All About Antioxidants

February 2020

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All About Antioxidants
What They Are and Why You Need Them

If you tend to be a health-conscious person, then you probably hear the word “antioxidants” once in a while. Find out what you want to know about antioxidants and what they do.

“Antioxidants” is a bit of a buzz word, but that doesn’t mean these compounds aren’t beneficial. In fact, they are crucial to the healthy functioning of the body. Here’s an overview of why antioxidants are so important and how you can make sure that you are getting enough of them.

What Are Antioxidants?

An antioxidant is a substance that protects your body’s cells by acting against potentially damaging oxidizing agents known as free radicals. There is a broad range of substances that are classed as antioxidants, including vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. The most well-known antioxidants are vitamins A, C, and E. Other common antioxidants include selenium, manganese, carotenoids, tannins, flavonoids, and lycopene.

What Are Free Radicals?

To understand the importance of antioxidants, you need to understand free radicals. Free radicals are produced as part of normal bodily processes such as digesting, exercising, and even breathing. Essentially, any process that uses oxygen produces free radicals. However, their production can be accelerated by air pollution, cigarette smoke, and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells and have been linked to the development of numerous conditions, including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, and cataracts.

Antioxidants interact with free radicals and prevent them from starting the chemical reactions that result in cell damage. The body does produce its own antioxidants, but it is essential to get additional antioxidants from outside sources to adequately protect against free radicals.

What is the Best Way to Get Antioxidants?

The best way to get more antioxidants is through the food you eat. While there are antioxidant supplements available, they simply don’t offer all of the same benefits. One reason is that the body absorbs nutrients more effectively when they are obtained through food. The unique combinations of vitamins and minerals in the food you eat, along with other substances in the food, also impacts how effectively they are absorbed and used. Whole, natural foods provide the best sources of antioxidants.

How to Eat an Antioxidant-Rich Diet

An antioxidant-rich diet is healthy, balanced, and focused on foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eating a wide variety of these foods will help ensure that you are getting many different types of antioxidants and other important nutrients. Vitamin C, for example, can be found in foods like citrus fruits, kiwi, broccoli, tomato, and papaya, while Vitamin E is found abundantly in foods like sweet potato, peanuts, leafy vegetables, and sunflower seeds. Eggs, root vegetables, whole wheat, berries, fish, and soy products are all good sources of antioxidants as well. A helpful rule of thumb to keep in mind is to load your plate up with as much variety and as many colors as possible.

Like most popularized health terms, antioxidants aren’t a miracle cure, but they are crucial for ensuring that all of your body’s cells and systems function as they should. Focus on eating a well-balanced diet, and you can be sure that you’re getting enough of them, as well as everything else that your body needs to stay healthy.

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