Aging…it is a part of life for virtually every species on the planet, there is no stopping it and no magical pill that will prevent it from happening or hide its tell-tale signs. However, how we live and what we eat, drink and how active we are can benefit us greatly, thus creating a drastic difference in our quality of life and how well we age.
We all know that eating right makes a big difference in our day to day energy; but eating healthy and consuming all the nutrients we need can be difficult. To balance our intake many of us turn to supplements, which are truly a great way to fill the void left by the fast paced lifestyle that impinges on our ability to consume all the nutrients we need. We also need to take into consideration that as we age our nutrient requirements change with our bodies.
So with a market bombarded with anti-aging supplements and big promises -what kinds of supplements are beneficial to help with the aging process?
Antioxidants!
Antioxidants are one of the most vital instruments we can utilize to combat the aging process. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants can actually help support our body’s antioxidant systems, but as we age our antioxidant levels decrease, while the necessity for preventing free radical damage increases. As this occurs our antioxidant intake from food may not be enough to keep up with the increased need for protection from oxidative damage. Many experts consider the aging process to predominantly be the result of oxidative damage on cells and tissues and if we combat these free radicals and the oxidative process, we may be able to help slow the aging process.
A new product on the market is Oligonol®, which is an antioxidant that is comprised of extracts from the Lychee fruit and Green Tea and then converted it to smaller molecules. These smaller molecules allow the nutrients to be more bioavailable and quickly absorbed. This antioxidant combination is effective for protecting the cells from free radicals and oxidation, let’s look at the ingredients.
The lychee fruit is a native Chinese shrub with bright red berries and its use was first described in the first century AD in Chinese literature to promote longevity. A legendary tale speaks of an herbalist that created a tonic of lychee and other herbs and lived 252 years. Though the legend is hard to validate, lychee does contain polyphenols, components of plants that are thought to promote health and has been shown in studies to contain high antioxidant activity.
Green tea has a long history of use in Asian culture and is known to support well-being. Numerous research studies have shown its supportive effect in many tissues and organs throughout the body; as well as, its powerful antioxidant activity. The primary constituents in Green Tea are polyphenols, which have been shown to help protect the body from free radical damage and help minimize the aging process. Polyphenols have been found to promote a variety of potential health benefits; and in fact, polyphenols have been shown to have greater antioxidant activity than Vitamins C or E.
Taking a daily antioxidant is a great way to help combat the aging process and the combination of these two potent extracts in Oligonol® make for a strong weapon. But remember, one supplement is not enough, so be sure to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, reduce stress and exercise regularly to help ensure you are promoting healthy aging.
Age Well…Naturally!