The word antioxidant is something we all have come across many times in passing. We see it in food labels that proclaim orange juice to be “rich in antioxidants”; the health section of the newspaper details the latest findings on how antioxidants are important in cancer prevention and we see it in beauty products that claim to also be “rich in antioxidants”. But what are antioxidants exactly? And how are antioxidants good for our health?
Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants come in several forms, including the Vitamins A, C and E; plant-derived polyphenols, found in colorful fruits and vegetables.
Free radicals are harmful molecules – some created as a natural by-product of reactions in our cells while other sources include cigarette smoke, air pollution and exposure to UV light or radiation. In the human body, free radicals aren’t always bad. They contribute to our immune defense by attacking bacteria and other foreign substances. They help maintain our vascular tone, and they are part of the chemical chain reaction that our bodies use to transform food to energy. But when excess free radicals steal electrons from the molecules that make up our genes, proteins and cell membranes, they can damage these crucial molecular structures in our cells. And if oxidization affects many molecules within a cell, the cell itself may become unable to function properly.
Antioxidants to the Rescue
This is where antioxidants come in. As defined above, an antioxidant is a compound that can neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to the free-radical, pre-empting the electron “theft” that can cascade into cell damage. Antioxidants are the Good Samaritans of the atomic world, giving away a part of themselves to prevent harm to others!
The body creates it owns collection of antioxidant chemicals, including glutathione, melatonin, and enzymes such as co-enzyme Q-10 (ubiquinone), catalases, and glutathione peroxidase but its own antioxidant products aren’t enough to neutralize all free radicals. Over time, free radical damage accumulates in the cells and strains the body’s ability to repair itself. When oxidization occurs faster than antioxidants can respond, the body suffers from oxidative stress which has been implicated in a number of diseases from cancer to Parkinson’s to atherosclerosis. It’s even been linked to premature aging.
Superfoods Source of Antioxidants
Fortunately for us, a constant supply of antioxidants is not hard to get. We simply need to eat a healthy, balanced diet to get the antioxidant vitamins that we need. This means a diet rich in whole, healthy, organic food products which include fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, berries, leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fish. Citrus fruits, particularly when eaten whole rather than juiced, contain many important antioxidants that protect against disease, including vitamin C and numerous flavonoids such as hesperidin. Red wine and tea leaves are also rich in flavonoids, particularly green tea, which has ten times as many antioxidants as black tea and more than double the antioxidants of oolong tea. Soy is also a great source of antioxidants known as isoflavones.
Blueberries, pomegranates, green tea and dark chocolate are also some of the antioxidant-rich “superfoods” that can be found in almost any supermarket today. There is also growing evidence that diets high in antioxidants may confer some protection against a long list of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and even HIV and eating foods that are high in antioxidant vitamins means we’re giving the body the tools to fight free radical damage in the body. This is just one more reason to add healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits to our diet.
It’s also important to note that the antioxidant levels in healthy foods don’t last too long after processing, nor do they last long after being ingested because the body utilizes them up instantly so we need a constant supply of these antioxidants. Therefore, it’s best to eat fresh organic foods several times per day to maintain an antioxidant-rich diet, especially dark-hued fruits and veggies. Taking in medical-grade antioxidant health supplements is also recommended to fill in any gaps.
 |
Glutathione (500mg) |
 |
Schiff Melatonin Plus 3 mg Melatonin w/ 25 mg Theanine – For Stress Relief & Sounder Sleep – 300 Tablets |
 |
NOW CoQ10 Co-Enzyme Q10 600 mg – 60 Softgels |
