What Are Antioxidants & Why Are They Important?
The initial role of antioxidant as an additive, which aims to prevent undesirable changes (i.e. food discoloration) to products sold in the local market, have evolved to health improvement roles such as chronic disease prevention.
The link relating antioxidant-rich diets to the stabilization of harmful compounds in our body sheds light towards uncovering the full health benefits of antioxidants.
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Definition
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Antioxidants are compounds that our body cells produce to combat carcinogens and other disease-causing substances such as free radicals. Antioxidants are also components of the foods that we eat, and are often characterized by certain features such as in the case of lycopene–that is attributed for the red color of tomatoes.
Effects
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When the antioxidants react with free radicals, the radical compounds become stable and thus, eliminate the possible harm and cell mutations that the free radicals would have otherwise caused. These harmful radicals are naturally produced in the body as a result of cellular processes, such as the interaction of cells with oxygen or the oxidation reaction.
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Sources
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The specific compounds in our body that exhibit antioxidant activities are the amino acids, the high density lipoproteins or “good cholesterol,” and the uric acid.
Aside from the antioxidants produced in the body, there are also naturally occurring antioxidants in vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These components may be in the form of vitamins, minerals and certain compounds such as lycopene.
Antioxidants are also produced “in vitro,” which are available commercially as food supplements. These supplements may also be used as food additives, such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
Importance
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The consumption of fruits, vegetables and other antioxidant-rich foods have synergistic effects on helping the immune system fight against infectious diseases. "Furthermore, antioxidants have the potential to delay the onset of many age-related diseases," according to the International Food Information Council. Some of these conditions include vision impairment, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Misconceptions
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The full mechanism on how antioxidants prevent degenerative diseases is still being studied. "The synthetically made antioxidants that are sold commercially, as stated in a report by the Harvard School of Public Health, are inconclusive, but generally don't provide strong evidence of having a substantial impact on disease." Thus, it is best to consult your doctor and seek advice if you need antioxidant supplements.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Arenamontanus: Flickr.com
