Health and Fitness Oasis

Everyone wants to grow old gracefully.  Some go under the knife to get that youthful look while others opt for a more natural way to maintain that healthful glow.  The way to make peace with age can be found in the types of foods that we eat and the miracle ingredient they contain.

This hidden “miracle” is called antioxidants.  They have graced the pages of magazines, medical journals and every product from hand cream to supplement pills.  But what are antioxidants and what can they do to keep you looking your best?

Antioxidants are substances that fight the aging process that goes on in your body.  They are not produced by the body so to get the benefit of these power-packed substances you must ingest them.  A variety of foods contain antioxidants.

Fight the aging process

 Let’s go back to the beginning.  The body continually replenishes its cells.  Through a process called cellular metabolism, the body produces energy, more cells and repairs any damage.  One by-product of cellular metabolism is unstable molecules called free radicals. Read the rest of this entry »

A variety of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals keep you feeling your best and provides optimal body function.   Vitamin E is one vitamin that’s good for your overall health and is especially mentioned in relation to the skin.

 This vitamin is an antioxidant, which are substances in the body that fight the effects of free radicals.   Free radicals are produced from the environment through pollution, smoking, the foods we eat, chemicals we ingest and the simple process of aging.  Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals before they can do damage.    Free radicals can wreak havoc on your body, playing a role in various conditions like heart disease and cancer.
 
You can get vitamin E in lotions and cream for direct contact with the skin.  Supplements give you concentrated vitamin E to benefit the entire body.  Vitamin E is also found in foods like nuts, seeds, wheat germ and vegetable oils.  The best form of vitamin E to get is alpha-tocopherol in its alcohol form and not as acetate. The best source for vitamin E is food. Read the rest of this entry »