The Benefits of Antioxidants - Nature's Superheroes!

Wandering down the vitamin aisle at your local supermarket, you may have noticed the word "antioxidants" screaming at you from a wide variety of bottles.

It's clear to you, based on the frequency and intensity with which it appears, that antioxidants are something important and desirable, but you may feel like those who have attended Ph.D. programs are the only ones able to decipher what antioxidants actually are. For that matter, you may also have a few other lingering questions, such as why are antioxidants so important? Can they be consumed without swallowing a wide variety of pills?

The Benefits of Antioxidants:

According to the National Cancer Institute, antioxidants are substances that your body uses to prevent damage to your cells. Your body is constantly under attack from free radicals, unstable molecules that act like foreign invaders.

According to assistant professor of immunology and molecular toxicology K. Shandeep Prabhu, Ph.D., at Penn State, free radicals come from the environment around us. They are unusual because they contain unpaired electrons. Electrons usually come in pairs and molecules with unpaired electrons can behave in unpredictable ways. Free radicals can be found in:

-- cigarette smoke-- air pollution-- UV light-- radiation

Your body also produces free radicals naturally as a by-product of the chemical reactions that are constantly taking place in your cells. Once free radicals find their way in, they quickly create more free radicals, resulting in a sort of domino effect.

Antioxidants render free radicals harmless in a number of ways. They may provide that extra missing electron, or completely down the molecule. This also results in a boosting of the immune system, allowing our bodies to fight off infections and other damage -- everything from the common cold to cancer.

This action (making free radicals harmless) is one of the main benefits of antioxidants.

You probably are already familiar with several antioxidants, even if you have never thought of them that way. Vitamin C and E are antioxidants, as well as beta carotene.

Vitamin E, also known as d-alpha tocopherol, is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be found in a variety of nuts and seeds, as well as vegetable and fish oils. Whole grains -- especially wheat germ, fortified cereals and apricots are great sources of vitamin E. Due to the fact that it only dissolves in fats, vitamin E specifically protects the cell membranes from free radical damage. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin E is 15 international units for men and 12 international units for women. Although generally safe in higher doses, doses above 2,000 international units can lead to problems absorbing vitamin A, another important nutrient.

Beta carotene is a water-soluble nutrient that is converted by the body into vitamin A. It can be found in foods such as carrots, broccoli, squash, spinach, tomatoes, yams, peaches, liver, egg yolks, milk and butter. Beta carotene is excellent at fighting free radicals in environments that are low in oxygen. There is no recommended daily allowance for it because of the way it is converted. Vitamin A, however, can be toxic in high levels.

Selenium is only required in very small amounts, but we must have it if we are to survive. It can be found in nuts like walnuts and pecans. The recommended daily allowance of selenium is 55 mcg. Doses that exceed 400 mcg could lead to hair loss, skin rashes and fatigue. Other trace minerals that are required are manganese and zinc. These minerals are the building blocks of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.

Other antioxidants include coenzyme Q10, which the body requires to produce energy and uric acid, and is produced through the metabolism of DNA. Phytochemicals, found in plants, are currently being studied to determine the quality of their antioxidant properties. Some of these include:

-- carotenoids-- curcumin-- flavonoids-- isoflavones-- lignans -- saponins

Many foods that you already recognize as healthy contain a good quantity of antioxidants. Incorporating these foods into your diet is the best way to add antioxidants - and thus obtain the benefits of antioxidants.

The best news? Even some foods that aren’t typically considered healthy are high in antioxidants, including red wine, chocolate and coffee!

The Benefits of Antioxidants:

While antioxidants are important for boosting the immune system and help the body fight off infections, there is, to date, no solid evidence that antioxidants will help prevent aging. Many products such as vitamin supplements and even cosmetics boast of containing antioxidants that will help prevent the body or the face from the effects of time. A study conducted by the Institute of Healthy Aging at the University College of London showed that the main reason for this belief is a fundamental error in the understanding of what actually causes the body to age. Antioxidants will, however, keep you healthy as you age, which can result in a longer and happier life.

There's a war going on for your cells and antioxidants are your primary weapons. Eating foods rich in antioxidants helps keep the body healthy and should be consumed daily, preferably at every meal. If you do choose to take a supplement, read the bottle carefully to be sure that you are not overdosing yourself. Even with something as healthy as antioxidants, there can be too much of a good thing.

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