Antioxidants: Fight free radicals

Avoid oxidative stress

Antioxidants: Fight free radicals

Protection against free radicals

Antioxidants - Support against free radicals

When it comes to questions of a healthy diet, the terms free radicals and antioxidants will most likely come up as their fighters. The latter are partly produced in the human organism, can be found in numerous natural foods, but are also offered as food supplements in the form of capsules, tablets or drops. The following article provides the most important information about the different types of antioxidants and how they work.

Unfortunately, according to the law, we are not allowed to make any statements about the effects of antioxidants.
We may mention substances that help to protect the cells from oxidative stress.
Antioxidants: Fight free radicals - protect your cells from oxidative stress.

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Definition: What are antioxidants and free radicals?

Basically, antioxidants are certain chemical compounds that prevent or at least slow down the oxidation of other substances in the human organism, which is definitely desirable. These include some vitamins, secondary plant substances and trace elements such as zinc, selenium and manganese.

A cut apple provides a clear picture of oxidation. The cut surfaces turn brown under the influence of oxygen. However, if you sprinkle them with lemon juice, which contains the antioxidant vitamin C, the natural color is retained. Therefore: Antioxidants: Against free radicals.

The most important physiological importance of antioxidants is their effect on so-called free radicals, harmful substances that enter the body every day, for example through alcohol consumption, cigarette smoke, chronic inflammation, UV radiation, environmental toxins or car exhaust fumes. However, free radicals are also produced during various metabolic processes in the body itself.

Antioxidants: Fight free radicals

These are aggressive oxygen particles that have a free electron and want to “take away” a molecule from other molecules in the body, such as fatty acids. This process is called oxidation. Antioxidants voluntarily donate a free electron to the free radicals, rendering them harmless.

If too many free radicals accumulate, the organism suffers from oxidative stress, which can negatively influence the development and course of diseases. However, a balance of pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative processes is desirable, because an imbalance can lead to damage to the cells and genetic material. It is likely that oxidative stress is also a contributory cause of cardiovascular diseases, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, cancer and faster skin aging. Research on this is far from complete and cannot yet provide XNUMX% reliable evidence.

The organism is originally equipped with a well-functioning protection system to fight free radicals. The effect of the antioxidants is usually not isolated, but can be seen in the interaction of several antioxidants. This is also known as the antioxidant network.
Antioxidants: Fight free radicals - your way to protect your cells.

Types and occurrence of antioxidants

Some of the known antioxidants are formed by the body itself. These include hormones, enzymes and certain metabolic products.

Natural antioxidants, which are supplied from the outside, are found in many types of vegetables and fruit, as well as in vegetable oils, cocoa, coffee, red wine, soy and in spices such as turmeric, ginger and oregano.

There are three groups: vitamins, polyphenolic antioxidants and carotenoids. Here is a brief overview:

Vitamin C – fresh vegetables and fruits
Vitamin E – vegetable oils (rapeseed oil, olive oil, etc.)
Polyphenolic antioxidants (flavonoids, resveratrol) – coffee, tea, cocoa, fruit, soy, red wine, pomegranate, cinnamon, oregano
Carotenoids - (Beta Carotene, Lycopene, Lutein) - Vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes, fruits, eggs

Antioxidants in dietary supplements

Basically, enough antioxidants can be obtained from a balanced, healthy diet. According to experts, however, it is necessary to consume at least five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. In everyday life, however, stress and hectic pace lead many people to malnutrition with fast food or pre-treated foods. This often prevents an adequate supply of antioxidants.

This is where dietary supplements containing antioxidants can help. If you decide to go this route, you should definitely follow the manufacturer's recommendations for quantities and avoid overdosing. If you regularly take other medications, talk to your doctor before purchasing antioxidant supplements.

The background is that some scientific studies indicate the opposite and negative effects of antioxidants. Indeed, some of them, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, can also trigger pro-oxidative reactions and thus increase oxidative stress. Certain antioxidants have even been shown to increase the risk of some types of cancer. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that the three substances mentioned may impair the treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy for cancer.

The effect depends primarily on the amount ingested. The personal life situation can also play an important role, for example oxidative stress due to smoking, alcohol or an illness. A third cause can be whether and how other vitamins, minerals and plant substances are ingested along with the antioxidants.

What is the ORAC value?

When talking about antioxidants, the ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity = ability to intercept oxygen radicals) always comes into play. This value describes the antioxidant effect of substances, i.e. how many free radicals a certain substance, artificial product or dietary supplement can neutralize.

However, this is a pure laboratory value that does not provide any information about what happens in the organism after the intake of antioxidants and is therefore of no interest to humans. Incidentally, advertising with it is prohibited, as it is a nutritional statement without official approval.

Example of substances that help protect against oxidative stress:

Copper
Manganese
Vitamin B2
Selenium
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Zinc

Antioxidants in the food and cosmetics industry

Antioxidants are not only important for a healthy diet. They also play an important role as additives in the food and cosmetics industry, since they reduce or prevent the perishability of food and cosmetics, among other things. They can then be recognized by their E number, such as E300 for vitamin C (ascorbic acid), E306 for vitamin E or E392 for rosemary extract.

In the field of cosmetics, numerous antioxidants are used not only to preserve them, but also because of their probably health-promoting effects. Vitamin E, for example, is said to be good for skin care, cell renewal and the strength of connective tissue. It is therefore often added to moisturizing creams intended for dry skin.

Other uses of antioxidants

In addition to the food and cosmetics industries, antioxidants are required for numerous other purposes. As additives, they prevent oxidative degradation of elastomers, plastics and adhesives and stabilize lubricants and fuels. Many plastics would not last long without antioxidants or could not be produced at all, even if their proportion is usually less than 0.5%. In the animal feed industry, the antioxidant ethoxyquin (E324) is mainly added to fishmeal. Some antioxidants find application in the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of medicines.

It remains the most important thing to protect your cells against oxidative stress - antioxidants: against free radicals!