Expert Harps on Effective Management of Oxidative Stress 

pharmacy

The Pharmanews Publisher, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, has recently emphasized the need for people to manage their oxidative stress in COVID-19 era and more.

Speaking on the topic: “Managing oxidative stress in COVID-19 time”, during a virtual seminar organised by the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship International (FGBMFI), he described oxidative stress as an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cell and tissue damage.

Oxidative stress occurs naturally and plays a role in ageing process, according to him, the body’s cells produce free radicals during normal metabolic processes and the cells also produce antioxidants that neutralise these free radicals.

He highlighted diseases associated with oxidative stress to include: cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, male infertility, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, vision loss among several others.

Atueyi, also identified risk factors that could predispose people to oxidative stress, such as: air pollution, obesity, diets high in sugar and processed foods, exposure to radiation, smoking cigarettes or tobacco, alcohol consumption and pesticides or industrial chemicals.

He explained that if you want to boost immunity and reduce oxidative stress, you must eat a balanced diet, healthful diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

According to the Pharmanews boss, there are some vitamins the body cannot produce except if you take them in, examples include vitamin A: dairy products, eggs, liver; vitamin C: most fruits and vegetables, especially berries, oranges: vitamin E: nuts and seeds, sunflower and other vegetable oils; green leafy vegetables and beta-caotene: brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, peas, spinach and mangoes and lycopene: pink and red fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, red grapes, water melon and pawpaw.

“Taking supplements, enough water (preferably alkaline), limiting intake of processed foods, sugars, salt and fats, and changing of lifestyle i.e. exercising regularly, quitting smoking and heavy alcohol consumption, reducing stress and also reducing exposure to pollution and chemicals are also measures to reduce oxidative stress” Atueyi advised.

Stating the advantages of managing stress, the Nigeria’s Leading Health Journal Publisher said one can reduce the process of ageing, reduce degenerative and chronic diseases in one’s life and most importantly live long and healthy life.