Hello everyone!
Today I want to talk about detoxifying our body,
Oxidative stress and anti-oxidative nutrition.
While thinking about this content,
I was sitting in a hotel terrace in a Greek island and the wind was embracing us under September sunshine.
I inhaled fresh air into my chest and was grateful to have decided to come here again among all my staff as I needed a break.
We feel our vision becomes clearer during holidays.
We feel better ourselves.
And for a couple of years now,
I have also started to apply detoxes for my body during vacation.
Inside your body,
Millions of tiny reactions happen every second.
These processes keep you alive,
Give you energy and help your body repair itself.
But sometimes,
These natural processes produce something called free radicals,
Tiny unstable molecules that can damage cells if they build up in large amounts.
This damage is known as oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is one major factor that accelerates aging.
Especially after 40 years old,
Which can be considered as premenopausal period for many women,
Oxidative stress contributes to interruptions in productive system of the body.
To fight these external biologic stress factors,
Our body needs biological vitamins.
Antioxidative foods are the major sources to combat oxidants and increase the efficiency of our metabolic defense factors.
What are the most accessible antioxidants foods?
How can we include them to our daily lives?
I will list here three major antioxidant sources coming from nature.
So,
Let's get started.
To reach antioxidants doesn't require supplements or many efforts to search for them.
They are very basic part of food chain that we can easily reach and maintain daily.
One of the most powerful antioxidant element in nature is apicatechium gallate,
Known as ECG,
Which is abundant in green tea and matcha tea.
It belongs to a group of polyphenols called catechins,
Which are known for fighting oxidative stress and reducing free radical damage in the body.
Many of us observe there's a popular stream in social media and younger population for matcha products,
Which is actually a good stream for health if you do not overdose it,
Because high consumption of antioxidants has also additional side effects.
We can touch this topic in another audio.
So,
What apicatechium gallate does in your body?
It neutralizes free radicals that can damage our cells,
Protects DNA,
Proteins,
And lipids from oxidative stress.
There are strong literature about polyphenols that have been linked to benefit,
Like reducing inflammation,
Supporting cardiovascular health,
Improving metabolism,
And potentially lowering chronic disease risk.
The other commonly known antioxidant is vitamin C.
It is highly accessible in every season,
And when it is mixed with zinc,
It becomes a powerful defense element for our immune system.
To enrich our nutrition with leafy greens like spinach,
Rucola,
Several types of lettuce and fruits,
Simply increase the antioxidative portion of our foods.
Vitamin C is abundant in many fruits and vegetables,
But especially in citrus fruits and pepper.
You can find them in every season,
And not only for yourself,
But also for your family daily fruit consumption.
It is very crucial,
And most of us forget,
How these simple practices may eventually change our health condition.
Last but not least,
A very accessible antioxidant is vitamin A.
It's an essential fat-soluble vitamin that supports fusion,
Immunity,
Skin health,
And cell growth.
It comes from two main sources,
Preformed vitamin A from animal-based foods and provitamin A carotenoids from plant-based foods.
Together with egg and liver,
Salmon and tuna fish are very well-known sources of vitamin A.
But retinal type,
Which is a preform.
If you do not consume animal products,
Carrots,
Sweet potatoes,
Spinach,
And kale are rich in vitamin A.
These come mainly from beta-carotene,
Which the body converts into vitamin A as needed.
So,
How we can build antioxidants in our daily life?
The key is consistency,
Not perfection.
Here are a few gentle ways to invite antioxidants into your daily rhythm.
Let's start your morning with a cup of green tea or matcha.
Or add a handful of berries to your breakfast.
Include leafy greens in at least one meal.
Keep a colorful plate.
The more variety of natural colors,
The wider the range of antioxidants you get.
Even small shifts practiced regularly can bring noticeable changes in your energy,
Moods,
And hormonal balance.
If you can apply these tips into your daily nutrition.
Thank you for listening to my audio and if you want me to create more content about antioxidants,
Let me know in the comment.
I wish you a healthy day ahead.
