help you enjoy better health and an enhanced quality of life.

1. Battling oxidative stress

Oxidative stress happens when free radicals damage your cells and your cells’ DNA. Free radicals are produced during cellular metabolism and through exposure to stressors and toxins, like smoke, air pollution, and even UV radiation from the sun.

This damage increases the risk of many major diseases, including heart disease and some cancers. It also leads to negative changes associated with aging. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing the effects of free radicals, providing your body with added protection to ward off chronic diseases.

2. Boosting immune function

Some antioxidants, like vitamin C, are well known for boosting immunity, but other vitamins and minerals improve immune function. Antioxidant supplements give your body the tools to build its natural defenses and help prevent illnesses and infections, even during the dreaded cold and flu season.

3. Supporting cognitive function

Oxidative stress affects every organ — even your brain. Exposed to the damaging effects of free radicals, the nerve pathways that support healthy cognitive functions, like memory and thinking, can be damaged, leading to cognitive decline, as well as increased risks of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.

Foods and supplements rich in antioxidants help protect neurons and nerve pathways, providing your brain with an extra “barrier” against the factors that lead to cognitive dysfunction. Some antioxidants may also help with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

4. Managing inflammation

Chronic inflammation contributes to many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and autoimmune disorders. Free radicals are key in triggering and prolonging inflammation and increasing the risk of chronic diseases and life-threatening complications.

By neutralizing the effects of free radicals, antioxidants help break the cycle of inflammation that leads to disease and debility. As part of a treatment plan, antioxidants also help relieve the pain associated with some types of inflammation, including inflammation from arthritis.

5. Reducing visible signs of aging

Antioxidants have enjoyed considerable popularity in anti-aging skincare, and for good reason. Considering your skin is the first line of defense against smoke, air pollution, and UV radiation, it’s not surprising that it also bears the brunt of a lot of oxidative stress — stress that increases wrinkles, lines, sagging, and other signs of aging.

Antioxidant supplements work from the inside out, giving your skin the support it needs to fight off free radicals that lead to age-related changes. Antioxidants also support the development of collagen, a protein that helps skin look and feel smooth, firm, and elastic.

Reap the benefits of antioxidant therapy

Making antioxidants part of your regular health routine is a simple way to optimize your wellness at every age. To learn more about antioxidants and the supplements we recommend for your unique needs and goals, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at beYOU bioidenticals in Leawood, Kansas, today.