Oxidative Stress – What Is It About?

Oxidative stress is a process that occurs at the cellular level. This is a complicated concept and is defined as cell deterioration due to free radicals. This is where another question arises: what are free radicals?

Free radicals are molecules or atoms that have a great ability to react with other molecules. They are formed by the use of oxygen to carry out metabolic reactions. This oxygen is involved in many chemical reactions and our cells use it to perform many of their functions.

These free radicals, because they are very reactive, can damage nearby molecules if not properly neutralized. This is what oxidative stress is all about : it is the damage caused by free radicals.

What is oxidative stress?

As we know, oxygen is essential to our lives. Our body’s cells need it to function properly. What happens is that the oxygen that reaches them, after fulfilling its role in metabolism, turns into reactive molecules.

These molecules called free radicals are usually neutralized by antioxidant substances. In this way, the body is able to maintain a balance so that damage does not occur at the cellular level.

However , there are times when antioxidants fail to neutralize free radicals. In such cases, their number in the cell increases significantly. They then cause some detrimental changes that accelerate aging and eventually cause the cell to die as well.

This is how oxidative stress works. Ultimately, the damage that occurs at the cellular level affects the health of the tissues and, consequently, the entire organs. Therefore, it can be said that oxidative stress promotes the appearance of certain diseases or accelerates the aging process.

What happens as a result of oxidative stress?

The main consequence of oxidative stress is the development of numerous pathologies. For example, there are many carcinogenic processes that result from this situation.

Likewise, much research links skin aging with oxidative stress. Even the causes of neurological disorders or cardiovascular disease appear to be largely related to this problem.

How does oxidative stress arise?

As already mentioned, this is a process that occurs at the cellular level. It is largely caused by an insufficient amount of antioxidant substances. For example, the amount of these antioxidants can be increased through diet. However, it is not only food that is responsible for oxidative stress.

There are other related factors, such as smoking, both active and passive. It also appears that other stimulants such as alcohol and even medications contribute to the development of oxidative stress.

On the other hand, environmental pollution, exposure to sunlight or unbalanced physical activity have also been shown to increase the production of free radicals.

What can we do to prevent this from happening?

The ideal way is to stay away from the factors mentioned above, which we know significantly increase oxidative stress. It is important to quit smoking, to avoid heavily contaminated places, and not to actively expose yourself to the sun (that is, not to sunbathe).

On the other hand, we can also reduce oxidative stress by taking care of our diet. If we take into account enough antioxidants and take our diet seriously, we can largely prevent this from happening. For this, experts recommend:

• Eat red fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
• Try to include carotene-rich foods such as carrots or sweet potatoes in your diet .
• Increase your intake of foods with vitamins A, C and E. For example, tomatoes, broccoli or lemons are very rich in these vitamins.
• Add garlic to your dishes.

The ideal solution is a well-balanced diet that includes all of these ingredients. In addition, it is advisable not to choose foods high in saturated fat or highly processed foods. However, do not become obsessed, but try to adapt these types of ingredients to your daily needs.

To sum up

Oxidative stress is the destruction of cells that occurs as a result of many factors. However , we can limit it and control it to a large extent thanks to our habits and a properly composed diet.

Many diseases appear to be related to oxidative stress. Therefore, you can try to take care of your diet and increase your antioxidant intake. Also, try consulting with a nutritionist to find out how to do this correctly.