The Search For The Ultimate Anti Aging Vitamin
No matter how good-looking you were in your heyday, the process of aging will eventually overtake and take its toll on your body. As you age, you will notice that your energy levels diminish, your hair will thin, you pile up fat and you face a greater risk to suffer memory loss, heart problems, arthritis, diabetes and other age-related diseases.
To slow down the process of aging and help you postpone these inevitable bodily changes, you need to include in your diet foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants. However, as you grow older, the capacity of your body to process and absorb nutrients from food diminishes. This may call for food supplementation. But is there a single longevity vitamin that can address these concerns?
Ultimate Longevity Vitamin Candidates
There is still debate as to which vitamin should be considered the ultimate longevity vitamin. This may be difficult to resolve since many of these nutrients are crucial in thwarting the aging process. Below are some of them:
Vitamin C. Its being an antioxidant makes ascorbic acid an anti aging vitamin. Antioxidants fight free radicals that fuel the aging process. There are studies linking the intake of foods rich in vitamin C to the prevention of wrinkles and age-related dry skin. Vitamin C is said to aid in the formation of collagen, a substance that evens out fine lines and wrinkles.
This longevity vitamin is also said to protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays which can cause freckles. For these reasons, Vitamin C is added in several beauty products. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, are also said to be effective in warding off heart problems, such as stroke, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Vitamin B Complex. Increased dosages of vitamins B9 (or folic acid) and B12 are also often recommended for old people because they are deemed to reduce the risk of heart disease and memory loss.
Vitamin E. Also known as alpha-tocopherol, this antioxidant is said to stop free radicals from infiltrating arteries and prevent bad cholesterol from blocking the said blood vessels. A contested study also showed that sustained intake of this vitamin can prevent heart attacks.
Some research also demonstrate its potential in warding off cancer, cataracts and arthritis. It is also said to boost immunity by restricting free radicals oxidation. A boost in immunity among old people is important since the immune system weakens as the body ages.
Vitamin K. Some researchers claim that this longevity vitamin is a more potent antioxidant than Vitamin E. Vitamin K is said to reduce interleukin-6, a substance that raises inflammation all over the body and has been linked to heart disease, diseases of the blood vessels, Alzheimer’s and arthritis.
The body’s strength and capabilities decline with age, including the absorption of vital nutrients, hence, giving rise to the need for supplementation and proper diet. However, because different vitamins play different roles, no single anti aging vitamin may be enough to defy the aging process.
