Antioxidants: What are they and what do they do in your body?
The term antioxidants seem very familiar and popular in the world of nutrition and beauty, but what do we mean by exactly? What is the importance of these antigens and where do we find them?
Antioxidants: What are they and what do they do in your body?
We hear a lot of antioxidants, as this term is being repeated in the world of health, beauty and even nutrition. What do we mean by antioxidants and how important and effective are they in the body?
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are molecules that keep cells from being damaged by free radicals, as free radicals possess a free electron, so they take another antioxidant and become mild.
Free radicals are a natural by-product of the metabolism process, and the immune system uses them to eliminate bacteria, so our need for antioxidants is inevitable.
Antioxidant and free radical balance
↚Antioxidants:
What are they and what do they do in your body?
Since we really need free radicals and we also need antioxidants, then many things are the solution lies in the balance.
When free radicals exceed the available level of antioxidants, cells threaten the risk of certain stress, which in extreme cases leads to cell death.
The excessive intake of antioxidants would lead to toxic effects and symptoms on the body, and would also become a catalyst for oxidative stress as well.
Catalysts of oxidative stress and the need for antioxidants
Some general behaviors and conditions can increase oxidative stress and hence the need for antioxidants:
air pollution
cigarette smoke
Alcohol consumption
Drug consumption
High levels of sugar in the blood
Consumption of trans fats
Exposure to radiation, such as sunbathing, for example
Viruses, infections and diseases
Excessive intake of iron, magnesium, copper and zinc
Lack of or excessive oxygen in the body as well.
Exercising in severe and stressful tissue that leads to tissue damage
Excessive use of antioxidants such as vitamins
Lack of antioxidants.
Repeated oxidative stress increases the risk of negative health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, and is also believed to contribute to the aging process.
Food is the primary source of antioxidants
Food is the main source of antioxidants, as we find it in plant and animal sources, but it is more available in plants such as vegetables, fruits and drinks such as coffee and tea.
Antioxidants:
What are they and what do they do in your body?
Antioxidants are divided into two types:
Soluble in water: it is absorbed and works inside cells
Fat soluble: it is absorbed into the cell wall and affects it.
The most important types of antioxidants
Here are the most important types of antioxidants:
Vitamin C: is one of the most important water-soluble antioxidants and essential cell nutrients.
Vitamin E: It is a major fat-soluble antioxidant, as it plays an essential role in protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage.
Flavonoids: a group of antioxidants found in plant foods.
Many substances, vitamins, and minerals have multiple other functions in the body other than being antioxidants, for example those in virgin olive oil also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Is it recommended to take antioxidant supplements?
As we mentioned earlier, excessive intake of antioxidants is not beneficial to health, but on the contrary may be harmful, which reduces the quality of resort to supplements.
In addition, some studies have reflected that the antioxidants consumed directly from food affect better the body because they act as a homogeneous package.
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