4 benefits of antioxidants for the elderly

Throughout our lives we are exposed to numerous factors that accelerate the aging process: the sun, environmental pollution, certain foods, chemicals, or stress. Discover all the benefits of antioxidants for the elderly.

What are antioxidants?

To this day, everyone has heard about antioxidants and the positive effects of these substances on our health. But do you really know what antioxidants are and what benefits do they give us?

Antioxidants are substances capable of preventing or delaying the aging of molecules. Many of the antioxidants that provide benefits to humans, are present in some of the foods we consume, especially in three large groups: polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins of groups C and E.

What do antioxidants bring to the elderly?

As a person becomes older, the effects of aging begin to be more visible, both on the outside and inside the human body. Therefore, when we age, not only does our skin age, but so do our cells.

Antioxidants are especially beneficial substances for older people because, over time, free radicals oxidize cells and cause damage that erodes all tissues.

To avoid this progressive deterioration that occurs with age, antioxidants provide us with a series of fundamental benefits:

1. Prevention of age-related diseases

One of the main benefits that antioxidants bring to older people is that they are able to delay aging. Therefore, from a certain age, it is important to incorporate antioxidant supplements into the diet.

The vitamins and minerals contained in some foods are essential to neutralize cellular oxidation, as they are responsible for stopping tissue damage, helping to prevent age-related diseases.

Some foods such as red fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts or olive oil are an inexhaustible source of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin E, flavonoids and essential fatty acids.

2. Protect against memory loss

As a person ages, the neurons degenerate and memory loss occurs. Therefore, the consumption of foods rich in antioxidants and antioxidant supplements helps prevent the loss of memory and other mental disorders in the elderly.

The main antioxidants to prevent memory loss and enjoy good mental health are vitamin C, vitamin B2, folic acid, zinc, selenium and vitamin E.

3. They delay the loss of vision

Oxidative stress is the process responsible for the deterioration of cells, and one of the symptoms associated with this deterioration is the loss of vision. In fact, almost 50% of people over 75 suffer from cataracts and other problems directly related to vision.

Some antioxidants, especially vitamin A, E and C, can contribute to delaying vision loss in older people.

4. They delay the loss of the sense of taste

As we go through years, and when we reach old age, it is normal to feel that the foods we eat are more bland than usual. This is because as we get older, we also lose our sense of taste.

However, it has been shown that this problem can be avoided through the intake of antioxidant supplements, especially those enriched with zinc and selenium.

But remember, that supplements and antioxidant foods must be added to the practice of exercises for the elderly that will help keep them in shape.