7 Everyday Risk Factors for Oxidative Stress You Should Avoid

1. Smoking
2. Lack of Sleep (less than 7 hours per night)
3. Increased stress level
4. Infections
5. Environmental toxins
6. Age
7. Increased energy requirements (athletes)

Antioxidants

Their reputation precedes them and yet many do not know what these plant molecules are. But chances are when you know what it is, you know how to use it to your advantage!

First, antioxidants are a diverse group of different substances that prevent oxidation by free radicals in your body.

Free oxygen radicals - dangerous to cells and tissues because of their oxidizing properties - are captured and neutralized by antioxidants, protecting the body from oxidative stress.

First of all, the basic concepts should be clarified here:

What are free radicals?

As a result, they react with the body's own highly complex molecules, such as DNA or proteins, which can damage them and interfere with bodily functions.

What is oxidative stress?

This is a state of excessive oxidation that already shows cellular symptoms and can damage the body.

So what happens when the body's own molecules are affected by oxidation?

Let us take DNA damage as an example. Our DNA is a code that contains all the information necessary to keep our body running.

If the DNA is damaged, there is a risk to the entire body and metabolism because its control unit has been damaged. And any change to a perfect system means a risk of disease.

How are free radicals formed?

The formation of free radicals is a normal process in the metabolism of every human being - or animal. In particular, the formation of ATP, ie the generation of energy in the mitochondria, is one of the sites where free radicals originate, since a transfer of electrons is part of it.

Sometimes the electron transfer chain fails and the particles become unpaired radicals. Some of them are neutralized in the mitochondria - but some are able to escape.

In any case, radical formation and oxidation increase with advancing age.

How are radicals eliminated?

Antioxidants can act as radical scavengers by stabilizing radicals and thus rendering them harmless, such as tocopherols (vitamin E). Other antioxidants protect important molecules from being oxidized themselves, such as vitamin C.

The third group, called antioxidant synergists, supports full-fledged antioxidants by regenerating substances they need for their activity. Well-known plans include radical scavengers, for example, OPC or resveratrol.

Vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, Q10, and selenium are also active as antioxidants.

How many units of antioxidants effectively protect me from radicals?

There is no generally valid recommendation 1 for a daily minimum intake of antioxidants, this only exists for the vitamins and trace elements among them.

Vitamin C: 80 mg per day

Vitamin E: 12 mg per day

Vitamin B2: 1.4 mg per day 

Zinc: 10 mg per day 

Selenium: 55 µg per day 

*according to the EU nutrient reference values ​​2

In general, of course, the more antioxidants from vegetables and fruit you eat in a day, the better.

The quality of the source and the bioavailability of the antioxidant is particularly important here.

What is certain is that the amount needed within a day is variable based on the stress that affects the body.

Thus passive smoking, infections, air pollution or lack of sleep increase the need strongly since these risk factors make the balance lean towards oxidation.