How Does Oxidative Stress Affect The Body?

Oxidative stress occurs when our body has more free radicals than antioxidants. Although free radicals are necessary to our bodily functions, they do more harm than good in excess. The problem we have now is that most of the food available on the market significantly increases the number of free radicals in our bodies, which exposes us to more oxidative stress.

Karina Wolfin, fitness enthusiast and fitness equipment rentals provider at Direct Appliance Rentals says, “Humans need certain kinds of food to survive, so we built a preference or craving for them. We crave foods rich in necessary nutrients like sugar and sodium. Our dilemma nowadays is that manufacturers can manipulate these preferences to make us hungry for more sugar and sodium-rich food, which causes free radical imbalances and, subsequently, disease.”

Here is a brief explanation of why you should try to minimize oxidative stress.

Where Does Oxidative Stress Come From?

Oxidative stress comes from free radicals in our bodies. These free radicals are reactive molecules that strip away electrons from other atoms.

Free radicals form naturally when your body produces energy or when you exercise to help your bodily functions. However, you can form excess free radicals because of smoking, excessive drinking, and consuming food high in refined sugars, fat, sodium, and chemicals.

Sadly, food companies have spent years researching to make you crave sugary, salty, fatty food, making these products hard to avoid.

How Does Long-Term Oxidative Stress Affect The Body?

1. Causes Chronic Inflammations

The most common effect of oxidative stress on your body is inflammation. Inflammations are necessary responses that increase the body’s capabilities to fight off infections and recover.

When you experience excessive oxidative stress, free radicals will create unnecessary inflammation, creating more free radicals, resulting in a cycle that causes conditions such as arthritis and diabetes.

2. Increases Risks Of Heart Diseases

There are many factors that increase the risk of heart disease, but some researchers are encouraging the inclusion of oxidative stress as one of the primary or, at least, secondary factors. Oxidative stress is known to increase the risk of people having cardiomyopathy, ischemia, and hypertension.

3. Increases Risks Of Respiratory Diseases

It’s also good to note that respiratory conditions such as asthma are often caused by systemic and chronic inflammation in the lungs. Oxidative stress is one of the primary contributors of such lung inflammations.

4.Damages Brain Cells

The human brain creates a significant amount of free radicals to support its functions, but a substantial increase in oxidative stress can deal substantial damage to it. Free radicals may damage neurons, which increases your risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

Minimizing Oxidative Stress Helps You Lead A Healthy Life

Oxidative stress is indeed crucial to your day-to-day life. However, making unhealthy lifestyle choices can increase the pressure in your body, which may expose you to higher risks of developing chronic diseases.

Author Bio:

Felix Magrath is a freelance writer and blogger with a love for creating content. He believes the most complex subjects can be explained simply when the right words are used. When not reading, researching and writing, he is seeing what’s new on Netflix.

NutriFusion – plant-based vitamins and minerals can help you minimize oxidative stress levels. Combined with reduced intake of processed, sugary, and salty food and consuming the right amounts of nutrients and antioxidants you need, you sure would achieve that optimal health you deserve.