Knowledge about antioxidants

Maybe you've heard the word "antioxidant" before, but you don't know much about it. The word "antioxidant" is often used on the labels of many medications and health supplements to indicate that they have one or more medical benefits.

Antioxidants are molecules that help fight free radicals in the body. Antioxidants can be found in the foods we eat, especially fruits and vegetables. And someVitamin, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, can also act as antioxidants.

Free Radicals vs Antioxidants

In order for you to better understand the importance of "antioxidants", you first need to understand what "free radicals" and "oxidative stress" are.

Free radicals are compounds produced during metabolism and are generated in the body every day. The body produces free radicals when you exercise or convert food into energy. The amount of free radicals in the body determines whether they are beneficial or harmful to our health. That is to say, once the number of free radicals is too high, it will cause an "oxidative stress" reaction. This process may cause cell damage.

On the other hand, a balanced amount of free radicals helps boost immunity against infection. Another reason for an excessive number of free radicals in the body can be our exposure to a variety of lifestyle and environmental factors such as air pollution, radiation, viruses and even alcohol consumption. For example, free radicals are also present in the skin. Bright sunlight and pollution such as smog, dust and second-hand smoke can cause a large number of free radicals to appear in the skin. These free radicals affect the skin's collagen levels, causing the skin to show signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, fine lines and sagging. This is why strong antioxidants are needed in skin care products.

As mentioned earlier, an excessive number of free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to the death of living cells in the body. As a result, studies have linked oxidative stress to a variety of physical problems, such as cardiovascular problems, eye degeneration, and age-related degeneration.

While we humans have our own mechanisms to keep free radicals in check in our bodies, there are many factors that can weaken our defense mechanisms.

Sources of Antioxidants You Should Know

Antioxidant molecules help counteract oxidative stress in the body. They are mostly found in the fruits and vegetables we eat.

What’s more, plants have been shown to be generally high in antioxidants. Because plants are exposed to the sun all day, they produce a large number of free radicals, so they naturally secrete an antioxidant called "phytochemical" to fight free radicals and prevent cell damage. Otherwise, without this layer of protection, the plant will slowly wither and die.

When we eat fruits, green vegetables or whole grains, we also benefit from antioxidants called phytochemicals. Most plant-based health supplements are likely to contain high amounts of antioxidants because they are extracted from plants that are rich in phytochemicals. For example, some good botanical supplements contain quercetin, astragalus, turmeric and kakadu plum.

Enzymes are another type of antioxidant that are mainly produced from the proteins and minerals we consume in our daily diet. Ratio, Coenzyme Q10 is a natural nutrient in the body and exists in many foods. Coenzyme Q10 acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage and plays an integral role in metabolic processes.

Finally, some specific vitamins also act as antioxidants, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and beta-carotene. Unfortunately, humans cannot produce antioxidant vitamins naturally. We have to rely on daily intake of food or vitamin supplements.

Vitamin A and Vitamin C are powerful antioxidants that help boost immunity and the ability to fight infection. Vitamin A may also improve eye health and repair tissue damaged by oxidative stress.

Some skin care products also contain vitamin E. Vitamin E is a very effective antioxidant for the skin. Not only can it improve skin condition, but it can also protect the skin from UV damage.

Conclusion

Eating foods rich in antioxidants helps protect us from disease. It is important to add healthy dark green vegetables and fruits to your daily diet.

Some people who are deficient in certain nutrients or who are unable to eat a healthy diet may be better off taking small doses of antioxidant supplements to enhance their health. This article can be used as a basic guide for selecting and identifying your first antioxidant supplement.