Good diet, slapping on sunscreen, getting enough sleep, exercise and having a healthy mindset: these are the things in our control when it comes to aging. But where does the damage associated with aging come from, and how can you slow it down?
The damage to your cells and DNA that we associate with aging is from oxidative stress made by free radicals. These free radicals damage your body’s cells and DNA and are linked to aging and disease (1, 2).
Imagine your body is like a car: when it is left to weather in tough conditions it begins to rust. Your body responds quite similarly to oxygen. This process, called oxidative stress, contributes to damage created by free radicals. Over your lifetime these free radicals cause your body to age (1, 2).
The good news is there are antioxidants (think Rust Guard) found in foods and beverages that can reduce this oxidative damage from having such an impact on your body and can promote a healthier and potentially longer life.
There is no magic antioxidant that fights all free radicals. A combination of many different antioxidant types are needed to keep the oxidative stress from damaging your body. Some you may be aware of include vitamins such as vitamin C, E and selenium.
As mentioned above, the best sources of antioxidants are in whole foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and in drinks like tea and coffee (3). Green tea is one of the best sources because it contains particular phytochemicals which are incredibly beneficial: catechins, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate and caffeine (4).
Even if you’ve never heard of a single one of these before (besides caffeine), believe me – you need them.
Like different fruits and vegetables, teas have different levels of various antioxidants. Green tea has higher amounts of catechins (one of the powerful polyphenol antioxidants) compared to black and oolong tea. A cup of green tea roughly contains 250–350 mg tea solids, of which 30–42% are catechins and 3–6% caffeine (5, 6).
Based on scientific studies, the antioxidants and phytochemicals in green tea suggest there is a link between green tea and decreased risk of multiple cancers (7, 8). Other benefits that are supported in scientific research include reduction to the risk of diseases like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases (9).
Eat a balanced and varied diet from foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains as well as beverages rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals like green tea.
Free radicals are a part of the ageing process but you do have some control over the rate and effects of these free radicals, and the oxidative stress your body is put under every day.
Antioxidants (Rust Guards) are how you can keep your body working smoother and longer through regular maintenance to help maintain the health of your body, both now and into the future.
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