A Health Boost With Antioxidants
Myron Huett
Aging is big business. The vast selection of products in today's market has blurred the lines between health, beauty and fad. Many products contain antioxidants which are said to promote wellness and fight aging. Marketing has already convinced us of the benefits of antioxidants, but it's important to understand exactly what they are and how they work.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring nutrients present in the human body, and in many plants including fruits and vegetables. Our bodies need antioxidants to function properly; as cell protectors, they maintain good health by slowing the destructive aging of cellular molecules.
During normal cellular function, the cells produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals can cause even more damage to the body, as they steal vital components including protein, fat and DNA from other cellular molecules. Left unchecked, these free radicals can cause a multitude of serious health concerns including a weak immune system, cataracts, heart damage and cancer.
One of the most important benefits of antioxidants is the ability to stabilize free radicals. With these stabilizing components, antioxidants can help to prevent widespread cellular destruction, reducing further damage to the system. Antioxidants can return to the surface level and steady the cells, instead of causing damage to other components.
Despite contradictions in research, studies on cats and dogs have shown that antioxidants can improve the immune responses and vaccine recognitions. This has been particularly useful in the vaccination of young animals that do not have fully developed immune systems.
In older animals, antioxidants are significant in reversing the reduction of immune cell functions. Further studies have revealed that a combination of many different antioxidants given in average amounts is likely more effective than high levels of one single antioxidant.
In the human body, and in plant life, naturally occurring antioxidants come in different forms. Vitamins A, C and E, and carotenoids including beta-carotene and lutein are all familiar sources of antioxidants. These nutrients are like the building blocks of our good health and are especially beneficial in preventing heart disease by blocking the spread of free radicals.
Vitamin E is a common form of antioxidant that can protect against cardiovascular disease by defending against LDL oxidation and artery-clogging plaque development. Numerous studies have shown that antioxidant benefits also include a reduced risk of cancer. Vitamin C has been shown to lower rates of cancers in the mouth, larynx and esophagus.
If you'd like to boost your intake of antioxidants, fruits and vegetables are excellent sources. Choose brightly and deeply pigmented foods such as tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and spinach. These offer the highest concentrations of this essential health booster.
There is no doubt that there are many benefits of antioxidants. What is not clear, however, is exactly how much should be taken and whether antioxidants should be supplemented at all. Further, long-term consequences of taking mega-doses of antioxidants are not known. Antioxidants occur naturally, but they are a chemical and must be treated with due caution.
Make an appointment with your doctor to speak about boosting your body with the benefits of antioxidants.
Myron Huett contributes to a variety of popular web magazines, on http://fotid.com/ healthy aging and http://club-healthy.com/ life fitness subjects.
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