Managing Oxidative Stress

Posted by Bobby Brown on March 06, 2020 - 5:46am

It’s impossible to completely avoid free radical exposure and oxidative stress. However, there are things you can do to minimize the effects of oxidative stress on your body. The main thing you can do is to increase your levels of antioxidants and decrease your formation of free radicals.

One method of preventing oxidative stress is to ensure that you’re obtaining enough antioxidants in your diet. Eating five servings per day of a variety of fruits and vegetables is the best way to provide your body what it needs to produce antioxidants. Examples of fruits and vegetables include:

berries
cherries
citrus fruits
prunes
dark leafy greens
broccoli
carrots
tomatoes
olives

Other examples of dietary antioxidant sources include:

fish and nuts
vitamin E
vitamin C
turmeric
green tea
melatonin
onion
garlic
cinnamon

Other healthy lifestyle choices can also prevent or reduce oxidative stress. Here are some lifestyle choices that will help:

A regular, moderate exercise routine. This has been associated with higher natural antioxidant levels and decreased damage caused by oxidative stress. Regular exercise has been linked with a longer lifespan, fewer effects of aging, and decreased risk of cancer and disease.
Don’t smoke. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke as well.
Use caution with chemicals. This includes cleaning chemicals, avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure, and being aware of other sources of chemical exposure, such as pesticides used on food or in gardening.
Be environmentally conscious. Environmentally friendly initiatives like carpooling help reduce free radical production for you and your community.
Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen prevents ultraviolet light damage to your skin.
Decrease your alcohol intake.
Get plenty of sleep. Ample sleep is very important for maintaining balance in all of your body systems. Brain function, hormone production, antioxidant and free radical balance, and a host of other things are impacted by sleep.
Avoid overeating. Studies have shown that overeating and constant eating keep your body in a state of oxidative stress more often than if you eat at appropriately spaced intervals, and eat small or moderate portions.