Is it official? Can we bring out the banners, start the parade? Let’s share cookies and lemonade everyone, because it’s SPRING! It’s finally spring! Hallelujah! We did it. We made it through the long, cold night and we’re now awakening to a bright, warm morning. For students, this is fairly bad timing: the entire month of April promised to be overwhelmed by final papers, assignments, and exams – and overwhelmed it was.
And while Mother Nature is still making up her mind – cold, damp days are still far too frequent for my taste – spring ultimately promises rain, greenery, and sunshine. Delightful!
How to make the most of it? Well, since each season is unique, they each deserve to be celebrated in their own special way. And summer is slowly creeping up on us, so let’s get excited about springtime while it’s still here!
Alright people, listen up. I am about to say something very important:
EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES.
I am so serious.
This is so important.
Please do this for yourself.
Fruits and veggies are *magical* foods. They will rock you to your core. They are the secret to longevity and happiness. I’m not making this up! Eat them!!
The Theory
Okay, let’s get all sciencey on you. Read up on the Free-radical Theory of aging. It basically says that when certain particles in your body have too few electrons in them, they go wild! They are reactive and try to grab at more electrons, causing damage to your cells. These particles are called free-radicals, and they are VERY BAD, basically. That’s why you need antioxidants! They freely give some electrons to these free-radical particles so that the free-radicals are satisfied and stop ravaging your body. That’s why anti-oxidants slow the aging process, because they cause less damage to be done! Yay antioxidants!
The Gist of It..
The amount of key antioxidants that many species maintain in their body is directly proportional to their lifespan
-Richard Cutler, M.D., former director of Aging Research for the National Institutes of Health
Antioxidants are so amazing. Higher levels = less damage to your body = less chance for disease. Great equation.
Higher levels protect against
macular degeneration
cancers
diabetes
heart conditions
Hmm, does this sound intimidating?
Your Part.
Here’s what you should do to protect, help and strengthen yourself!
Eat your fruits and veggies! Nine servings total daily is what Health Canada recommends, AIM HIGHER! They provide tons of natural antioxidants to soothe those sad little free-radicals. Fruits and veggies are the #1 best way to get your antioxidants + they’re so yummy and so awesome so EAT THEM!
Look out for challenges! Some challenges to antioxidant absorption are stress, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, antibiotics. Look out for these and try your best (if possible) to avoid them, or supplement with extra fruits and veggies.
Get your antioxidant level measured! I got mine done at my optometrist, who was checking in order to prevent macular degeneration down the line. Ask your doctor about getting your levels tested, and talk to him about choices going forward (supplements like omega-3 oils and antioxidant pills could be recommended by your doctor)
My 'Very Good' antioxidant score - 42 thousand!
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Okay, I now sound like an advertisement for the fruits and veggies society of Canada or something like that (does that even exist?) but I feel very strongly about this subject! I can’t help myself. I want all of you to be healthy + happy!
Alright, that’s enough Public Service Announcements for one day. Yeesh!
I’m going to go eat an apple now. Or some carrot sticks. Or some spinach salad. Or some tomatoes. Or some onions and peppers and pineapple and peaches! YUM.
