Antioxidants and Antiaging - How do they work?

How do Antioxidants Stop Aging? We often hear antioxidants and antiaging linked together without really knowing how antioxidants work. As people live longer and healthier lives, they want to lessen the effects of aging. Scientists have credited antioxidants as the powerful tool to combat the effects of aging.nnSo what's an antioxidant? An antioxidant is a chemical compound that inhibits oxidation, and the damage of healthy cells by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that contain oxygen, and wreak havoc on healthy cells. nnWhere are Antioxidants found? Antioxidants are found in many foods, some contain more than others. Some foods such as blueberries, cranberries and broccoli, are known as 'super foods', because they contain a high concentration of antioxidants. They contain Vitamin A and E,so it's suggested to eat 5-8 servings a day. In recent years green tea has also been found to contain a high concentration of antioxidants. The antioxidants found in green tea are thought to be more effective than 'super foods' in fighting the effects of free radicals and aging. nnAntioxidants and Antiaging: Why Green Tea? The most powerful antioxidant found in green tea is thought to be epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In a presentation in 1997 at the meeting of the American Chemical Society, EGCG was shown to be 100 times more effective at neutralizing free radicals than Vitamin C, and 25 times more effective than Vitamin E. This is an amazing fact and demonstrates why green tea is being called a 'super drink'.nnWhat does this mean for you? We continue to hear the words 'Antioxidants and Antiaging', without fully understanding how and why they are linked. Now we know that choosing a diet that is high in antioxidants, will give us health benefits now and in the future, as well as lessen and prevent the effects of aging. We already know rich-coloured foods such as berries and spinach are high in antioxidants. Green tea can also give you an antioxidant boost, and help fight the effects of aging.