Antioxidant diet as useful prophylactic tool against aging

Grain and other vegetables, with the help of milk, cheese, and butter, or oil (where butter is not to be had)... can, without any butchers' meat, afford the most plentiful, the most wholesome, the most nourishing, and the most invigorating diet.
Adam Smith
Scottish economist and philosopher.

People in all times were dreaming of long lasting youthfulness. Nowadays, many people also are straining to acquire some charming elixir of life, some magic anti aging antioxidants that would put an end to, or leastways restrain, the lamenting pace of times and coming senescence. However, many elders hardly understand what are antioxidants or antioxidant diet. Honestly speaking, few people realize what senescence is. Moreover, such notions as antioxidants, fee radicals, or antioxidant diet still remain rather enigmatic for numerous persons.

Why are antioxidants and antioxidant diet important for aging people?

Senescence is the accretion of changes in the organism during existence. With time the capability to react to the strain is lessened and the risk of illnesses is enhanced. However, researchers say that even with aging the greatest potentiality does really exist. To fortify this potentiality, antioxidants and antioxidant diet could become a tried support. Caregivers observed that ageing people who use antioxidant diet as prophylaxis against senescence are more fortunate at containing their emotions and experience negative feelings less often than younger people. Antioxidants may lead to productive and useful aging. In this case, the affections happen less often, the perceptive and somatic abilities are increased, and elderly people are actively engaged in life.

Can antioxidant diet be prescribed for treatment in aging people?

Antioxidants block the molecular oxidisation neutralising free radicals. Plants and animals possess systems of antioxidants, such as vitamins C, A, and E. The antioxidants react with oxidizing agents in the cells, protecting cell membranes from lipid peroxidation. This is the reason why a lot of physicians believe that antioxidants are the substantial and impressive factor of struggle against aging. Persons who keep to antioxidant diet and eat fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, have decreased risk of age associated diseases. Antioxidants are likewise utilized as ingredients in dietetical supplementations. The antioxidants are also able to suppress rancidity in foods. They prevent the valuable fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K from damage by oxidation with free radicals.  Vitamins C and E are also frequently used as antioxidants due to the fact that they improve the nutritional value of the foods. There is scientific evidence that antioxidants entering into the composition of various foods have useful antioxidant action in the body and can be successfully used to fight against aging.

May antioxidant diet be useful against free radicals damage in aging?

It is recognized that oxygen is needed for existence. But oxygen is an extremely reactive molecule and may injure DNA, proteins and lipids by developing activated oxygen species in the living cells. Among these reactive and dangerous molecules are hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and free radicals – the hydroxyl radical (•OH) and the superoxide anion (O2?). Fortunately the living organisms contain a system of antioxidants to foreclose the harm to the cells. The free-radical hypothesis of aging asserts that organisms grow old because molecules, cells, tissues and organs accumulate free radical injury. From this viewpoint, the antioxidants might be considered as an operative bar against senescence. The free radical hypothesis addresses not solely aging, but also age linked illnesses. The damage to the collagen results in vessel rigidity, artery thickening, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Lipid peroxidation of the mitochondrial membranes reduces the electrical potential and the possibility to engender energy.