How Do Antioxidants Lend Themselves to Brain Health?

While it might sound like a marketing term, or some new age food additive, antioxidants are a natural substance found in many foods. And they’re an important part of a healthy diet, stretching back to the earliest days of human food practices. An antioxidant is a substance that helps prevent cell decay within the body; one that can help shield against some kinds of damage the cells might otherwise be subjected to. Learning which foods have higher levels of antioxidants is quite simple. Brightly colored foods, especially fruits and vegetables, invariably are a very good source of antioxidants. As the brightness of the color increases, generally the higher the level of antioxidants in that food item will be.

Oxidative stress is a condition humans can suffer from, and it can contribute to various age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. When the body cannot detoxify the metabolic processes that come from a diet low in antioxidants, oxidative stress can occur. Beyond an incomplete diet, alcohol and smoking, as well as pollution in the environment, can contribute to oxidative stress. In the case of cognitive diseases, research is finding antioxidants may play an important role in reducing or reversing the damage that causes Alzheimer’s Disease. Those at risk for Alzheimer’s can benefit from ensuring their diet is rich in antioxidants.