How do Antioxidants Work?

What are Antioxidants, and how do they work?

By: Jason Weeks (independent health columnist)

October 22, 2009

Antioxidants are essential for human health, but what are they exactly? They are found in various foods, but what ones are the most potent? Are there supplements with antioxidants in them?

To start, antioxidants are usually found in plant sources such as fruits and vegetables. Some have higher content than others. There are many references that suggest different foods with different levels of antioxidants, but the scientific community is a bit behind on which antioxidants are better, which foods have what amounts, and which sources are the best for these foods.I have created a list of such foods that have proven to be more effective, in my experience only, so take it for what you will.

At the top are fruits. Noni, pomegranate, green persimmon, blueberry, blackberry, red grapes, and kiwi have shown to be around the highest in antioxidant effect.

Green tea stands alone since it is more brewed than eaten. Green tea may account for Japan's life expectancy at 10 years higher than the U.S. while simultaneously having a much higher smoking population.

Vegetables are as important as fruits and provide the variety and fill the holes left in nutrition left from an all fruit - no veggies diet, The top ones are spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and most dark green vegetables.

Notice that fruits with the highest antioxidant content are the most bitter. Notice also that tea is similarly bitter. It makes sense that the skins of various fruits are where the highest antioxidant concentration can be found.

Beans are also rich in these vital nutrients, especially red kidney, pinto, and black beans.

Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells from free radicals by neutralizing them. Free radicals are compounds created by various methods that chemically react with cells to form toxic and damaging compounds. The damage must be repaired, and so the body will age each time a free radical isn't neutralized prior to damage. The biggest creator of free radicals is radiation and pollutants. Even exercise produces a large number of free radicals. Imagine that since oxygen is VERY reactive, the cells must actually protect themselves from the very element most important for their survival.

Antioxidants have shown to boost immune function by a significant amount. They have shown to prevent cancer and extend life. They exist in the most common of places. Vitamin C, E, enzymes occurring in the body, and even melatonin is a powerful antioxidant. Oxidative stress is even hypothesized to be a cause for neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease), auto-immune disease (rheumatiod arthritis), and heart disease (atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, which is fatty plaque created in part by free radical damage to LDL cholesterol).

This information has not been reviewed by the FDA, so you can trust it to be accurate and unmotivated by political or monetarily influenced views.

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