Antioxidants provide a layer of protection
for the cells and tissues of the body.
Specifically, antioxidants protect against
free radical damage. People must breathe in
oxygen to live. Oxygen is necessary for all
essential bodily functions. However, a small
amount of oxygen gets loose and produces
unstable by-products called free radicals.
Body processes, such as metabolism, as well
as environmental factors, including
pollution and cigarette smoke, can produce
free radicals. An overload of free radicals
in the body causes damage to the cells.
Strenuous exercise increases the body’s
production of free radicals, which, in turn,
can cause muscle damage, which manifests as
swollen or painful muscles. While exercise
increases the body’s natural defense against
free radicals, athletes who are doing
intense training may benefit from the
addition of antioxidant supplements to their
diets. Antioxidants work in a variety of
ways to reduce the effects of free radicals.
They can greatly decrease the damage caused
by free radicals, stop them from forming to
begin with, or "oxidize" them by combining
with them and neutralizing their harmful
effects through stabilization.
Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, is
also known as ascorbic acid. Most of the
vitamin C in the diet comes from fruits and
vegetables. However, since vitamin C is
water soluble, cooking can destroy the
vitamin C in a food. Vitamin C is essential
for the healing of wounds, and for the
repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones,
and teeth. Beyond that, vitamin C acts
against the toxic effects of environmental
pollutants by stimulating liver detoxifying
enzymes and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Zinc is an essential nutrient required by
humans and animals alike. Zinc is a mineral
that is vital to healthy living. Zinc is
probably most widely known for its ability
to prevent colds and shorten the duration of
colds. This is because of zinc’s powerful
ability to strengthen the immune system and
improve white blood cell count. It plays a
variety of biological roles in the body
including catalytic, structural, and
regulatory roles. Because vitamin E is found
in oils, people who follow a low-fat diet
may not get enough. Vitamin E is effective
in preventing the oxidation of
polyunsaturated fatty acids. Additionally,
Vitamin E is helpful in the prevention of
oxidation in the lungs, where strong
oxidizing agents nitrogen dioxide and ozone,
components of air pollution, are
particularly harmful to people exercising.
Vitamin E protects white and red blood
cells, helping the body's immune system.
Beta-carotene is a member of the
carotenoid family. Found mainly in plants,
carotenoids provide the vibrant red, yellow,
green, and orange colors of fruits and
vegetables, with carrots being a major
contributor of beta-carotene. Typically,
beta-carotene is a conditionally essential
nutrient, but when one's intake of vitamin A
is low, beta-carotene becomes an essential
nutrient, meaning that it must be obtained
from food and cannot be manufactured by the
body.
Cysteine is a sulfur-containing
non-essential amino acid. It’s required for
healthy skin, detoxification of the body and
the production of collagen (used for skin
elasticity and texture). It is used by the
body to manufacturer taurine and
glutathione.
Glutathione is your body’s most abundant
natural antioxidant. Glutathione helps
eliminate toxins from the body, and keeps
the eyes, central nervous system, and immune
system healthy and strong. Glutathione also
helps turn carbohydrates into energy, and
prevents the buildup of oxidized fats that
may contribute to atherosclerosis.
Selenium is an essential trace mineral.
The amount of selenium found in food is
directly related to the amount of selenium
in the soil in which the food was grown. It
is necessary for healthy immune function and
is tied to antibody production.
Antioxidants protect our cells from
damage caused by radicals. Because of their
function in cell protection, the benefits of
antioxidants are far-reaching and not
contained to a single aspect of our health. |
