WCHY
WMMM
WOLX
Balance Madison
wellness_01_617x130.jpg

Poll

A Quick Study Of Antioxidants

The issue of antioxidants has become a buzz concept for the wellness community.  You hear it all the time, this is what it's all about.


What Are Antioxidants: Antioxidants are molecules that work to prevent damage that occurs in cells and body tissues due to both normal bodily processes and exposure to some chemicals.

Potential Benefit:  The potential medical benefit of antioxidants may reside in their ability to prevent or slow the oxidation of molecules in the microscopic parts of the body, such as DNA or proteins.

What is Oxidation:  Oxidation is a chemical process in which electrons from a substance are transferred to what is known as an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions may produce substances referred to as "free radicals."  These molecules may cause chain reactions that can damage cells in the body.  Antioxidants may stop this chain reaction caused by free radicals, stopping the process so damage isn't done.  In other cases, antioxidants may stop other kinds of oxidation reactions by becoming oxidized themselves and thus sparing cells and tissues from damage. 

The reactions that produce free radicals, called oxidation reactions, are critical for body function but the result of many of these reactions may irreversibly damage the body.  If the body has too few antioxidants, then the stress of oxidation reactions may damage or kill body cells.  If enough of these cells are killed or damaged, then illness and disease can result.

Where You Can Get Antioxidants:  In addition to being in a variety of fruits and vegetables, they can be found in supplements.  Vitamins A, C and E were some of the first antioxidants identified by medical science as possibly beneficial to human health.  Experts suggest that in order for antioxidants to be possibly beneficial, a person must consume them on a regular basis over a period of many years.

Keep in Mind: There is some debate as to whether consuming antioxidants from foods or in supplement form is actually beneficial to the health of patients. Doctors and other experts do not agree if these chemicals are actually helpful, and clinical trials have not all reached the same conclusion. There is also some concern that consuming too many antioxidants may have negative effects on a person's health. For instance, some experts believe that consuming too much vitamin C may result in kidney stones. However, antioxidants are the subject of increasing research because of the possible role they may play in preventing disease.

Source: wellness.com