What are Antioxidants?

Free radicals are any species that contain one or more unpaired electrons and will take an electron from fat, proteins, or DNA for its full complement. Normal metabolic processes, pollution, solar, and cosmic radiation and smoking all affect our bodies by forming highly reactive cells.

Antioxidants are molecules that prevent free radicals from doing harm to our DNA, proteins, and cells by donating an electron.

The most popular and abundant antioxidant vitamins are ascorbic acid (vitamin C), tocopherol (vitamin E) and beta-carotene. Medical studies show that antioxidants can help prevent certain diseases such as arteriosclerosis which can be brought on by free radicals oxidizing the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol damaging the artery lining. There are also studies being done to find out if antioxidants can help prevent damaging affects of visible light on the retina and the lens epithelium. Another benefit that antioxidant vitamins may have, but is not yet proven, is their role in the prevention of cancer by stopping the attack of hydroxyl radicals on purine and pyridines which can then lead to mutations. Since our bodies do not produce vitamins, it is necessary for people to get their intake from vegetables and fruits. Vegetable and citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C. Carrots and dark green leafy vegetables are high in beta-carotene and nuts, wheatgerm, and green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin E.