How Oxidative Stress Impacts Your Body (and How to Treat It)

Any time your antioxidant levels are too low, it causes a condition called oxidative stress.

Low antioxidant levels, which are measured through your blood plasma, are caused by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant defenses. Basically, it’s more difficult for your body to protect you against illnesses and chronic conditions.

Prolonged periods of oxidative stress lead to a gradual breakdown of cell tissue as well as DNA damage, causing inflammation in the body. And unfortunately, high levels of inflammation eventually lead to diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

As you can see, keeping oxidative stress to a minimum is highly beneficial, but how do you know whether you’re at risk?

Oxidative Stress Risk Factors to Be Aware Of

Let’s start with the fact that everyone produces free radicals – it’s a natural bodily function. However, we are also exposed to free radicals in the environment, including pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, and pesticides.

Even eating too much sugar and fat can lead to an increase in free radicals.

Overall, if you spend a lot of time in polluted environments, smoke, or have a diet that’s high in alcohol, sugar, and fat, you are at a higher risk of developing oxidative stress.

How to Treat Oxidative Stress and Start Feeling Better

The reality is that it’s impossible to avoid free radical exposure completely. However, there are small changes you can make to keep oxidative stress to a minimum.

The first step to keeping oxidative stress at bay is to increase the antioxidant levels in your body. The easiest way to do this is to increase your intake of quality fruits and vegetables. The foods that you want to stock up on include citrus fruits, berries, dark leafy greens, tomatoes, broccoli, and carrots.

Increasing your intake of vitamin C, E, and omega 3, and incorporating a supplement such as Nurenza into your diet, is also highly recommended.

Here are a few other lifestyle changes you can make to eliminate the effects of oxidative stress:

• Quit the cigarettes. We know it’s not easy to quit smoking, but the benefits are far-reaching. If you don’t smoke, make sure that you stay away from as much second-hand smoke as possible.
• Build a regular exercise routine. Exercise has been linked to higher antioxidant levels, so find ways to get moving more regularly to treat and prevent oxidative stress.
• Make sunscreen a part of your skincare routine. Prevent skin damage and an increase in free radicals by protecting your skin whenever you step outside.
• Think twice about the chemicals you use. By being more aware of the types of products you use in your home, you can avoid unnecessary exposure to harmful chemicals and free radicals.
• Consider carpooling. When there are fewer cars on the road, there is less free radical production – good for the environment, good for you.
• Sleep more. Quality sleep is another effective way to treat oxidative stress. Create a new bedtime routine for yourself that will promote better quality sleep. The result is less stress on the body and a positive impact on brain function and hormone levels.
• Keep alcohol to a minimum. Too much alcohol can have a number of negative effects on your body, including an increase in oxidative stress.
• Only eat what you need. The final step you can take to balance your antioxidant levels is not to overeat. Small, moderate portions of antioxidant-rich foods are what you need.

In Closing

If you’ve been feeling low on energy and unwell in general, it could be overexposure to free radicals and low antioxidant levels.

The good news is that making small changes now can leave you feeling healthier and help you avoid long-term illnesses and diseases.

What will you start with?