The most popular antioxidants that are used for skin care products are the vitamins A, C and E.Scientific tests have shown that they help to improve the condition of the skin and reduce additional damage occurring that causes the aging effect that we are seeking to eliminate.The damage to the skin is caused by free radicals and antioxidants help to fight off these free radicals and thereby improve the condition of the skin.Antioxidants are in no way harmful to the skin and not only can they protect the skin from damage but they have been to shown to actually reverse some of the damage that has already occurred to the skin of many people.This has an anti aging effect and the publicity that has surrounded the discovery of this information has resulted in antioxidants being included in almost all skin care products to meet the demands of the consumer.Sun damaged skin in particular has been shown to improve in condition when antioxidants have been applied directly to the affected area.There are various different sources of antioxidants and some of the more popular ones are grape seed extract and green tea extract.Grape seed extract has shown to reduce inflammation of the skin and in addition it helps to strengthen the capillary walls. It is a popular inclusion in many skin care products due to these properties.Green tea on the other hand has shown to reduce the size of pre-cancerous skin lesions in various tests due to the active ingredient catechins.With the use of these naturally occurring antioxidants the damage that is caused to the skin by the free radicals that degrade the collagen and elastin is reduced and the positive effect that they have in assisting the skin to renew damaged cells has the desired anti aging effect that people are looking for.

You can derive your daily dose of antioxidant supplements from both artificial and natural sources. Artificial meaning packaged supplements in the form of multi vitamins and minerals, or specific antioxidants in the form of flax seed oil or grape seed extract. Natural sources can be had from whole foods from fruits, vegetables and healthy cuts of meat including seafood. One cheap and rich source of natural antioxidants would be from berries and grapes, such as raspberries, blueberries, white grapes, green grapes or just about any type of such fruits. They are all extremely rich in the essential vitamins and contain high potent levels of antioxidants.

Blueberries are a common source of rich antioxidants and one of the easiest foods that you can get a steady balanced supply would be from cereals. Or buy the fruit itself and sprinkle them together with a daily bowl of cereal taken every morning for breakfast. This not only provides enough antioxidants for you in a day, but the vitamins and fiber contained in the mixed bowl of cereal and blueberry is a highly recommended balanced meal from all medical experts. If you take it with a helping of milk, you add another serving of minerals and calcium, making it one of the best meals that anyone can have in life.

Antioxidants derived from berries and grapes are agreed to be high in both quantity and quality. It comes as no surprise that these fruits are helpful in protecting one from the development of cancer and other medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Due to the high dosage of antioxidants present in berries and grapes, you can even depend on them for a large part of your daily requirements for these helpful health agents, without the need to consume extra supplements to make up for any shortfall. And another benefit would be that fruits like berries and grapes taste great, thus providing the ultimate mix of health and enjoyment.

Antioxidant skin care uses active ingredients known to fight and neutralize the damaging effects of free-radicals.  Free-radicals are emitted when oxidization occurrs.  Accumulation of oxidized dam,age is considered a primary cause of pre-mature aging of the skin – wrinkles, discoloration, uneven tone, and acute redness and blemishes (rosacea).

Whether it was Cleopatra who used goat’s milk to bathe her skin or the modern Mediterranean women who use lemon juice to clear their skin of blemishes the usage of antioxidants has been widespread across the ages. Although their benefits were highly prized even in those days, it is only today, that modern scientists are discovering the positive effects these have on the skin.

Are natural antioxidants always better?

There are many natural alternatives to using this chemical however it is always best to opt for a formulated product available through a reputed manufacturer. It is because these have been dermatologically tested and are devoid of side effects. The thing about using natural ingredients straight is that they can be too concentrated and result in burns on the skin.

How do these work?

One of the biggest culprits of damage on the skin’s surface is the UV rays of the sun. These cause various skin problems ranging from darkening and dullness, blotchy skin to dry and flaky skin, acne and breakouts to even serious ailments like skin cancer.

By using an antioxidant formula one can gently peel off the outer layers of the skin cells thereby revealing a fresher, youthful appearance. These antioxidants also work in eliminating dark spots and patchy skin which originates from deeper layers of the skin.

Typically, the harmful effects of pollution and other substances in the atmosphere result in free radicals settling into the skin cells. These free radicals destroy healthy skin cells and the underlying collagen tissue as well.

This results in unhealthy, sagging skin and even wrinkles at times. With the help of such antioxidant treatments one can successfully repair damaged skin cells and restore the vitality and suppleness of the skin.

Free Radicals: A Cause of Skin Cancer?

Free radicals can result in genetic mutation in skin cells which in turn lead to cancerous growth. Once cancer sets in, it causes damage to the skin cells which is beyond any repair. Thus, the best alternative is to start using antioxidants early on to fight the signs of aging.

These treatments curb the spread of free radicals and help keep our skin looking supple and healthy. Right from pigmentation marks to spots on the skin to growths on the surface of the skin – all can be corrected with proper usage of antioxidants.

There are many products available these days which promise fantastic results. Green Tea antioxidant creams, Wine mud masks and other gel based formulas work wonders.

Cut an apple and leave half on the counter and as you know it turns brown. This is a result of oxidation. Rust on your car is due to oxidation. Oxidation is the interaction between oxygen molecules and all the different substances they may contact, from metal to living tissue. Sometimes oxidation is not such a bad thing, as in the formation of super-durable anodized aluminum. Other times oxidation can be destructive, such as the rusting of an automobile or the spoiling of fresh fruit. The process of oxidation depends on the amount of oxygen present in the air and the nature of the material it touches. True oxidation happens on a molecular level — we only see the large-scale effects as the oxygen causes free radicals on the surface to break away.
So, what has this got to do with your health? Well, when a man oxidizes, we call it aging and sometime cancer. Antioxidants counter this process. Nature gave us foods for our DNA to handle oxidation of our cells. The Stone Age population was hunter-gatherers and looked for colorful foods – up to 150 in variety throughout the seasons. These foods provided antioxidants. Anthropologists have stated that Harry and Sally of the Stone Age did not die of diabetes, cancer, heart attacks or stroke. They died from some traumatic event instead.
If Harry and Sally were alive today, they wouldn’t believe how limited in variety our food is today and more importantly, they would be stunned at how the antioxidants in what we do eat have been purged by processing.
If you want to reverse oxidation for you and your family, eat color fruits and vegetables from these groups:
1. RED includes but is not limited to:
Pink Grapefruit
Watermelon
Tomato
2. GREEN includes but is not limited to:
Bok Choy
Cabbage
Broccoli
3. GREEN/YELLOW includes but is not limited to:
Avocado
Spinach
Corn
4. RED/PURPLE includes but is not limited to
Blueberries
Red Apples
Grapes
5. ORANGE includes but is not limited to
Carrots
Cantaloupe
Mangos
6. ORANGE/YELLOW includes but is not limited to
Oranges
Pineapples
Peaches
7. GREEN/WHITE includes but is not limited to
Celery
Pears
Onions
FREE RADICALS can damage many molecules before the chain reaction loses steam and plays itself out. Antioxidants step in and stop the chain reaction. Antioxidants from the color in fruits and vegetables, as well as vitamins, try to keep us healthy by capturing as well as reversing the effect of free radicals.
If you are not getting enough fruits and vegetables, supplementation with antioxidants is highly suggested. Afterall, unless you are buying at the farm stand, you are not sure what has been bioengineered or otherwise altered that may reduce the fruit or vegetables’ ability to protect you. I believe in supplementation. You just have no way of knowing the level of free radicals and antioxidants in your body at any given time. Free radicals form in response to many things. Some of these are stress, defects that accumulate with the passing years, a less than optimal diet, smoking, and pollutants in the environment. To stave off premature aging, a consistent program of quality supplements will go a long way.
Antioxidants help your natural defense system do its job. You want to be absolutely sure you have all the ammunition your body needs to keep healthy and slow the aging process. Why not age gracefully? With what the supplement companies are learning all the time, the supplements are getting better with each reformulation. Take advantage of their research and testing.
When selecting an antioxidant supplement, I strongly recommend you find combination rather than single antioxidant as studies show they are more effective in combination. You need a team of antioxidants to boost your immune system and fight!
What to look for? I suggest you consider products with the following ingredients:
Vitamin C and E
Beta Carotene (Vitamin A)
Selenium
Schizandra Berries
HERBS that are known to stimulate the IMMUNE SYSTEM include:
Astragalus
Barberry
Boneset
Cat’s Claw
Chamomile
Echinacea (use short term for acute episodes)
Garlic
Ginger
Ginseng
Goldenseal
Gotu kola
Licorice
Marshmallow
Mistletoe
St. John’s wort
Making targeted food choices and supplementing with vitamins, minerals, and herbs will go a long way in keeping you healthy and slowing down the aging process. Why not avoid all those “preventable lifestyle diseases” when the answer lies before you?
Notes on herbs:
1. Long term use of licorice may cause water retention, elevated blood pressure, and a hormone imbalance knows as pseudoaldosteronism – so use sparingly and for short term regimens
2. Mistletoe may slow heart rate and affect blood pressure. If you have heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke, consult your physician before using Mistletoe.
3. If you are taking antidepressant medication, consult a physician before using St. John’s wort.

The discovery of alpha lipoic acid at the University Of Texas Chemistry Department in 1951 was not heralded with trumpets of joy at the revelation of such a powerful antioxidant, but was instead largely ignored. This is largely due to the biochemistry involved not being fully understood at that time, but by the 1980s it was a commonly used supplement, recommended for several medical conditions.
Chemically, the substance is a 5-membered cyclic disulphide with a carboxylic acid grouping. Biochemically, it’s extremely powerful antioxidant properties are largely due to the fact that it one of those rare active molecules that are soluble in both water and fats, and in fact is the only such antioxidant currently know. One of the properties that this ability enables it to possess is to cross the blood-brain barrier, and apply antioxidant propertied to the brain.
Antioxidants are essential to human life in that they destroy free radicals. These are compounds with free unpaired electrons that destroy human body cells in their hunt for electrons to pair with. Electrons come in pairs in organic animal tissue, just as they do in organic compounds. However, under certain circumstances this pairing can become destroyed, leaving a molecule with one of its electrons without a partner.
The factors that lead to this situation are many and varied, and our own biochemistry can produce free radicals during the normal chemical processes of life. However, pollution can also lead to the oxidation processes that create free radicals, common such pollutants being cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust fumes, pesticides and the like. Excessive exposure to the UV content of sunlight can also create free radicals as can eating barbecued and smoked foods, and exposure to carbon monoxide and peroxides. Even the biochemical conversion of glucose to energy in our bodies creates free radicals.
These free radicals can destroy body cells, including DNA, and can create conditions such as premature aging due to destruction of skin cells, destruction of brain cells, strokes, cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis due to oxidation of LDL cholesterol that deposits in the main arteries of the body, stiffening of the joints and many other undesirable conditions.
Free radicals are destroyed rapidly by antioxidants: the reaction is very rapid and most are destroyed immediately they are formed before they can do harm. Fortunately, if your diet is well maintained, the body possesses many antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, and other substances such as Coenzyme Q10, flavanoids, xanthenes, polyphenols and carotenoids. Many of these are found in highly colored foods, and if your food is brightly colored, it should contain a good supply of antioxidants.
However, the problem with all of these is that they are either fat and oil soluble or water soluble, which means that they can either be freely carried round the body by the blood or have to be emulsified by the bile and transported via the lymphatic system that places restrictions on their effectiveness in certain organs of the body. The fact that alpha lipoic acid is soluble in both water and fats enables it to be carried to all parts of the body and to every organ, and can cross water/fat barriers that other antioxidants cannot do.
It can therefore be carried via the blood to the brain and carry out an essential antioxidant function within our brains. It took a long time for this property of ALA to be recognized and its consequent health benefits understood. It is, in fact, the ideal antioxidant. The substance provides many known benefits to the body due to its antioxidant properties and also helps the body to generate the maximum possible amount of energy from the blood glucose and thus improve the energy balance of your body.
However, it is with its antioxidant properties that we are most concerned here. One of the benefits of these properties is its effect in holding back the visible effects of aging on your body. Because it is both water and fat soluble, alpha lipoic acid can help destroy free radicals in every part of your skin; the areas served by the blood and the fatty and oily secretions are protected simultaneously by the same strong antioxidant. The end result is a reduction in the destruction of the cells through the dermis and epidermis and a reduction in the degree of wrinkling with age.
Its antioxidant effect in the brain renders ALA in great demand for reducing cognitive impairment with age. In fact studies have indicated that alpha lipoic acid can improve memory and brain function in the aging and the elderly. This effect appears to be increased by the synergistic combination of alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine that work together to prevent cognitive decline in the brain through the effect of free radicals.
There is evidence that during a stroke, ALA works synergistically with vitamin E to reduce the effect of free radical damage on the vulnerable brain cells, and so reduce the longer term effects of the stroke. Together with ALC, it also reduces oxidative stress on the mitochondria of cells and in so doing helps once again to reduce the effects of aging, and maintain the body’s capacity to generate energy from blood glucose.
Cardiovascular disease is the main killer of the western world, largely due to our diets, and this is especially true of the USA. Although Americans appear unable to change their unhealthy diet, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine can be used to offset much of the damage done. ALA reduces the development of atherosclerosis through its antioxidant properties and the reduction of the adhesion of monocytes to the artery walls.
LDL trapped in the wall of the artery can be oxidized and enable monocytes to also enter under the surface of the arterial wall, where it changes into macrophages and ingests the oxidised LDL, causing the plaque that forms atherosclerosis. As the plaque thickens, the artery becomes increasingly restricted until the blood flow is significantly reduced or even stopped, causing cardiac failure or a stroke.
Alpha lipoic acid can prevent this free radical oxidation from occurring by destroying them before they act on the low density lipoprotein (LDL). Acetyl-L-carnitine works with the ALA to achieve this, as does another substance known as carnosine. Between them, these three musketeers work to keep your arteries clear and your brain functioning as it should, though it is the ALA that is most powerful due to its oil and water solubility properties.
Although alpha lipoic acid is available as a supplement, either alone or in combination with acetyl-l-carnitine, it is also available from natural food sources. It is particularly rich in offal such as heart and kidney, and also in broccoli, spinach and brewer’s yeast. It is also available in beef, and it is here that burgers can perhaps repay some of the damage that it causes. However, it is not a recommended source since burgers still cause more damage to your health than any of their constituent nutrients can allay.
Like any other supplement, you should seek medical advice before taking any substance if you have a health condition. Nevertheless, the benefits of alpha lipoic acid are such that it is difficult to see it doing anything but good. However, please consult your physician if are taking other drugs.

Most people have heard of antioxidants and their benefits for your health. They fight free radicals, keep your body healthy and full of energy. But what are antiaging antioxidants and how do they work? What would be the best source of antioxidants for you?

During antiaging research it was observed that people who consumed sufficient amount of antioxidant food showed lesser signs of aging than those who did not. Antioxidants make your immune system stronger and healthier, which combats the natural process of aging.

What are anti-aging antioxidants?

Antioxidants are certain vitamins, minerals and enzymes that fight free radicals. Some scientists believe that free radicals greatly contribute to aging and weaken immune system, so naturally antioxidants that neutralize them are called anti-aging food.

Here is the list of most commonly known antioxidants:
– Vitamin A – Vitamin B-6 – Vitamin B-12 – Beta carotene – Vitamin C – Vitamin E – Selenium – Folic acid

Antiaging diet – where can you find antioxidants

Raw fruits and vegetables are the best source of antioxidant vitamins and minerals. Almost any fruit or vegetable contains antioxidants, some more, some less.

Vegetables high in antioxidants are kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli florets, beets, onions, corn.

Certain fruits and almost all berries also contain antioxidants; top performers are prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, oranges, apples, red grapes and cherries.

Vitamin C and B group vitamins are water soluble, so they could be destroyed if you soak or boil your food. They are susceptible to heat, so try minimizing cooking time of your vegetables. Also most vitamins are destroyed by light – that is why it is recommended that you keep all your veggies in the fridge. And, of course, the fresher the fruit is the more vitamins are preserved in it.

How helpful are antiaging antioxidants supplements?

There are also antioxidant supplements, ORAC for examples. You can even order it online. Some studies show positive results with it, but there is still no 100 percent proof that antioxidant supplement is as effective as vitamins you get with your food. Also, you should be careful with vitamin A and E supplements. These vitamins are not water soluble, which means that if there is too much of them in your body they can be toxic. It is a good idea to consult your doctor, before taking any antiaging antioxidant supplements.

If you are not sure how to fit antiaging food into your diet consult a dietitian, who can develop a diet plan for you. Or you can simply add one apple, orange or a bunch of grapes to your everyday menu. Not that hard is it? To make antiaging antioxidants really work for you, you will have to be persistent and consume them every day. Soon you will see how younger and more energetic you look and feel.

The focus of research on vitamins these days is how antioxidant supplements may play a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Antioxidant supplements – E, C, and beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) – have potential when it comes to health promotion. However, most data available about such health promoting properties of antioxidant supplements are incomplete. And only up to 30 percent Americans are taking some form of antioxidant supplements.

But what exactly are antioxidants and how important are they?

Antioxidants come in two forms. They can either be vitamins or minerals. They help prevent oxygen from reacting with other chemicals in cells. Such reactions – called oxidation – could lead to cell damage which may result in heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants can be found in a variety of foods, but they are far more common in fresh fruits and vegetables. A health diet of fresh produce could lead to high levels of antioxidants in your body, which could only mean one thing – less free radicals (those harmful molecules that cause cell damage) and a healthier you.

When antioxidants start to work, they destroy the free radicals or break the chain. You see, here’s what happens when you have lots of free radicals in your body. Because they are highly unstable, these free radicals have the tendency to steal or get electrons from stable molecules and in so doing, make those molecules unstable as well, turning them into free radicals. This becomes a long chain and will go on and on until such a chain in broken. This is where antioxidants come in whose sole function is to break the chain and neutralize free radicals.

During the process of neutralization, the antioxidants are neutralized themselves. Hence, they also become oxidized. That is why the body needs a constant source of antioxidants in order to keep combating these harmful free radicals and stop them from multiplying.

With the kind of diet most of us have these days, it is very likely that we may not be getting enough antioxidants from the foods that we eat. And remember that the body needs to replenish its levels of antioxidants constantly. This is where antioxidant supplements come in.

Because the body may not be getting enough antioxidants because you don’t enough fruits or you don’t eat a lot of vegetables, you therefore need an alternate source such as antioxidant supplements.

Antioxidant supplements are that source. And while antioxidant supplements can’t very well take the place of natural antioxidants, they can however aid in increasing the level of antioxidants in your body.

To find more about antioxidant supplement go to: http://www.antioxidant-supplement.info/

When ever the term antiaging antioxidant comes up there are always questions. Everyone has heard of them but that doesn’t mean we all understand them. The most common questions are.

1. What is an antiaging antioxidant?
2. Does an antiaging antioxidant really work?
3. How do I use antiaging antioxidants?

These are very important questions and I will try to clear up the confusion with this information here in this short article. Before we can understand how an antiaging antioxidant can be used and if it really works we must first understand what an antioxidant does.

So What Exactly Is An Antioxidants

Basically the term antioxidant refers to any substance that will help to slow or halt the oxidation process. Incase you don’t know what the oxidation process is the following explanation may help.

Oxidation is basically the loss of an electron by a molecule, ion, or an atom. This results in harm to the body as the loss of electrons will have a negative effect on the natural growth of the cells and aging and can this results in destruction. To visualise this process, think of the rust on a car which is basically oxidation. That is an illustration of what is happening to every cell in our body every day.

You can now see that antioxidants are important to reduce the chemical damage being done to biological elements. This is why it is crucial to have a diet that contains antioxidants in with the proper nutrients so that the body has a chance to fight this ongoing deterioration process. Antiaging antioxidants are sometimes difficult to get only in our foods, especially if we live on fast food which often is totally lacking in these important elements. Luckily they are now widely available in various dietary supplements. These are becoming more popular in the fight to prevent different types of heart disease as well as cancer. It is important to educate yourself in the correct use of antiaging antioxidant supplements as they are often in more concentrated forms than in fresh food. So check with your doctor before starting them.

The Antiaging Antioxidant Helps .

It stands to reason that if an antioxidant is helping all the cells of the body then it will help the skin too. Antiaging antioxidants are crucial in the anti-aging process because the antioxidant reduces oxidative damage to the cells in the skin as well as your body. The process of slowing down oxidation is what will help our skin. If there is less oxidation then there will be less damage and so the skin will take longer to change its appearance to the older state. Of course, there are different types of antioxidants that will affect different kinds of damage such as either skin damage or, for instance, heart damage.

Another area of the value of antioxidants is in our eye health. Many antioxidants are valuable for preventing, cataracts or other eye problems that we associate with the elderly.

The immune system is another area where it is extremely important to consider the use of antioxidants. Work is being done now with using antioxidants to not only keep the immune system healthy and balanced but also to boost a weakened immune system.

Antioxidants can also protect the nervous system, the brain functions, maintain good cardiovascular health and could even affect your DNA. A word of caution here – some antioxidants can be harmful if not taken correctly. There are toxicity levels that must not be exceeded. It is best to learn which foods can be safely eaten and concentrate on those for optimum health If you want to take supplements then you should definitely consult a medical professional to find out the best antiaging antioxidant for your personal health.

Wouldn’t we all like to age gracefully (if at all for that matter!) and ward off the wrinkly signs and ill symptoms for as long as possible. Keys to longevity may be more accessible than we think, and it appears our diets play a critical role. Antioxidants are the knights in shining armor that subjugate the attack of free radicals in the body, the hazardous molecules that damage cells and procure aging and disease. Though antioxidants are produced naturally in the body, these decline with age, hence an increasing need to acquire them from the foods in our diet.

Before examining antioxidants more closely, it is important to take a look at the free radicals they serve to neutralize.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are created as by-products in our use of oxygen during metabolism such as the burning of food for energy. They are essentially oxidant molecules that are missing an electron and seek to restore themselves by targeting nearby cells in an attempt to recover this electron, potentially harming enzymes, DNA, proteins and cell membranes in the process. This damage can mutate cells and alter cell function, increasing the risk of numerous diseases and chronic conditions including arthritis, diabetes, cataracts, cancer, heart disease and stroke. Free radical damage is implicated in the onset of aging and its degenerative symptoms and diseases.

As well as generated within the body, free radicals come from environmental sources such as pollution, radiation, unhealthy foods, bacteria, viruses, cigarette smoke and UV light.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants serve to mitigate the harmful effect of free radicals by giving up an electron and stabilizing them in the process. Although we produce many of our own antioxidants within the body, food provides an essential source for these key players of our defense system. Vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients all have antioxidant properties. The most common examples include vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc, carotenoids, flavonoids, co-enzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione.

As there are many different types of free radicals in the body a variety of antioxidants are required to protect against them. Antioxidants function best as a team, with each other and other nutrients and phytochemicals, which is why incorporating a wide range of plant foods into your diet is recommended. Phytochemical groups such as flavonoids and carotenoids correspond to the colour, taste and smell attributes of plants, hence eating a rainbow array of vegetables and fruits can offer a diverse selection of these potent antioxidants.

Antioxidant Rich Foods

Foods especially high in antioxidants include berries, plums, pomegranates, oranges, spinach, green tea, avocado, kale, broccoli, peas, onions, grapes and pure chocolate.

Scientists at the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) have developed a rating scale that measures the total antioxidant capacity of a given food. This is known as the ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity).

Of 40 common fruits and vegetables measured by the USDA, top ranking scores were those of prunes(5770), raisins (2830), blueberries (2400 – highest of all fresh foods with other berries close behind), kale (1770), spinach (1260), Brussels sprouts (980), plums (949), alfalfa sprouts (930), broccoli florets (890), beetroots (840), oranges (750 ), red peppers (710 ) and red grapes (739).

Pure cocoa surpasses all these foods with a whopping score of 26,00 units, more than 10 times the prestigious blueberry (though one is likely to eat far less in quantity). The extraordinary goji berry from Tibet also has outstanding antioxidant capacity with a score of 18,500 units; hardly surprising as they contain 500 times more vitamin C than oranges and even more beta-carotene than carrots!

According to studies on animals and human blood at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts in Boston, high-ORAC foods may slow aging processes in the body and brain. Results found that high ORAC foods such as blueberries and spinach could increase the antioxidant power of human blood by 10-25%, prevent loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats, and protect rat blood vessels against oxygen damage.

Antioxidants and Aging

As we age, free radical levels rise and yet the body falls short in producing necessary amounts of antioxidants to meet this challenge. For example, cells generate more of the oxidants hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, yet levels of the necessary antioxidant glutathione required to neutralise these decline. The Free Radical Theory of Aging, first proposed by Harman in 1954, is supported by cross-species examination of animals with regard to life span, free radical damage and antioxidant defence. For example, the white-footed mouse lives about twice as long as the house mouse (8 versus 4 years), and is found to generate less oxidants and have higher levels of antioxidants. As Beckman and Ames write in The Free Radical Theory of Ageing Matures (1998), ‘Together, interspecies comparisons of oxidative damage, antioxidant defences, and oxidant generation provide some of the most compelling evidence that oxidants are one of the most significant determinants of life span.’

Very recent evidence comes from a study on dogs at the University of Toronto by Dr. Dwight Tapp and colleagues who found that ‘old dogs that were on an antioxidant diet performed better on a variety of cognitive tests than dogs that were not on the diet. In fact, the dogs eating antioxidant-fortified foods performed as well as young animals’.

Additional research by Dr. Rabinovitch and his team, studying aging at the University of Washington, Seattle, found that mice engineered to produce high levels of an antioxidant enzyme (catalase) lived 20 per cent longer and had less heart and other age-related diseases than controls.

In light of the role free radicals play in the onset of aging and disease, it is important to ensure our diets include a rich and diverse supply of antioxidants. These protective agents can be found abundantly in vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and are particularly high in superfoods.