How Antioxidants Work

By Erica Aveeno

Antioxidants are alleged to be effective in helping to avert cancer, heart ailment, stroke and a variety of other diseases coupled with natural aging. In particular antioxidants prevent ailments by destroying free harmful radicals inside the human body.

There is a set of organic compounds that helps destroying the harmful free radicals. The collections include vitamins " C and E, minerals " selenium, pigments " beta-carotene carotenoids. The carotenoids are the reason behind the pulsating colors of different fruits and vegetables.

Left unmanaged free radicals can hurt cell walls and other cell structures, genetic materials inside the cells, etc. Such injuries develop into diseases over time. It is the antioxidants that assist in getting rid of those poisonous free radicals.

Biochemical research and heaps of clinical trials have been performed, and results have been exposed. Smokers who consume their diets with elevated carotenoids have a relatively lower risk of developing lung cancer. High carotenoids may also be preventative for breast cancers. Antioxidant vitamin C has also been proven to stop the creation of a cancer causing substance from nitrates in foods " N-nitroso compounds.

Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase are created inside the human body, and help the body in cleaning the harmful free radicals. These enzymes are available as oral supplements.

In spite of supplying the human body with the oral supplements of the enzymes, supplementing the organic compounds and elements the body needs for producing these enzymes is much successful. Superoxide dismutase requires manganese, copper, and zinc and selenium is essential for glutathione peroxidase.

In addition to superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, many vitamins and minerals are helpful antioxidants in their own way, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, vitamin B2, lycopene, coenzyme Q10, and cysteine amino acid. Many herbs such as bilberry, grape seed, turmeric, ginkgo, milk thistle and green tea also hold powerful antioxidant properties.

The antioxidant activity decreases with age of the human body, thus many health care specialists claim that the elderly, especially those with a reduced food intake, heavy drinkers, frequent aspirin users, smokers and individuals with immune problems may benefit greatly by taking daily antioxidant supplements. Higher levels of antioxidants in the body are certain to help preventing life threatening diseases. - 27772

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