A term that has become popular in Spain and in some regions of Colombia, such as Bogotá and Antioquia, is ‘oxidative stress’; what is it?
Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance in our cells due to an increase in free radicals. (unstable molecules that are created during normal cell metabolism) or a decrease in antioxidants.
Do you have stress? Take the following test and find out:
Over time, this imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants can damage our tissues.
When you breathe, a small part of the oxygen that enters the body is transformedinside the cell itself, in a reactive species that is characterized by having an oxidative activitywhich is balanced if there are enough antioxidant substances in the body, explains the Spanish portal.
It may interest you: .
The medical portal adds that When antioxidants are not enough to counteract free radicals and their number increases within the cell, a phenomenon known as oxidative stress occurs.which in turn causes a structural and functional change in said cell, and this accelerates its aging and subsequent cell death.
When the body ages, the mechanisms that control oxidative stress stop working properly, even if a good diet is maintained, highlights the .
How to delay oxidative stress in our body
It is worth remembering that oxidative stress is inherent to people’s aging, but there are some aspects that exacerbate it.
For example, sedentary lifestyle favors this oxidation processwhich is why experts suggest walking, exercising, reading, playing and staying active.
You can also read: .
These are some substances and elements that produce oxidation and prevent it:
Common sources of free radicals
- Cigarette smoke
- Air pollution
- Radiation
- UV light (sunlight)
- Excessive alcohol or drug use
Common sources of antioxidants
- Dark chocolate
- Tea and coffee
- Fruits and vegetables
- Nuts (such as pecans or walnuts)
- Seasonings (cinnamon, oregano, dried basil, etc.)
- Beans, in all their presentations
Sanitas.es concludes that A diet poor in antioxidants is one of the causes of oxidative stressalthough it mentions other factors that contribute to its development.
Examples of this are the environmental pollution, smoking active and passive, excessive exposure to sunlighthe excessive alcohol consumptionthe action of certain medications, exposure to toxic substances or unbalanced physical activity.