The Wonderful World of Antioxidants.

by Jon Fiume
July 15, 2005

You may have heard about them in a commercial, seen them on the label of a multivitamin, or even heard about them in the news... antioxidants. Everyone needs to be taking them and science continues to discover the vast roles they have in maintaining the health of our bodies. But what really are these antioxidants? Let's take a look.

Anti has the meaning against, oxidants or oxidation. Think of a typical Midwest winter and the rust that forms on the car from the salt on the roads. This is an oxidation process that begins to destroy the integrity of the car leaving it open to other problems. Well, the same thing can and does occur with our bodies. This oxidation process produces what is fondly termed as free radicals. These free radicals, which I like to think of as some sort of radical group running around our bodies terrorizing our cells, open up our bodies to disease. These diseases are ones that we are very familiar with... osteoarthritis, macular degeneration, heart disease, cancer, and emphysema to mention just a few. Some of these diseases occur with the ever famous aging process which in and of itself is oxidation taking place right before our eyes. Imagine that! Free radicals are produced as we age. It is just part of the program. However, free radicals are produced in other ways too. These include the many environmental stresses that we are confronted with including toxins we are exposed to via the foods that we consume and the products that we use. Chemical cleaners, pollutants, pesticides, and herbicides are all high on the list. Think of those over-sprayed conventional strawberries that look so tantalizing during the summer, or those french fries the next time you are at the county fair - chock full of free radicals. Maybe now is the time to think organic! Smoking, as you would assume, is a free radical producer as is alcohol, especially in excess. Free radicals are also produced by healthy things such as exercise. The exchange of bringing in oxygen at a higher rate and the production of carbon dioxide is actually the production of free radicals. Now, this is not an excuse to not exercise because the benefits outweigh the free radicals being produced.

We are simply left with no choice but to destroy these free radicals. One of the ways to do this is via supplementation. More and more antioxidants are being discovered for their uniqueness in how they help protect the cells of the body. Some of the most popular antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E, and the trace mineral selenium. Other newer antioxidants include lycopene which can help with the health of the prostate; lutein to help protect against macular degeneration; CoQ10 to protect the cells of the heart; milk thistle for the health of the liver (take note you beer consumers!); glutathione for the liver and the digestive system and ginkgo for memory retention. Antioxidants are also of course found in foods. Think of those veggies... carrots for the carotenoids, tomatoes (especially cooked ones) for lycopene and broccoli for indole-3-carbinol which can protect against estrogen related cancers. In all aspects, consuming more fresh and if possible organic fruits and veggies and supplementation will help cover your antioxidant needs and introduce you to a wonderful world of wellness.

Enjoy!

This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of your current healthcare program or advice from you healthcare professionals