Understanding Antioxidants

What Are Free Radical?

Free Radicals:

• Are unstable oxygen molecules created as metabolic wate by our cells.
• Are created by exposure to various environment factors, tobacco smoke and radiation.
• Steal electrons from healthy cells, which speeds up the aging process and increases health risk.
• Can caus damage to cell walls, certain cell structures and genetic materials within cells.
• Can cause irreversible damage and lead to chronic diseases overtime.

Think of the effect that air has on a cut apple, it browns. Now, that's free radical damage!

Free Radical Damage.

Free radicals are created when oxygen atoms lose an electron. This is caused by air pollutants, some medication, radiation and mostly by normal metabolism. Our bodies use oxygen to burn carbohydrates and produce energy. But this oxidative process also results in free radicals. These free radicals are highly reactive, causing oxidative damage to cell parts.

What are Antixodants?

"Antioxidants" is a classification of several organic substances, including vitamins C, E, beta carotene (which converts to vitamin A as needed) and a group known as the carotenoids. Carotenoids, of which beta-carotene is the most popular, are pigments that add colours to many fruits and vegetables. Without carotenoids, for instance, carrots wouldn't be orange. Together as antioxidants, these substances are thought to be effective in helping to prevent diseases. At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate free radicals.

Simply put, Antioxidants play the housekeeper's role by "mopping up" free radicals before they get a chance to do harm in your body. They act as scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue damage that could lead to cellular damage and disease. Researchers have postulated that antioxidants may help prevent the possible carcinogenic effects of oxidation.

Some researchers claim that elderly people, especially those who have reduced their food intake, frequent aspirin users, heavy drinkers, smokers and people with impaired immune systems may benefit from taking antioxidant supplements daily.

One of the ways to stock up on antioxidants is to consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, cantalupe and mangoes are great sources of antioxidants.

Antioxidant Vitamins.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A and its plant-form precursor, beta carotene, both attack singlet oxygen, a dangerous free radical that affects our eyes, skin and lungs. A major fat-soluble vitamin, is is known for its protection of the cell membrane.

Beta carotene is an immune booster and is especially beneficial in the elderly. The remarkable value of beta carotene is that it will only convert to vitamin A as the body requires it. This controlled conversion ensures its safety and non-toxicity as a source of vitamin A. Excess beta carotene circulates through the body's blood plasma and is stored in the tissues. There, it may play an invaluable role as an antioxidant, protecting cells against the harmful free radical damage that comes from the environment in the forms of pollution, cigarette smoke and other toxins.

Important Functions of Vitamin A:

• Eyesight - Vitamin A is essential in supporting vision, particularly in dim light.
• Growth and Tissue Healing - Promotes growth and healthy teeth. After tissue injury or surgery, vitamin A is needed to repair the tissues and helps protect the tissues from infection.
• Healthy Skin - Vitamin A stimulates growth of skin cells base layer and is essential for the development and maintenance of epithelial tissue.
• Antioxidation - Through its antioxidant effects, vitamin A and beta carotene stake out low - oxygen areas like the tiny blood vessels of the muscles.

Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant acting primarily in cellular fluids, i.e. in the water areaas of the body, such as blood plasma, lung field, eye fluid as well as in between cells. It helps to combat free radical formation caused by pollution and cigarette smoke. Vitamin C is water soluble and must be replenished every day.

Important Functions of Vitamin C:

• Fomation of collagen - Collagen is the biological cement that binds cells together in the bones, teeth, gums, blood vessels and connective tissues. It also aids in wound healing.
• Helps in The Absorption of Iron that forms Blood - Blood transport nutrients across cells, into the orgas and tissues.
• As an Antioxidant - Protects the blood and the liquid interior of cells from free radical attack.
• Regenerates Oxidised Vitamin E - Helps Vitamin E to return toits active form.

Vitamin E.

A major fat soluable vitamin, it is known for its protection of the cell membrane. A primary defender against oxidation, it protects against the oxidative effects of air pollutants such as cigarette smoke and radioation. Research shows that it also helps protect the skin.

Important Fucntions of Vitamin E:

• An Antioxidant - Protects the unsaturated fatty acids located in the cell membrane and other body components from free radical attack.
• Stimulates The Immune Response - Helps to build resistance to infection.
• Lessens the severity of inflammation, pre-menstrual syndrome and circulatory irregularities.
• Inhibits the conversion of nitrites (an oxidant) in smoked, pickled and cured foods to nitrosamines in the stomach to decrease the potency.
• It is required in the brain and central nervous system tissue and in those that are in contact with oxygen (e.g. lung), providing cells protection.

The Power of Synergy.

By combining antioxidant nutrients correctly, the synergy will boost their effectiveness. On their own, individual antioxidants are very beneficial. But their true benefit lies in how they work together- their synergy.

For example, when the antioxidant vitamin E disables free radicals, it becomes a free radical itself. Vitamin C reacts with vitamin E radical to regenerate vitamin E into its natural antioxidant form.