Antioxidant Protection

Several years ago few people had heard of "antioxidants". Now the terms " antioxidants" and " free radicals" are part of the common language of health conscious Americans concerned about preventing heart disease, cancer, and the ravages of aging. Antioxidants may guard against the damages caused by the actions of free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive oxidizing substances that form in the body during normal metabolism. Free radicals attack lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes and DNA to cause oxidation. They are thought to contribute to the processes of aging by causing damage to cells. They also promote the development of carcinogens that may initiate the cancer process.

Studies suggest that antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as a class of substances called carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lycopene and hundreds of others may be able to partly protect against such damage.

Selenium, a mineral, is also an antioxidant.

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant. It is a natural biochemical found in the body. Glutathione peroxidase is one of the body's important antioxidant enzymes.

BHA and BHT are two antioxidants that are frequently added to foods to prevent oxidation.

Coenzyme Q is an integral part of the metabolism of oxidants in the mitochondria of our cells.

Honey is packed full of antioxidants. Ounce for ounce honey is similar to many fruits and vegetables in the amount of antioxidants it provides.

Green tea is one of the best antioxidant drinks around. Green tea contains several polyphenols which are potent antioxidants. A cup of green tea contains 300 to 400 different polyphenols.

Overall, what researchers have learned is that while a diet rich in fruits and vegetables appears to confer particular health benefits, using supplements may not confer the same benefit. The chemicals in foods appear to work in combination and thus the best route to good health is eating the whole foods rather than taking supplements of them. By far the best way to get plenty of antioxidants is to consume lots of fruits and vegetables.