How do antioxidants work? Do I need to take them?
Antioxidants clean up the damage of free radicals. Free radicals at their most basic level are atoms/molecules etc with a big ‘hole' in them and usually are a byproduct of oxidation of the molecule. The hole comes from unpaired electrons or an open shell. What this ‘hole' does is make them extremely chemically reactive. This can be good in some chemical reactions and bad in others.
With a hole to fill free radicals will scavenge healthy cells for their electrons which then damages the healthy cell and causes all sorts of problems like cancer, inflammation, heart disease etc.
Antioxidants are like polyfiller, they come along and fill in the space that has been left in our cells. Antioxidants also slow and stop the oxidation of molecules which slows the production of free radicals.
Your main antioxidants are Vitamins A, C & E. Eat plenty of fruit, berries, eggs, vegetables nuts, seeds and oily fish for a continual supply of antioxidants. Daily exercise also releases antioxidants, however hard exercise puts the body under oxidative stress. Coffee, red wine and chocolate also contain antioxidants - but of couse, everything in moderation.
In addition to eating lots of antioxidant rich foods, reducing things like smoking, drinking, additives and environmental pollutants will reduce the level of oxidation happening inside the body and therefore reduce the need for antioxidants.
There is no need to spend lots of money on antioxidants provided you are looking after your body. If you do wish to take an antioxidant, even something as simple and cost effective as an A, C, E mix will work just as nicely as something expensive like astaxanthin or reservatrol.
Stacey
11 Jan 21010
Antioxidants clean up the damage of free radicals. Free radicals at their most basic level are atoms/molecules etc with a big ‘hole' in them and usually are a byproduct of oxidation of the molecule. The hole comes from unpaired electrons or an open shell. What this ‘hole' does is make them extremely chemically reactive. This can be good in some chemical reactions and bad in others.
With a hole to fill free radicals will scavenge healthy cells for their electrons which then damages the healthy cell and causes all sorts of problems like cancer, inflammation, heart disease etc.
Antioxidants are like polyfiller, they come along and fill in the space that has been left in our cells. Antioxidants also slow and stop the oxidation of molecules which slows the production of free radicals.
Your main antioxidants are Vitamins A, C & E. Eat plenty of fruit, berries, eggs, vegetables nuts, seeds and oily fish for a continual supply of antioxidants. Daily exercise also releases antioxidants, however hard exercise puts the body under oxidative stress. Coffee, red wine and chocolate also contain antioxidants - but of couse, everything in moderation.
In addition to eating lots of antioxidant rich foods, reducing things like smoking, drinking, additives and environmental pollutants will reduce the level of oxidation happening inside the body and therefore reduce the need for antioxidants.
There is no need to spend lots of money on antioxidants provided you are looking after your body. If you do wish to take an antioxidant, even something as simple and cost effective as an A, C, E mix will work just as nicely as something expensive like astaxanthin or reservatrol.
Stacey
11 Jan 21010
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