| The Facts About |
Antioxidants - Can They Halt the Ravages of Time
Antioxidants have in recent times become a hugely
popular buzzword. Everybody seems to credit
antioxidants with curing many different conditions
including aging and cancer.
So what exactly are these antioxidants that every-
body’s talking about? How do they help strengthen
or heal the human body? The theory behind the
working of antioxidants is easy to understand but
there is still some controversy regarding their
efficacy.
The human body produces energy by metabolizing
oxygen. This metabolic process forms free radicals
as a natural by-product. Free radicals are individ-
ual atoms or sometimes groups of atoms that have
unbalanced or unpaired electrons.
These free radicals are volatile particles and they rob electrons from other molecules and cells within the
body, sometimes causing cell damage that manifests itself as disease and aging.
Having free radicals present in the body is quite normal. It is when there are excessive quantities that
significant harm can be done. It is well known that exposure to pollution, excessive sunlight, radiation,
smoking and alcohol exaggerates the effects caused by free radicals and could lead to serious illness
and/or premature aging.
Damage done by free radicals has serious consequences. Some of the negative effects of free radicals
include:
* The aging process is speeded up
* Hardening of arteries (arteriosclerosis) and other cardiovascular diseases. When Low Density
Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reacts with free radicals it tends to adhere to the arterial walls. LDL is also
known as bad cholesterol and is one of the major causes of Coronary Heart Disease.
* The lenses in the eyes start deteriorating leading to failing eyesight.
* The breakdown in cells that are present in the nervous system results in diseases like Dementia and
Parkinson’s.
* Cell DNA undergoes changes that eventually lead to certain cancers.
* Inflammation in the joints causing arthritis.
When free radicals get mopped up by antioxidants,
the impact that they have on cells gets neutralized.
The foods that we eat contain varying degrees of
naturally found antioxidants. Beta-carotene,
Vitamin E, Vitamin C and the mineral Selenium are
some oxidants that are most commonly known.
Besides these, there are numerous other
compounds that do the function of antioxidants.
Anthocyanins and lycopene are two such com-
pounds, which have been categorized as non-
nutrient antioxidants. These non-nutrient anti-
oxidants have little or no value nutritionally but it is
their antioxidant properties that make them valuable.
Tests that have been conducted on animals have
shown that there is a clear link between the use of antioxidants and a decrease in the onset of diseases.
The connection between antioxidants and diseases is not so clear in humans and has not yet been fully
established. However certain anecdotal evidence points to the fact that lycopene-rich tomatoes may
possible reduce the incidence of prostrate cancer and flavenoid-rich green tea could lower the rate of
heart disease.
The results of recently conducted clinical studies have largely been inconclusive and inconsistent. Some
of the inconsistencies include:
* Chinese women and men who underwent treatment with a combination of Beta-carotene, Vitamin E and
Selenium had a lower incidence of cancers including gastric cancer.
* The incidence of lung cancer was significantly increased in male Finnish smokers who were given Beta-
carotene and supplements of Vitamin E appeared to have had no impact.
Antioxidants have in recent times become a hugely
popular buzzword. Everybody seems to credit
antioxidants with curing many different conditions
including aging and cancer.
So what exactly are these antioxidants that every-
body’s talking about? How do they help strengthen
or heal the human body? The theory behind the
working of antioxidants is easy to understand but
there is still some controversy regarding their
efficacy.
The human body produces energy by metabolizing
oxygen. This metabolic process forms free radicals
as a natural by-product. Free radicals are individ-
ual atoms or sometimes groups of atoms that have
unbalanced or unpaired electrons.
These free radicals are volatile particles and they rob electrons from other molecules and cells within the
body, sometimes causing cell damage that manifests itself as disease and aging.
Having free radicals present in the body is quite normal. It is when there are excessive quantities that
significant harm can be done. It is well known that exposure to pollution, excessive sunlight, radiation,
smoking and alcohol exaggerates the effects caused by free radicals and could lead to serious illness
and/or premature aging.
Damage done by free radicals has serious consequences. Some of the negative effects of free radicals
include:
* The aging process is speeded up
* Hardening of arteries (arteriosclerosis) and other cardiovascular diseases. When Low Density
Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reacts with free radicals it tends to adhere to the arterial walls. LDL is also
known as bad cholesterol and is one of the major causes of Coronary Heart Disease.
* The lenses in the eyes start deteriorating leading to failing eyesight.
* The breakdown in cells that are present in the nervous system results in diseases like Dementia and
Parkinson’s.
* Cell DNA undergoes changes that eventually lead to certain cancers.
* Inflammation in the joints causing arthritis.
When free radicals get mopped up by antioxidants,
the impact that they have on cells gets neutralized.
The foods that we eat contain varying degrees of
naturally found antioxidants. Beta-carotene,
Vitamin E, Vitamin C and the mineral Selenium are
some oxidants that are most commonly known.
Besides these, there are numerous other
compounds that do the function of antioxidants.
Anthocyanins and lycopene are two such com-
pounds, which have been categorized as non-
nutrient antioxidants. These non-nutrient anti-
oxidants have little or no value nutritionally but it is
their antioxidant properties that make them valuable.
Tests that have been conducted on animals have
shown that there is a clear link between the use of antioxidants and a decrease in the onset of diseases.
The connection between antioxidants and diseases is not so clear in humans and has not yet been fully
established. However certain anecdotal evidence points to the fact that lycopene-rich tomatoes may
possible reduce the incidence of prostrate cancer and flavenoid-rich green tea could lower the rate of
heart disease.
The results of recently conducted clinical studies have largely been inconclusive and inconsistent. Some
of the inconsistencies include:
* Chinese women and men who underwent treatment with a combination of Beta-carotene, Vitamin E and
Selenium had a lower incidence of cancers including gastric cancer.
* The incidence of lung cancer was significantly increased in male Finnish smokers who were given Beta-
carotene and supplements of Vitamin E appeared to have had no impact.
| This Website is published by F.P. Publishing (UK). 11, Zinzan St, Reading, Berks. RG1 7UG (UK) All work is World copyright protected - P. Moring 2009 PRIVACY |
| The Search Ends Here! |
| The Search Ends Here! |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| (The Search Ends Here!) |
| For Quality Home Products & Services |
