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Four Ways to Prevent Oxidative Stress

  • 2 min read

Each and every day, the overall wellness of our bodies is built upon a variety of complex factors. As such, improving it can seem like a daunting task, and many people are compelled to focus on what they can observe or feel acutely. The result of this tendency is that topical goals like building muscle, burning fat, and soothing aches, take center stage, while core biological processes remain unadjusted.

For perspective, this is like constantly repairing the carriage of a car without ever taking a look at its engine. 

Like car engines, the human body incurs everyday wear and tear from substances both macro and microscopic. One of its most universal and daily adversaries is oxidative stress, IF200 will share four ways to prevent it from taking its toll on you and your body

WHAT IS OXIDATIVE STRESS?

Briefly, before we share how to prevent oxidative stress, it’s important to know what it is and why it’s worth preventing to begin with.

Essentially, oxidative stress occurs from a bodily imbalance between its production of reactive particles (atoms with unpaired electrons often called “free radicals”) and of defensive antioxidants such as glutathione. A surplus of free radicals, as caused by such an imbalance, can cause cells in your body to be stripped of electrons, resulting in hastened cellular degeneration.

Oxidative stress is often a root cause of various maladies, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, and much more.

HOW TO PREVENT OXIDATIVE STRESS

Here are four easy ways to keep oxidative stress to a minimum:

1. EAT A BALANCED DIET

A diet that is rich with vegetables, fruits, herbs and healthy grains will help to fortify the body with extra antioxidants to guard against oxidative damage. A balanced diet can make it easier to maintain a healthy body weight, which can additionally reduce oxidative stress levels.

If possible, limit your intake of processed foods, particularly ones that contain lots of added sugars and trans fats.

2. EXERCISE REGULARLY

Whether it’s a walk around the park, a run through the woods, or lifting weights in your living room, daily exercise boosts your body’s ability to fight off free radicals.  Exercise temporarily increases free radical formation and thus employs the body’s antioxidant producing mechanisms.  Regular exercise supports the immune system through the production of antioxidants.

3. CUT BACK ON DRINKING SMOKING 

Research has proven that, along with obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors closely linked with increased oxidative stress. Cigarettes and alcohol can hinder the production of antioxidants by preventing the body from naturally reacting to stress, and can even cause free radical levels to increase since they can be inhaled with the smoke. 

4. USE A SUPPLEMENT

To shore up any other lifestyle changes you make, a daily antioxidant supplement is a good way to create oxidative balance in the body and eliminate stress. Antioxidant supplements, such as IF200 are made from amino acid building blocks that fuse in the body to help it naturally produce antioxidants on its own.