| Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our | | | | the onset of problems like heart disease and |
| foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative | | | | diabetes. Antioxidants may also improve immune |
| damage to our body. When our body cells use | | | | function and perhaps lower your risk for infection |
| oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals | | | | and cancer. |
| (by-products) which can cause damage. | | | | Using dietary supplements of antioxidants to |
| Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and | | | | prevent cardiovascular disease should not be |
| hence prevent and repair damage done by these | | | | recommended until their effect is proved in clinical |
| free radicals. | | | | trials that directly test their impact on CVD end |
| Antioxidants are found in the nutrient antioxidants, | | | | points. Beneficial effects must be demonstrated in |
| vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals copper, zinc | | | | well designed (randomized, placebo-controlled) |
| and selenium. Other dietary food compounds, such | | | | clinical trials before recommending widespread use |
| as the phytochemicals in plants and zoochemicals | | | | to prevent cardiovascular disease. |
| from animal products, are believed to have | | | | Antioxidants can be conceptualized in a number of |
| greater antioxidant effects than either vitamins or | | | | different ways: as insurance against some of the |
| minerals. These are called the non-nutrient | | | | more visible effects of aging; as a weapon in our |
| antioxidants and include phytochemicals, such as | | | | fight to make our average life expectancy more |
| lycopenes in tomatoes, and anthocyanins found in | | | | closely resemble our ultimate lifespan; and as a line |
| cranberries. | | | | of defense against the risk of developing certain |
| An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or | | | | illnesses and diseases. |
| preventing the oxidation of other molecules. | | | | Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells |
| Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers | | | | against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen |
| electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. | | | | species, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, |
| Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, | | | | peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and |
| which start chain reactions that damage cells. | | | | peroxynitrite. An imbalance between antioxidants |
| Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by | | | | and reactive oxygen species results in oxidative |
| removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit | | | | stress, leading to cellular damage. Oxidative stress |
| other oxidation reactions by being oxidized | | | | has been linked to cancer, aging, atherosclerosis, |
| themselves. | | | | ischemic injury, inflammation and |
| It's little surprise that antioxidants have acquired a | | | | neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's and |
| reputation as miracle health supplements. As long | | | | Alzheimer's). |
| ago as the 1950s, scientists discovered that many | | | | Vitamin C helps some of our most important |
| diseases - including heart disease, strokes, cancer, | | | | body systems. First and foremost, it helps the |
| diabetes, cataracts, arthritis and | | | | immune system to fight off foreign invaders and |
| neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's | | | | tumor cells. Vitamin C also supports the |
| and Alzheimer's - were linked to damage caused | | | | cardiovascular system by facilitating fat |
| by highly destructive chemicals called free radicals. | | | | metabolism and protecting tissues from free |
| The largest and most advanced analysis of the | | | | radical damage, and it assists the nervous system |
| antioxidant content of common foods to date | | | | by converting certain amino acids into |
| shows that disease-fighting antioxidants may be | | | | neurotransmitters. |
| found in unexpected fruits and vegetables, such | | | | Researchers say the antioxidant found in grape |
| as beans, artichokes, and even the much-maligned | | | | skins, known as resveratrol, appears to work by |
| Russet potato. | | | | targeting the cancer cell's energy source from |
| Antioxidants work by significantly slowing or | | | | within and crippling it. When combined with |
| preventing the oxidative - or damage from | | | | radiation, treatment with resveratrol prior to |
| oxygen - process caused by substances called | | | | radiation also induced cell death, an important goal |
| free radicals that can lead to cell dysfunction and | | | | of cancer treatment. |