What are antioxidants?
"Anti" prefix means against, in opposition to or corrective nature. To understand antioxidants, it helps to learn exactly what these agents are against and correct.
There are always millions of processes in the human body. These processes require oxygen. Unfortunately, the same life giving oxygen can cause harmful side effects or oxidative substances that cause cell damage and lead to chronic disease.
oxidants, commonly known as "free radicals", are also introduced through external sources such as sun exposure or pollution. Other media include stress, as well as things that people put into their bodies such as alcoholic beverages, unhealthy foods and cigarette smoke. Free radicals produced by this decomposition of a healthy cell, usually DNA and proteins AA fats. This chain of events weakens immunological functions and also accelerates the aging process and is also associated with several diseases such as cataracts, various forms of cancer and heart disease. SomeStudies indicate possible links to arthritis and several other chronic conditions.
Antioxidants or antioxidants reduce the effect of dangerous oxidants by binding together with these harmful molecules and reduce their destructive power. Antioxidants can also help repair damage already suffered by cells.
Some antioxidant enzymes are produced in the body. The most commonly recognized from these naturally occurring antioxidants are superoxiddismutase, catalase and glutathion. Supersmutase changes the structure of oxidants and breaks them into hydrogen peroxide. Catalase in turn breaks the hydrogen peroxide and small parts of oxygen or Gasses. Glutathion is a detoxifying agent that binds to different toxins to change their form so that they are able to leave the body like waste.
Other antioxidant substances are found in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables. Items withThe high content of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene are the best. These nutrients are commonly found in fruits and vegetables that have the strongest colors of the healthiest. Examples are orange and red peppers, tomatoes, spinach and carrots.
The choice of raw fruit and vegetables rather than cooked, provides the highest concentration and the best absorption of antioxidants. Dietary supplements are also available for those that do not consume enough food producing antioxidants.