As we get older, it is easy to fall into the trap of wanting to live long for its own sake, without considering other factors that are intimately connected with achieving longevity such as diet and fitness.
Yet, none of us, if we stop to think about it, want to spend twenty years in a hospital bed, or hooked up to machines, if we can avoid it.
Therefore, just as important as aging naturally and leading a long life, is making sure we are healthy enough to make the most of and enjoy the extra years we are gaining.
A very important way of ensuring we maintain our health – whatever our general physical condition and whatever our age – is by getting all of the essential nutrients.
Vitamins and minerals are key to staying in the best health we can have for as long as it is physically possible. A deficiency in any key vitamin could result in accelerated oxidation which, in turn, accelerates the aging process.
What that means is that the cells in our bodies can become seriously damaged from free radicals, making cells age rapidly and, therefore, making them unable to do their jobs. When that happens, we don’t just see the superficial physical signs of aging, but we also suffer the mental and emotional health effects of having an older body and mind.
However, a surplus in vitamins can be exactly what we need. The amount of a certain vitamin – while enough to keep us alive and in reasonable health – is not necessarily enough to fight the effects of aging. This is when we want to consider supplementing with antioxidant vitamins – both through our diet and with good quality vitamin supplements.
The following are the best antioxidant vitamins for ensuring that your cells stay young so you can enjoy the extra years which your good health will buy you.
Vitamin C should always be our first choice when it comes to antioxidant vitamins. It is water soluble, meaning it is very hard to overdose on, however, we do have a limit as to how much we can tolerate throughout the day before it causes intestinal distress – meaning diarrhea. Our bodies will only take what it can use and get rid of the rest. Therefore, it is advisable to test yourself to see how much your body needs by increasing dosages until well….then you’ll know how much to take on a daily basis for optimum health.
Vitamin C doesn’t reverse the signs of aging itself, but it does attack free radicals, stopping them from doing any further damage. Then, in theory, the cells can regrow to an extent, regaining some of their health. This means that inflammation, cholesterol, stiffness, dryness, and a weakened immune system can be corrected over time, resulting in a much healthier old age.
You can get plenty of vitamin C by eating lots of fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits and berries. You can also supplement vitamin C. Rose hips are a good choice for a natural source of vitamin C.
Vitamin D is a very important antioxidant for staying healthy and young. It is made by our own bodies, which regulates the amount we need and stops producing it when they have enough. However, given our modern lifestyles, it is rare when we do get enough from the sun.
Vitamin D not only fights free radicals, but is key to many hormonal, immune, and muscular processes which are associated with a longer, healthier life. By keeping all of our organs working better and longer, fortifying our immune systems strong against disease, and keeping our muscles packed with useful protein and glucose, vitamin D ensures we are ready for any challenge.
As it is stored in our fat, when we have produced a large amount we will have a reliable source for weeks or even months to come. The best vitamin D is produced by our bodies in response to sunlight, however we can also get enough from consuming vitamin D found in fish and eggs.
Finally, flavones are a highly valuable yet undervalued nutrient. They are not exactly a vitamin, but rather their own category of antioxidant which has been found to reverse free radical activity, restoring health and youth to our cells, lengthening our lives and improving our quality of life in one go. Flavones are found in berries, cocoa, and the herbal remedy gingko.
