Antioxidant supplements
All About Antioxidants & Their Role In Health
Why Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that the body produces as a reaction to environmental and other pressures. They are sometimes called "free-radical scavengers."
How do Antioxidants Work?
Free radicals are constantly being formed in your body. Without antioxidants, free radicals would cause serious harm very quickly, eventually resulting in death. However, free radicals also serve important functions that are essential for health. For example, your immune cells use free radicals to fight infections.
Your body needs to maintain a certain balance of free radicals and antioxidants. When free radicals outnumber antioxidants, it can lead to a state called oxidative stress. Prolonged oxidative stress can damage your DNA and other important molecules in your body. Sometimes it even leads to cell death. Damage to your DNA increases your risk of cancer, and some scientists have theorized that it plays a pivotal role in the aging process.
Sources of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are found in food, especially in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based, whole foods.Several vitamins, such as vitamins E and C, are effective antioxidants.Antioxidant preservatives also play a crucial role in food production by increasing shelf life.
The Role of Antioxidants in Health
Antioxidants are compounds that prevent or diffuse the damaging effects of free radicals. Vitamins A, C, and E can react with certain free radicals and prevent them from harming your cells. Minerals, such as zinc, form the active sites of antioxidant enzymes in the body – and these enzymes can remove free radicals before they can cause damage.
