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.

To understand the value and importance of antioxidants, you must first understand the destructive results of free radicals.

Free radicals occur naturally as a result of normal, daily reactions within your body. Essentially, when a molecule is a free radical, it is an unstable molecule which contains a free electron which is seeking a connection. These molecules seek to complete this unstable existence by latching on to tissues such as blood vessel linings or cell membranes, creating a chronic state of inflammation within the body. This on-going inflammation eventually results in damage to various tissues of the body. Antioxidants bind to the free radicals, thus preventing the damage they would normally cause.

The damage caused by free radicals has been linked to heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other conditions and illnesses. Free radical damage is also believed to contribute to many other degenerative aspects of aging, such as wrinkles, hardening of arteries, and some of the loss of mental acuity that sometimes occurs with age.

Antioxidants are available in many different forms and substances. Vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene (a form of vitamin A) are antioxidants in addition to their other benefits to your health and well-being. Selenium and zinc are two minerals which are also antioxidants.

Other compounds; cysteine, glutamic acid, and glutathione, for example, are also antioxidants, as are natural and herbal products such as ginkgo, hawthorn, rosemary, green tea extract, and grape seed extract.

Vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene, is water soluble and can be found in vegetables such as spinach. Vitamin A is important for skin health, helps growth in children and protects against night blindness in addition to other benefits.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is crucial to the body’s ability to produce collagen, an important protein that keeps skin damage minimal. Collagen can delay the development of wrinkles and saggy skin by helping skin hold onto its elasticity. Vitamin C also expedites the body’s ability to repair tissues so wounds heal more quickly. It is also important in the body’s ability to absorb and use several other nutrients.

Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol), like vitamin C, is not produced or stored in the body, so it must be constantly replenished through diet or supplementation. It encourages the proper development of muscles. It can help boost the effectiveness of the immune system, primarily by making it more resistant to bacterial and viral infections. Working with other nutrients, vitamin E can help prevent development of cataracts.

Selenium is a trace mineral, that is, the body does not need a large quantity for health. However, even in small quantities, in addition to its role as an antioxidant, selenium helps keep cell membranes healthy, helps the thyroid gland and pancreas function properly, and can help prevent dandruff in some people. A link between low selenium levels and HIV/AIDs victims is being explored.

Zinc is also a trace mineral. Zinc helps in the healing of wounds, helps maintain the senses of taste and smell, aids in normal growth, helps the reproductive system develop properly, and helps in the transport of Vitamin A from the liver.

Cysteine is found in poultry, oats, wheat germ, egg yolks, garlic and onions, and broccoli. It can protect against toxicity from smoking or pollution.

Glutamic Acid may reduce cravings for sugar and alcohol. It aids gastrointestinal healing and helps neurological and mental disorders. It is found in animal and vegetable proteins. Pregnant women and children should probably not take supplements of glutamic acid.

Glutathione protects against damage from chemicals, smoke and other toxins. It is valuable against cancer, skin problems, and cataracts.

Grape Seed Extract is often sold as a supplement for its antioxidant qualities. While the extract is often made from seeds taken from grapes made into juice, for example, you can actually get the same benefits by enduring the taste and crunching the seeds in grapes you can buy in the produce department of your local grocery.

Green Tea and Green Tea Extract can both provide antioxidant benefits, but green tea extract may be easier to deal with, say, when traveling or on a visit, than trying to brew a cup or pot of green tea. Green tea extract may also provide a more standard and dependable dose than the cup of tea you just brewed.

Normally, there is little free Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) circulating in your body, unless you consume supplements or take it by injection. Foods contain only tiny amounts of ALA.
Your body manufactures enough ALA for the basic metabolic functions of energy production and dissolving some liver by-products.
At the levels produced by your body ALA acts as an essential coenzyme for carbohydrate metabolism for energy.
It also has been shown, at normal body production levels to increase production of glutathione, which helps dissolve substances in the liver. Additional supplementation with alpha lipoic acid may provide benefits beyond its involvement in carbohydrate metabolism.
At supplemented levels, alpha lipoic acid acts as a powerful and versatile antioxidant. However, for this action to occur, there must be an excess amount available. ALA must be available in the “free” state within the cells. Only then will it perform its antioxidant and rejuvenating actions.
An antioxidant helps neutralize free radicals in our bodies and protects our cells from damage. A free radical is an unstable molecule that tries to steal electrons from other molecules thus causing damage. Smoking, pollution, car exhaust, stress, and fried foods are common sources of free radicals.
Cells are continuously under oxidative stress, and when the antioxidant defenses are not fully efficient, there is an accumulation of oxidative damage over time.
Alpha lipoic acid may provide three advantages when used as a supplement:
1) it is easily absorbed into the blood stream
2) it can also cross the blood brain barrier to perform as an effective
brain antioxidant, clearing blood vessels and enhancing brain cell activity
3) it deactivates both fat and water soluble free radicals, protecting both
lipoproteins and cellular membranes.
These advantages and its usefulness as a broad-spectrum cellular protector cause many health experts to believe alpha lipoic acid is emerging as the premier anti-aging antioxidant.
The widely accepted theory today asserts that accumulated cellular damage, caused by free radicals generated by on-going normal metabolism and environmental sources, is the basis of aging. As we age, mitochondria function is impaired, and this impairment is theorized to cause the adverse effects of aging.
Alpha lipoic acid is by its self a powerful antioxidant , but it works synergistically with vitamin C, E and other antioxidants, “recycling” them and making them much more available. It also helps protect the mitochondria and the DNA genetic material.
Recent research studies on alpha lipoic acid demonstrate 4 activities:
1) Functions as an antioxidant and assists the B-vitamins in producing energy
from proteins, carbohydrates, and fats consumed from foods.
2) Supports brain function in aging adults by improving memory.
3) Helps increase blood flow to the nerves.
4) Assists the liver in flushing by-products from the body.

Free radicals are the main focus of research when the uses of antioxidants are being researched.  You have probably heard of these damaging free radicals and the problems they can cause in the body, but you might not know how they are formed.  What a free radical is made of is molecules in our body that have an unpaired electron which makes them unstable.  The free radical is attempting to become stable when it goes after another molecule in an effort to gain the missing electron.  What it creates by taking the missing electron is another free radical.  The damage to the body occurs when the chain of free radicals is created coursing through the body.

Free radicals are created in the body by a natural process in most instances.  There are other times when free radicals are created by outside influences such as pollution and smoking.  When the free radicals are in great numbers they will create oxidation in the body.  The attack of the free radicals on other molecules will continue until the cells eventually die.

The damage that is caused by free radicals in the body is heart disease, eye disorders, premature aging, arthritis and cancer.  Antioxidants can help with this difficult and dangerous problem.  They will prevent the damage to the cells by attacking the free radicals.  This will effectively end the chain of damage that is caused by the free radicals in your body.  The studies on antioxidants have shown that antioxidants will help with the immune system, will help with eye problems, keep the cardiovascular function healthy, keep cholesterol levels balanced, and may help with premature aging.

The body naturally produces antioxidant enzymes with glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase along with vitamins c and e.   

There are a great many fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants.  There are some great resources you can add to your diet to get the benefits of antioxidants in your body.

Here is a partial list of the beneficial foods that contain antioxidants:

It’s the talk of the town everywhere these days. It now seems more people are looking for ways to extend their life span. The majority of people lead busy lives and struggle to still to find the time to exercise and try to eat right. Nevertheless, the term antioxidant is no longer a foreign term to most people.
Antioxidant greens are a vital element in the prevention of free radicals that can lead to cellular genetic damage. Think about dry wrinkled skin for a moment. What you are seeing is the damage done by free radicals.
The many benefits of greens to everyone’s health can be seen by examining the contents inside them. Just take a look at what’s inside this so called miracle food and you will likely be amazed at what’s inside.
Free radicals can not only cause your skin to appear prematurely aged, they can also contribute to more serious problems such as cancer, arthritis, heart disease and diabetes.
When a persons free radicals are at a minimum, a person will age more slowly. When a persons life lifestyle is out of control and full of stress, a person will tend to age more quickly. And when there is an excessive amount of free radicals within our bodies, we actually increase our chances for becoming sick, as in disease.
So just what are these greens all about anyway and how do they help promote good health? If you are sill wondering why greens are good for your health consider the fact that antioxidants have disease fighting properties that protect cells from damage by substances called free radicals. Antioxidants are able to do this by neutralizing free radicals that are formed when body cells burn oxygen for energy.
Antioxidants may also help keep the immune system healthy and reduce the risk for cancer and other diseases.
The antioxidants in greens are one of the many benefits of greens and are scientifically developed and tested. They were designed to contain the most powerful green foods that your body needs for optimal health.
So when people are not able to eat a wholesome organic diet that is filled with nutritious fruits and vegetables, these superfoods are the next best thing for many who just don’t have the time to eat all of the fresh fruits and vegetables they really should be eating.
There are many variations of these superfoods, as they are sometimes referred to. If you are looking for a premium superfood, keep in mind that a good greens drink product will not contain any fillers of any kind and will most certainly contain natural high quality ingredients that are going to be the most beneficial to your nutritional consumption.
Greens were developed as a way for people to get the proper nutrition that they fail to get on their own. They are green in color and they typically come in different flavors such as mint or berry.
The benefits of greens to your health are many. But a very important benefit is the fact that many do not contain any additives such as soy, wheat, dairy, or preservatives, all of which can be harmful to some. They are also great for those who have a weakened immune system because they help aid digestion and contain probiotics which help with a healthy intestinal flora.
Other benefits of these superfoods include the following:
Alkalizes your body: By alkalizing your body, you are helping your body to better ward off infections or diseases.
Balances your PH: By balancing your PH, your body is much more able to work efficiently.
Energy: Many people believe that by getting proper nutrition, they just feel better. The more nutrients a person consumes, the better they will likely feel. What Are The benefits of greens to your health? The answer is quite simple and the answer is phytonutrients.
Lose Weight: Greens have been known to help many shed weight. Greens are known to help curb cravings for unhealthy food because they not only fill people up, they provide a great deal of nutrients.
Greens are also safe to use with prescriptions, which make them even more popular.
Let’s face it, many of us try to get all of the recommended vegetable and fruit servings. But with even the best of anyone’s intentions, very few individuals are ever able to get the allotted amount each and every day. Busy schedules usually prevent our good intentions which is why these superfoods are an important natural health supplementation to anyone’s diet.
When searching for greens, look for something that is not only nutritious, but great tasting, easy to mix, and always look for certified organic whole food and plant extracts, which are the most beneficial to your good health.
Another helpful tip to find the best superfood is to consider how much antioxidant power you are rally getting. Some superfoods contain a very small amount of antioxidants. Look for a number that equals the antioxidant power equal to 20 servings of fruits and vegetables in every serving.
Most health conscious consumers would agree that the antioxidants contained within organic green plants are well worth the benefits. Free radicals can damage cells and lead to disease and greens help prevent the damage brought on by free radicals.
Other great benefits to taking greens are the super blend of vitamins, digestive enzymes, natural food concentrates, and symbiotic intestinal flora that provide maximum energy.
Greens have also been known to help improve a persons weight management as they help increase metabolism through increased fat burning. It does not take long for many to see the positive results that these superfoods have such as a reduction in food cravings.

Understanding the relationship between antioxidants and free radicals is very important for your body’s overall well-being. Antioxidants are simply molecules that slow down or prevent the deterioration and damage of cells in the body. A low level of antioxidants in your body can cause oxidative stress and may damage or even kill off cells. Many diseases and illnesses, such as cancer, stroke, heart disease and even vision loss, are believed to be directly effected by the level of oxidative stress in a person’s body. Therefore, antioxidants are important because they help to neutralize the free radicals in your body to prevent the oxidation of cells.
A diet high in antioxidants can not only help combat illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, it can also help prevent infection and to slow the aging process. As a person ages, his or her cells take more and more time to longer to replenish themselves. They also become damaged over time. Antioxidants can prevent the cells from dying, so you stay fresh and young looking for much longer.
In food science, the ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, has become the industry’s standard for assessing the antioxidant strength of foods, juices and additives. They are found in many foods such as carrots, cranberries, grapes, pomegranates, wine and much more; however, the ORAC levels found in ordinary food may not be high enough to make any difference in some cases. For instance a cranberry has a value of 95 units per gram while our Advance Antioxidant Formula boasts 5,000 units! In this case you would have to eat over 50 cranberries in order to receive the same amount of antioxidants as many supplements available on the market today. Other health products that are high in antioxidant properties are Pomsteen Power, Forever Lycium, Aloe Vera Gel, Forever Aloe2Go, and Meridium XN.
If you are currently in search of a comprehensive antioxidant supplement, look no further than the products we have listed above. You are just a click away from neutralizing your body’s free radicals and beginning your journey to a healthier new you!

There are many books, web sites, magazines and other information which is centered on health, nutrition, diets, vitamins and antioxidants. This information is often based on one subject matter source, be it nutrition or vitamins. For the most part, very few offer information on all of these subjects in a comprehensive manner.
To find pertinent information on good health it is often through a lot of reading and research in different publications, to find the proper system that works for them with all the different items that are manufactured for good health.
In the information that is readily available today it may at times be difficult to decide what is right for you personally, the easy part of this is if one health regiment does not work another will to control weight, health and make you feel better in everyday life.
As a general rule, when a person is eating the proper foods it shows in their appearance, their hair and skin is healthier and their energy level is higher than a person who does not eat properly, does not get the proper vitamins and antioxidants. When a person does not get the proper nutrition, vitamins and antioxidants it is seen in the skin, which may not be clear, hair that can become dull and brittle and finger nails, which can split and break easily.
Of course, health is in the news every single day, and naturally everyone is concerned with proper nutrition and one of the most talked about parts of health and nutrition is antioxidants. There has been and is ongoing research regarding antioxidants, but what are they and what do they really do is the question that many people think they know but are not certain.
Antioxidants are found in many foods naturally such as vegetables, grains, nuts and some meat like poultry and fish. It is particularly rich goji juice which is made from the goji or wolf berry and is especially rich in the the Himalayan goji juice. In fact is found in abundance in most berries such as the acai and blueberry.
What this does is help to protect cells in the body against free radicals; these are molecules that are produced when the body breaks food down. Free radicals can also be found elsewhere, such as tobacco smoke and exposure to radiation. Without the protection of antioxidants according to some research, free radicals can damages cells in the body causing such effects as heart disease, cancer and other disease.
Other research leads to the belief that they help to slow the aging process and lengthen the life span, which is something that attracts people to the consumption of foods or daily supplements rather than the nutritional value.
Some of the better-known places that antioxidants are found is Beta-carotene, Lutein, Lycopene, Selenium, vitamin A, C and E, including foods rich in these. Antioxidants are extremely important due to their inherent free-radical fighting properties. Free radicals, when left unchecked, can harm the body at the cellular level and cause many of the symptoms that we associate with aging, such as wrinkling or discoloration of the skin.
For the most part, when an individual is consuming the proper foods it shows in their appearance, their skin in particular is healthier and their energy level is generally at a higher level than someone who does not eat properly, does not get the proper vitamins and antioxidants. This is where products such as goji juice and acai juice, for instance, can help because when a person does not get the needed nutrition it is seen in the skin, which may not be very clear.
Goji juice appears to be very important in this regard due to it’s strong ORAC rating which basically measures the free radical absorption capacity of a particular food item. The latest nutrition technology makes goji juice even more potent as spectroscopic analysis, which is essentially a molecular fingerprinting technique is used in the production phase to single out only the most nutrient dense goji berries with the highest absorption ratio in people.
With this particular method the quality of the goji juice is largely assured. Besides the himalayan goji or worlf berry and goji juice, other top sources of antioxidants include the acai berry, leafy green vegetables like spinach and broccoli, raspberries, strawberries and tomatoes, among others.

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.

What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage, the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. The scientific community has begun to unveil some of the mysteries surrounding this topic, and the media has begun whetting our thirst for knowledge.
Why are athletes so keen on Antioxidants?
Athletes have a keen interest because of health concerns and the prospect of enhanced performance and/or recovery from exercise. The purpose of this article is to serve as a beginners guide to what antioxidants are and to briefly review their role in exercise and general health. What follows is only the tip of the iceberg in this dynamic and interesting subject.
What Causes Aging?
Scientists have discovered that the metabolic rate of animals is related to their life span. Therefore, larger animals do not consume as much oxygen per unit of body mass as smaller animals, and larger animals live longer. Consequently, researchers believe that aging is connected with oxygen metabolism and involves free radicals. Thus, the faster oxygen is consumed by an organism, the more free radicals it might make.
Antioxidant Role
Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Additionally, selenium, a trace metal that is required for proper function of one of the body’s antioxidant enzyme systems, is sometimes included in this category. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet.
What Vitamins Contain High Antioxidants?
Vitamin E: d-alpha tocopherol. A fat soluble vitamin present in nuts, seeds, vegetable and fish oils, whole grains (esp. wheat germ), fortified cereals, and apricots. Current recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 15 IU per day for men and 12 IU per day for women.
Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries. The RDA is 60 mg per day. Intake above 2000 mg may be associated with adverse side effects in some individuals.
Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A (retinol) and is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato, cantaloupe, peaches, and grains. Because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A by the body there is no set requirement.
So, remember to take the right vitamins in order to maintain optimum health! Antioxidant supplements is the easy way to ensuring that our body is getting sufficient supply of antioxidants!

Countless researches has been done on defining the role of antioxidants in preventing, or slowing down the growth of cancer. And the good news is, considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture, and animal studies indicates that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer.
Antioxidants are necessary because they combat free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts that are formed when oxygen is used by the body. Free radicals start a chain reaction under the skin’s surface, and outlined below is the process of destruction.
What are Free Radicals?
They have an unpaired electron in their outer orbital, making the molecule unstable.
Free radicals attempt to gain an electron from natural proteins in the skin to acquire stability.
This sets off a chain reaction because all molecules want to form an octet, which is an atom with eight valence electrons. In the aftermath of the reaction are free radical waste products of misshapen and broken molecules. Therefore, the structure of our skin is damaged and its cellular structure is weakened.
Dangers of Free Radicals!
Free radicals is capable of altering our DNA, which results in aging and illness! We definitely do not want that to happen to us!
How Antioxidants Prevent Cancer?
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals as the natural by-product of normal cell processes. Free radicals are molecules with incomplete electron shells which make them more chemically reactive than those with complete electron shells. Exposure to various environmental factors, including tobacco smoke and radiation, can also lead to free radical formation. In humans, the most common form of free radicals is oxygen. When an oxygen molecule (O2) becomes electrically charged or radicalized it tries to steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage to the DNA and other molecules. Over time, such damage may become irreversible and lead to disease including cancer.
Antioxidants are often described as mopping up free radicals, meaning they neutralize the electrical charge and prevent the free radical from taking electrons from other molecules.
How to Incorporate Antioxidants in my Diet?
Epidemiologic observations show lower cancer rates in people whose diets are rich in fruits and vegetables. This has lead to the theory that these diets contain substances, possibly antioxidants, which protect against the development of cancer. There is currently intense scientific investigation into this topic. Thus far, none of the large, well designed studies have shown that dietary supplementation with extra antioxidants reduces the risk of developing cancer.
Can Antioxidant Slow the Aging Process Too?
Antioxidants are also thought to have a role in slowing the aging process and preventing heart disease and strokes, but the data is still inconclusive. Therefore from a public health perspective it is premature to make recommendations regarding antioxidant supplements and disease prevention. New data from ongoing studies will be available in the next few years and will shed more light on this constantly evolving area. Perhaps the best advice, which comes from several authorities in cancer prevention, is to eat 5 servings of fruit or vegetables per day.
So what are you waiting for? Eat the right foods which are high in oxidants, and if needed, get a all natural antioxidant supplement! Your health condition Needs Antioxidants!