Erin Porteous
Anyone can say that there was a point in their life where they didn’t care how unhealthy they were being. They can attest that they once thought a sedentary lifestyle was great, as well as eating fast-food chain take-out several times in a week. However, there is now a big shift.
Many people have begun to be more health-conscious. They are doing more physical activities, eating a more balanced diet, and committing to the changes that they made in their lifestyle. Because more people are watching what they eat, more people are open to trying something new just to improve their health.
Individuals have begun to realize the benefits that we can get from antioxidants. There is a steady rise of people taking antioxidant-rich supplements or antioxidant herbal tea, but not all people actually know its specific effects.
Antioxidants are known to prevent cell damage, but it is vital to learn exactly how they help the human body with various aspects. There are many specificities and exciting facts about antioxidants that most people don’t know, which is why discussing it is essential.
What are Antioxidants?
When there are pressures within the internal and external environment of the human body, it adapts. As a result, our cells produce waste substances that are called free radicals. Infections, alcohol intake, and pollution can increase the production of free radicals. However, if the body cannot process these free radicals, they end up harming cells and other body functions. If their levels become too high, they can cause illnesses in the body that are much more difficult to cure.
It is where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants are the substances that minimize the damage of free radicals to our bodies. They help neutralize the harmful waste substances, keeping free radicals in check. When the body has more free radicals than antioxidants, it might result in oxidative stress. If prolonged, it can lead to heart diseases or even cancer. Antioxidants
Vitamin A, C, and E are examples of antioxidants, as well as Selenium, Lutein, Lycopene, and Beta-carotene. These can be obtained by simply adjusting the diet and eating healthy foods.
For example, eating plenty of leafy vegetables can give you Lutein and Vitamin E, and various fruits contain Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, and Lycopene. It’s all a matter of knowing which foods are rich in antioxidants. More importantly, remember that each antioxidant serves a different purpose, so it’s highly essential to keep a balanced diet.
Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Antioxidants can be from natural or artificial sources. Many plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants, so eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables goes a long way.
Simply having a better and well-rounded diet can help the body fight neutralize free radicals and lessen their harmful effects. Some prefer to eat fruits instead of trying antioxidant herbal tea. These foods are found to be particularly high in antioxidants:
- Berries – goji berries, blueberries, raspberries
- Fruits – apples, red grapes, pomegranate
- Legumes – black beans, lentils, peas
- Vegetables – broccoli, spinach, leeks
Dark chocolate and coffee also contain antioxidants, but lesser than that of fruits and vegetables. Black tea and green tea also prove to be very beneficial to our health, reducing the risk of diseases while also fighting free radicals.
Various Herbal Teas with Antioxidants
For some people, they would find it easier to rely on various types of teas for antioxidants. It is very reasonable because herbal teas are now more easily accessible. There are many kinds of teas, each containing varying antioxidants with different amounts. Some teas are just as effective as fruits when it comes to the number of antioxidants present. As such, the idea of drinking an antioxidant herbal tea shouldn’t immediately be dismissed.
- Black tea – Among other kinds of teas, black tea is the most oxidized. Polyphenols like catechins, theaflavins, thearubigins, and uercetin are present, which makes black tea one of the healthiest types of tea.
- Green tea – Much like black tea, green tea is very high in antioxidants. Due to the way it is processed, it has a minimal amount of oxidation. It also has polyphenols like catechins, theaflavins, thearubigins, and uercetin.
- White tea – You will be interested to know that white tea is the least processed type of tea. That makes it an abundant source of proanthocyanidins and polyphenols, like catechins.
- Oolong tea – Oolong tea is partially oxidized, and it also contains the antioxidant polyphenols, like catechins.
Different varieties of tea generally come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis. The plant undergoes plenty of chemical changes, and the way the teas are processed makes them distinct from each other and sets them apart. Generally, any antioxidant herbal tea is good for the body, so tea-drinkers can choose a tea that tastes best for them.
Health Benefits of Antioxidants
In a daily routine, people often get exposed to many factors that encourage the production of free radicals. These factors can be lifestyle choices like drinking or smoking, or those beyond personal control like air pollution. Anyone shouldn’t just be vulnerable to their effects. Higher antioxidant intake will be effective in providing additional help for the body.
1. Protects the skin
We are often exposed to pollution and ultraviolet light. That can badly damage the skin and cause various problems like premature skin aging or skin cancers. Antioxidants protect the skin and help
2. Combats heart diseases
Antioxidants decrease the risks of developing various heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, so protecting the heart also helps protect the brain.
3. Prevents memory problems
Many vitamins found in fruits and berries improve the brain’s abilities. The brain is more susceptible to the damage caused by free radicals, and antioxidants help fight (and reverse) the mental effects of aging.
4. Improves vision
Antioxidants protect the eyes from extreme sun damage. They also maintain vision quality when it comes to low light conditions and seeing bright colors. Vitamin A is an example of an antioxidant that directly helps sensitive eyes.
5. Boosts the immune system
The body’s enzyme defenses are also connected in fighting the effects of free radicals. Simply put, antioxidants add another line of defense to our natural defenses, so it doesn’t get too tired defending the body.
6. Avoids mood disorders
The neuroinflammation triggered by free radicals can be avoided with antioxidants. They improve the symptoms that are usually associated with various neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or mood disorders like depression.
The world’s biggest tea drinkers are Japan, China, and Great Britain. Compared to the rest of the world, they are less likely to develop some diseases because they are rich in antioxidants. Drinking antioxidant herbal tea is not a major lifestyle change for them because it has always been part of their diet.
Cell-damaging free radicals are easily neutralized because they drink tea regularly. More and more people are beginning to prefer tea over coffee because it is very beneficial to our health, and it has caffeine as well. It will do one good to give herbal teas a try, even just to try to see how positively it affects their own body.
Antioxidant Herbal Teas
Other health professionals discourage the intake of high-dose antioxidant supplements because they can do more harm than good. An extremely high level of antioxidants can increase the risk of diseases.
For those who are just beginning to include more antioxidants in their diet, an excellent way to try is to take antioxidant herbal tea. Teas have benefits of their own, aside from the positive effects of antioxidants themselves. It is best to try herbal tea from trusted suppliers like Jason Winters International, whose teas are backed by research.
