Understanding How Antioxidants Work

Antioxidants work to inhibit the oxidative stress damage produced by free radicals. However, the antioxidant changes when this happens and can no longer provide any protection to the body. This is why there is a constant need to replenish your body with sources good quality antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables or a high quality dietary supplement.

The Antioxidant Process

A common way used to describe the oxidation process in our bodies is to compare it to rusting metal. During the normal breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins required by the body for energy and repair certain byproducts or the free radicals are generated. These free radicals are unstable because they contain an oxygen atom with only one electron; a stable oxygen atom will have two electrons.

The free radical will also then attack and take an electron from a nearby healthy cell thereby damaging that cell. The technical term for the damage caused by the attack is oxidation.

The normal every day biological processes that occur within the body cause oxidative damage from the free radicals naturally. However, there are other ways that the body is further damaged of the oxidation of cells and that is in the form of toxins. The environment around us such a lot of sun, car exhaust and other forms of pollution and contaminants may amplify the level of toxins within the body. Another way that toxins enter the body is caused by the lives we lead. Fried foods, cigarette smoke, too much alcohol and other drugs all increase the level of contaminants within the body.

The human body has evolved and developed ways to produce antioxidants that counteract and put a stop to the harm produced by these toxins and the free radicals. An antioxidant is any type of chemical that has the ability to neutralize the free radicals and toxins within the body. The antioxidant can be from a natural source such as fruits and vegetables or from a synthetic source such like a high quality dietary supplement.

In a healthy body, there is a balance between the levels of oxidation going on and the amount of antioxidants needed to stop their damage. The body requires a certain amount of oxidation to help restore cells and fight infections. However when your body contains too many the free radicals or toxins there is an imbalance that leads to oxidative stress that damages the body.

How do you know there is an instability in the body? Have you ever felt tired and worn out, or started to feel sick? It is in these ways that they body tells you it needs something. When we are low on energy, we eat the better the food quality the better we will also feel. When we start to get sick, we take more vitamins especially vitamin C which is a prime antioxidant.

Antioxidants and Disease

Too much oxidative stress for prolonged periods can cause serious damage to the body. Cells are damaged caused by enzymes not working as they should, cell membranes deteriorating, proteins breaking down and ultimately damage to your DNA. All of these may give way to a weakened immunity system and dramatically lower the body’s ability to fight diseases. Damage to your DNA may give way to a higher chance of cancer or serious illnesses such as diabetes. If significant damage occurs to the arteries that supply the blood to your heart it may give way to heart disease.

The cumulative effects of cellular oxidation in our bodies are an increase in disease or illness lower quality of life caused by health concerns and premature aging. Currently there is no crystal-clear proof that taking antioxidant supplements may amplify longevity or help to slowing the effects of the aging process. However, there has been enough research and investigation into the benefits of antioxidants and ways they can help to improve your health. Antioxidants might be able to help reduce and prevent damage from toxins and the free radicals keeping your body healthy and strong, this is known. The amount of research evidence indicates that taking antioxidant supplements have the potential to improve the quality of your health and stop the development of certain diseases.

Antioxidant Sources

In light of the role, that free radicals play in the process of aging and disease or illness it is important to ensure our diets include a rich, diverse and constant supply of antioxidants.

It is highly recommended that you consume a wide variety of fresh fruits vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy products all the time. Healthy eating should incorporate five daily servings of fruit and vegetables. One serving is a medium-sized piece of fruit or a half-cup of cooked vegetables.

Research is divided over whether or not antioxidant supplements offer the same health benefits as antioxidants in foods. Evidence suggests that using antioxidant nutritional supplements do not work as well as the naturally occurring antioxidants in foods such as fruits and vegetables. However if your diet is lacking in that department taking a high quality antioxidant dietary supplement is a good choice.