Antioxidants, What Are They, and What Do They Do For You?
Jamaal Harrison
Free radicals, antioxidants, radiation, cancer, these are all words you have likely heard recently in the news if you pay any attention at all to the health reports. Free radicals are what are produced by your cells as your body breaks down food or deals with exposure to radiation or cancer causing agents.
Antioxidants are molecules that prevent other molecules from oxidizing, or slow the oxidation process. Our body is continually engaged in oxidizing reactions that are essential to life, but these create substances that can be very dangerous-even lethal-to the healthy cells in our bodies. If our levels of antioxidants are too low, our bodies cannot neutralize these dangerous molecules, and illness and injury can result.
Naturally found in vitamins A, C, and E among others, antioxidants can be taken in the form of a supplement. These supplements come in powders, tablets, capsules, and liquids. You can choose which one is right for you. Many foods also carry antioxidants. While these include fruits, vegetables, and nuts that many people consider healthful already, there are also foods that contain antioxidants that many do not usually put first on the healthy list. This would include meats, poultry and fish.
Antioxidant supplements contain substances such as Vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A. You can purchase each of these substances individually in capsule or tablet form, or a supplement that blends them into a single convenient dose. There are also special formulas for people under a great deal of physical or mental stress and other people with special nutritional needs. A natural food store or pharmacy will be able to provide you with a full line of antioxidant supplements to choose from.
Most antioxidant supplements you find in health stores today contain a standard ingredient base. Antioxidant supplements generally contain vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and the mineral selenium. Other combinations include other antioxidants as well but typical antioxidant supplements include those already mentioned
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