What are Antioxidants?
This supposedly simple question has the risk of getting very technical, so I will keep it very simple. Antioxidants are substances which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body and may protect cells
from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. They prevent the free radicles (incomplete pieces of molecules) from joining up with other such molecules or fragments to form toxic, harmful substances to your body. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause. Free radicles are an essential part of metabolism and whilst there are many different types, research is showing it is the 4 that are derived from the action of oxygen in the body are some of the worst offenders to our health. Antioxidants act as a ready source of molecule for the free radicle therefore hindering it attacking our healthy cells and DNA. One should be mindful that research is divided over whether or not antioxidant supplements offer the same health benefits as antioxidants in foods. Antioxidant supplements have been shown in many studies not to have the same protective abilities that the ones found in food have!
from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. They prevent the free radicles (incomplete pieces of molecules) from joining up with other such molecules or fragments to form toxic, harmful substances to your body. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause. Free radicles are an essential part of metabolism and whilst there are many different types, research is showing it is the 4 that are derived from the action of oxygen in the body are some of the worst offenders to our health. Antioxidants act as a ready source of molecule for the free radicle therefore hindering it attacking our healthy cells and DNA. One should be mindful that research is divided over whether or not antioxidant supplements offer the same health benefits as antioxidants in foods. Antioxidant supplements have been shown in many studies not to have the same protective abilities that the ones found in food have!
What are 'free radicles'?
Free radicles are a compound that attacks another compound, removing an electron. This effects other molecules they come into contact with by altering their cell structure. Some oxidisation as previously stated is a necessary part of life i.e. produced as a by-product of breathing or the immune system. However we are also exposed to free radicles from the environment, smoke, ionizing radiation, the sun (U.V.), contaminates in food-pesticides and industrial chemicals. Some research has estimated that each cell in our body is bombarded 10,000 times a day. So if you consider we have trillions of cells-we 'take a real kicking'!
•They manly attack either our fat molecules causing a resultant destruction in the cell membrane, hence causing diseases.
•Or our DNA molecules causing mutations.
So far 50 diseases have been identified that researchers believe may be a result of this free radicle assault. These include heart disease, premature ageing, cataracts, peptic ulcers, sickle cell anaemia, asthma and stroke to name but a few...
However the good news is antioxidants are freely available in our diet. They help by coming into contact with the free radicle first, before it can do damage. Antioxidants then readily offer an electron that the free radicle molecule needs, hence stopping it attacking the fat molecule or DNA.
To read the rest of this article go to http://hubpages.com/hub/antioxidants-and-food
