What are antioxidants?

Antioxidant supplements are talked by everyone from scholars to laymen these days. You can find food rich in antioxidants at grocery and supplements online. But very few people actually know what they are and how they work.

The concept of antioxidants is fairly complex, but let’s start with atom. The human body is made up of substances like proteins, fats and DNA, which are basically just large molecules with hundreds or thousands of atoms joined together. During metabolism in human body, bigger molecules are broken down into smaller molecules, and smaller molecules are organized into bigger molecules.

In order for a molecule to be stable, it must contain the right amount of electrons. If the molecule loses an electron when it isn’t supposed to, it can turn into a free radical. Free radicals are unstable, electrically charged molecules in the cells, that can react with other molecules (like DNA) and damage them. They can even form chain reactions, where the molecules they damage also turn into free radicals.

This is where antioxidants step in: if a molecule loses an electron and turns into a free radical, the antioxidant molecule steps in and “gives” the free radical an electron, effectively neutralizing it.

Free radicals are constantly being formed as the body processes food and reacts to the environment. It’s important to keep in mind that free radicals also serve important functions that are essential for our survival. For example, the body’s immune cells use free radicals to kill bacteria that try to infect us.

What causes oxidative stress?

Our body need a certain balance. We need the right amount of free radicals, and the right amount of antioxidants to keep them in check. When this balance gets disrupted, things can start to go wrong. When the free radicals (pro-oxidants) outnumber the antioxidants, this can lead to a state called oxidative stress, whereas important molecules in the body can become severely damaged, sometimes even leading to cell death.

Several stress factors and lifestyle habits are known to promote excessive free radical formation and oxidative stress: air pollution, cigarette smoke, alcohol intake, toxins, high blood sugar levels, consuming large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, radiation, infections by bacteria, fungi or viruses, excessive intake of iron, magnesium, copper, or zinc, too little or too much oxygen in the body, intense and prolonged exercise, too little of too much intake of antioxidants, etc.

The essential role of antioxidants

Antioxidants are essential for the survival of all living things.  The human body even generates its own antioxidants, known as endogenous antioxidants, such as the cellular antioxidant glutathione. Plants and animals, and all other forms of life, have their own defenses against free radicals and the oxidative damage caused by them. Therefore, antioxidants are found in pretty much all foods of plant and animal origin.Antioxidants that come from outside the body are called exogenous.

Getting antioxidants from foods is important. In fact, our life depends on the intake of certain antioxidants – namely, vitamin C and vitamin E. The health benefits associated with a diet rich in plants is, at least partially, due to the wide diversity of antioxidants they provide. Meat products and fish also contain antioxidants, but in smaller amounts compared to fruits and vegetables.

Many antioxidants can also have other important functions, especially anti-inflammatory effects. Each antioxidant serves a different function and is not interchangeable with another. This is why it is important to have a varied diet. For example, beta-carotene (and other carotenoids) is very beneficial to eye health; lycopene is beneficial for helping maintain prostate health; flavonoids are especially beneficial for heart health; and proanthocyanidins are beneficial for urinary tract health.

Antioxidants can increase the shelf life of both natural and processed food products. Therefore, they are frequently used as food additives . For instance, vitamin C is often added to processed foods to act as a preservative.

Types of Dietary Antioxidants

Antioxidants can be broadly categorized into two groups, water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants.

• Water-soluble antioxidants (such as Vitamin C) perform their actions in the fluid inside and outside cells
• Fat-soluble antioxidants (such as Vitamin E) act primarily in cell membranes. They that plays a critical role in protecting cell membranes against oxidative damage.

Naturally occurring antioxidants include flavonoids, flavones, catechins,  tannins, polyphenols and lignans.Flavonoids is a large group of antioxidants found in plant foods.

Antioxidants can also be categorized as enzymatic and non-enzymatic. The first type benefits us by breaking down and removing free radicals, while the second type benefits us by interrupting free radical chain reactions.

One particular antioxidant worthy mentioning is astaxanthin.  Sometimes called “the king of the carotenoids,” astaxanthin is recognized as being one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature.  Astaxanthin’s ts high-potency antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties allows it to address a vast array of health concerns.

Should I Take Antioxidant Supplements?

The best strategy to ensure adequate intake of antioxidants is a diet rich in various vegetables and fruit, along with other healthy dietary habits. Foods have hundreds, if not thousands, of different nutrients that work synergistically. Taking just one or two isolated nutrients won’t have the same beneficial effects. Antioxidant supplements contain concentrated forms of antioxidants, which are substances that keep your body’s cells healthy by combating damage caused by free radicals.

Due to today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many people are now neglecting the importance of consuming whole, organic foods, causing them to miss out on essential nutrients, including antioxidants. Air pollution, chemical toxins and stress all contribute to excessive free radicals.  In this case, taking a high-quality antioxidant supplement may be an ideal option.

Some of the best antioxidant supplements are: astaxanthin, ALA, krill Oil, quercetin, tocotrienols, liposomal Vitamin C, CoQ10/Ubiquinol.

However, high doses of antioxidant supplements can be harmful. Antioxidant supplements may also interact with some medications.