Antioxidant Substance

Familiar with rust? Of course you are. You have probably observed in passing just what happens to brass when it is exposed to the elements. It is not a pretty sight or maybe it is if rust is your favorite color and if it is indeed a color. Anyway let us not talk about that. Instead let us talk about how rust is formed.

Rust is actually formed when oxygen reacts with metal or more specifically when oxygen reacts with iron. Iron is found in most metals and iron is also found in blood. Yes even human blood. Therefore every time we breathe we take in oxygen and oxygen gets mixed in our blood which contains iron. A reaction between these two elements is a matter of course. In addition such a reaction called oxidation is the prime reason why we age why we develop diseases or why things happen to our body every which way.

Of course oxygen is an essential element of life. However that does not discount the fact that they can have negative effects as well. No humans do not get rusty. Let us make that clear right now. It is just that what is essential for health might also be capable of disrupting cellular function and impairing efforts towards health by generating excessive amounts of oxygen byproducts known as free radicals.

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules. Because of their electron configuration (they are missing at least one electron) they tend to become unstable. To make up for their shortage of electrons they search for other substances from which they can steal an electron. Free radicals are not necessarily bad but when they accumulate in the body they could cause complications in the normal functioning of the cells.

Thankfully our body comes with its own army of free radical fighters. Antioxidant substances that are what they are called. Antioxidant substances may either be plant phytochemicals derived from a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables or from enzymes produced by our own body in reaction to certain nutrients. Either way antioxidant substances have only one function and this function is apparent in their names: they neutralize oxygen radicals or oxidants.

Antioxidant substances are capable of inhibiting the oxidation of target molecules. In other words they act as an anti-rust mechanism. In general antioxidant substances are divided into two categories. The first group of antioxidant substances is comprised those that have activity in water (like vitamin C). The second group on the other hand is composed of antioxidant substances that have activity in fat (like vitamin E and beta-carotene). Lipoid acid is an unusual antioxidant substance because it has both water and fat-soluble activity.