Reduce Free Radicals
Free radical damage can cause skin problems, brain problems and other health problems. In order to reduce free radicals inflammation and live a long, blemish free life, here’s what you need to do today!
A free radical
A free radical is basically a damaged cell. Cells can be damaged by any number of things but the most problematic are:
- The environment
- Bacteria / viruses
- Bad diets
Let me explain each one in a little more detail…
The environment, our bodies and our brains
Environmental toxins put a lot of stress on our bodies. From the air we breathe to the things we slather on our bodies; these can all contribute to free radical damage. Even too much sun exposure falls into this category. So, all those times when you were told to use sunscreen, it wasn’t just so you wouldn’t burn – it’s so all that UV damage that could make you burn couldn’t also cause cell damage.
Bacteria / viruses
Any time something invades our bodies, it causes our bodies to have to work harder. So, every time you get sick (a cold, a bacterial infection, or even a fungal infection), there’s damage to your cells.
Bad diets
Everyone can make improvements on their diets. I don’t think I know one person that eats 100% well all the time. With busy lives and demanding jobs, sometimes you end up eating something you shouldn’t. This only becomes a problem when the diet skews too far to the bad side.
If we occasionally eat something we know isn’t healthy, our bodies should be able to fight the damage. But, when we eat a bad diet consistently, our bodies will have a hard time dealing with those damaged cells. If you add alcohol in the mix, this makes it even worse. This causes inflammation…which, I’ll get to in a second.
Free radicals inflammation
We all know that diet can play a role in not only our overall health but also how our skin looks and feels. With all the ways our bodies can be damaged with these ‘free radicals’, inflammation is one of the consequences. This means inflammation in the form of acne or other skin issues, gut problems, migraines, period problems, etc. Free radicals and inflammation are closely linked so eating properly to reduce inflammation is key.
Free radical and aging
We’re all going to get older – in fact, every second, we are aging and there’s nothing we can do about that. Why speed up the process. But that’s exactly what we’re doing to ourselves with our bad diets and bad skin care products. Drinking too much alcohol increases free radicals in the brain. So, if you like want to avoid this, avoid mixed drinks (or any alcohol). Alcohol and free radicals – neither are your friends!
Exercise and free radicals
Studies have shown that living an active lifestyle (i.e. by exercising) can help reduce free radical damage. We all know we should move more than we do and exercising just 30 minutes per day is very important. If we can all just go for a 30 minute walk at lunch time, it can do wonders.
Neutralize and reduce free radicals
How do we go about neutralizing those nasty free radicals? We know we need to eat better but in what way?
- Eat more antioxidants. According to WebMD, antioxidants that neutralize free radicals are dark berries, veggies, nuts, orange vegetables and even tea because they include flavonoids.
- Wash your hands and avoid touching your face – this will help you to stay healthier so those awful viruses, bacteria, and fungi don’t invade your body.
- Stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen (a non-toxic one or use other sun barriers), be mindful of toxins in skin care products and understand their effects in order to live a healthy life.
You can reduce free radicals, starting today!
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