Antioxidants help delay aging signs

Eating or consuming antioxidant-rich foods can actually help delay signs of aging.

“Our cells use antioxidants to work against the effects of harmful environmental factors and free radicals that evade our body’s defenses and can cause internal breakdown and cellular aging,” says Dr. Miguel Ramos Jr., PhD, director of the Geriatric Center of St. Luke’s Medical Center and the president of the Philippine Society of Geriatric Medicine.

Foods rich in antioxidant include fruits, vegetables, nuts, certain meat products, and coffee. A study done at the University of Scranton showed that these foods are the number one sources of antioxidants in the US diet.

According to Dr. Ramos, while the body requires oxygen, it can also cause harm through the natural process called oxidation, which is said to be the primary catalyst for much of the damage associated with aging.

“This process produces potentially harmful by-products. In cells, these by-products are called oxygen free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species,” he explains.

Free radicals can cause extensive damage to proteins, cell membranes, DNA, and the mitochondria, which is the main source of energy.

“The damage made by free radicals makes the mitochondria less efficient in generating energy. Free radicals also produce bodily changes associated with aging,” Ramos says.

Aside from the body’s natural way of acquiring free radicals, these molecules can also be obtained through exposure to harmful environmental factors like smoking, ultraviolet rays from the sun, chemical toxins, and other pollutants.

Antioxidants, as the name suggests, counter oxidation. These are molecules capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of highly reactive molecules. They neutralize free radicals to inhibit them from further harming the cells.

Berries, tomatoes, carrots, cherries, and grapes are known for their rich antioxidants content like Vitamins A, beta-carotene and lycopene.

Coffee, meanwhile, is famous for its polypheno­ lic antioxidants. Ramos says, “It has been reported that coffee contains thousands of various antioxidant compounds.”