A person’s oxidative health refers to their body’s ability to keep a good balance of free radicals and antioxidants that when imbalanced, could damage body cells.
Oxidative stress can be caused by a number of lifestyle factors, including eating an unhealthy diet.
Past studies show that eating certain foods high in antioxidants, like nuts, may help lower a person’s risk for oxidative stress.
Now a new study says that eating about 2 ounces of almonds a day may help lower oxidative stress and improve oxidative health, thus prolonging health span.
That imbalance, known as oxidative stress, can be caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking, leading a sedentary life, drinking too much alcohol, and having an unhealthy diet. It has also been correlated with environmental factors such as pollution and radiation.
Oxidative stress has been linked to a number of diseases, including high blood pressure, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.
“It is crucial for researchers to find new ways for people to lower oxidative stress because this imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants is a key underlying factor in the development and progression of numerous chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the general aging process”.
“Oxidative stress can impair insulin secretion from the pancreas and contributes to insulin resistance in the body’s cells,” added Jennifer Cheng, DO, chief of endocrinology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey. “Oxidative stresses can also damage blood vessels leading to increased risk of damage leading to myocardial infarction [and] cerebrovascular accident.”
Past studies have shown that eating certain foods high in antioxidants, like leafy greens, citrus fruits, berries, and nuts may help lower a person’s risk for oxidative stress.
A person’s oxidative health refers to their body’s ability to keep a good balance of two specific molecules.
