Antioxidants - Who Needs Them?

Antioxidants are a huge subject today. You can read about them in magazines, online and in books. But you may not know why you need them or how to get them. You may not even know what they are. Antioxidants are quite beneficial for everyone!

Antioxidants typically refer to a variety of molecules that are capable of neutralizing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the process your body creates during its regular metabolic functions - respiration, energy production and metabolism of food. It creates damaging molecules called free radicals that strike our cell membranes to cause destruction such as aging and inflammation (even wrinkles!). Oxidative stress is also created when we are exposed to particular elements in our external surroundings such as poor air, poor water, sunlight and poor food choices. However, nature was very smart. It supplied us with many ways to fight oxidative stress and thus age gracefully and fight inflammation daily.

First, we have a whole host of enzyme systems that naturally neutralize oxidative stress. Thanks to the Human Genome Project, we know these enzymes are present in many amounts based on our genetic make-up. Some of us are actually less capable of neutralizing oxidative stress with our internal enzyme systems than others. Sunshine can aid your body create vitamin D, another antioxidant vital for bone health and combating inflammation. The Human Genome project again showed many people have vitamin D receptors that don't behave normally.

So for added defense, nature provides antioxidants in your diet. Vitamins A,E,C,D and minerals such as zinc, selenium, copper and magnesium are found in diets that are heavy in fruits such as grapes and berries, vegetables, yams, whole grains and nuts. These foods give the vitamins and minerals that can neutralize free radicals, thus minimizing their harmful effects. The Center for Disease Control has a list of the exact fruits and veggies rich in these antioxidants.

However, you need to consume these foods on a recurrent and regular basis to consistently get their benefits because these vitamins and minerals are quickly cleared from your body. In addition, their neutralizing power is quickly consumed, rendering them useless before being eliminated from your body.

Again, nature set in motion another safeguard. These same fruits and vegetables also provide large, colorful molecules called bioflavonoids such as OPC's (oligomeric procyanodins) that not only have as much as 50 times more the neutralizing power than vitamins and minerals but also have the capacity to "re-charge" the neutralizing impact of vitamins and minerals before they are excreted.

As a final safeguard, some plants contain compounds with antioxidant capability. Herbs such as gingko and a multitude of others have antioxidant capability. Aloe vera gel and juice are used both topically and internally to neutralize oxidative stress. Even spices such as ginger, tumeric and pepper can provide antioxidant protection.

As you can see, nature has given us a virtual safety net of enzymes and molecules that can hunt for the free radicals from your body and sweep them away. However, there are reasons for taking antioxidants as a supplement.

Many people over estimate the healthy value of their diet. A 1996 study from the US Department of Agriculture revealed that even nutritionists had difficulty estimating the nutritional content of restaurant food. In addition, diet by itself may not be able to provide your body with enough antioxidants to neutralize your specific level of oxidative stress. If you smoke, if you are in the sun, or eat fast foods and processed foods, you have a high level of oxidative stress. If you have an inflammatory condition such as an autoimmune disease (MS, rheumatoid, lupus), a degenerative condition such as cardiac disease or a painful condition such as arthritis, you may need to help your body with a blend of antioxidant supplements to reinforce this safety net.

If you have a genetic variant that causes your body to create low levels of antioxidant enzymes or vitamin D receptor dysfunction, you are at increased risk from oxidative stress. You too need some supplementation support in addition to a antioxidant rich diet.

We all can utilize antioxidants. The US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health have information that can help guide you. If you have special needs or a less than best diet, then you should be supplementing to provide your body's best defense against oxidative stress.