Why we need antioxidants
‘Antioxidant’ is one of those trendy words that we hear almost on a daily basis. We read about it, we are told to eat food that is high in antioxidants, but only a few of us will know what this word really means or what it does in our body. However, we are fully aware that a diet containing these super powered substances is really good for us; we know that they fight disease and we know that skincare creams and serums with antioxidants keep our skin healthy and minimize the dreaded signs of aging. So we always say ‘yes’ to antioxidants, but why? What are these magical substances and why are all of us making such a big deal about these compounds called antioxidants?
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants as the very name suggests, inhibit oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that produces free radicals leading to chain reactions that can damage healthy cells and lead to all sorts of diseases.These free radicals are created when our body uses oxygen to derive energy from digested food. Free radicals contain unpaired electrons; this makes them highly unstable because they’re constantly on the hunt for a second electron to complete the pair. When the hunt for a second electron becomes successful, the “attacked” molecule loses its electron and it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction like dominoes trying to capture the needed electron to gain stability. Antioxidants act as a defence system by scavenging and cleaning up free radicals by donating an electron, but they themselves do not become free radicals because they are stable in either form.
Why we need antioxidants
We need antioxidants to eliminate or minimize the oxidative stress in our body. Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant defences. This imbalance happens when free radical production becomes too much or when the usual mechanism of free radical elimination declines with age. The excessive production can also be when the body purposely creates them to neutralize viruses and bacteria or due to environmental factors like exposure to pesticides and air pollution, cigarette smoke, herbicides and even due to alcohol and fried foods.
Free radicals in excess can damage DNA and other genetic material.This damage can change the structure of a lipid, making it more likely to become trapped in an artery or the damaged molecules may mutate and grow tumors. Oxidative stress in our body, can also lead to the development of many other conditions, like macular degeneration, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ulcers and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Damage from free radicals as we age, also leads to degenerative processes. This is why we get wrinkles and grey hair, we lose some of our memory and our organ systems break down. It is impossible to completely avoid free radical exposure and oxidative stress; however antioxidants will help to a great extent in minimizing the effects.
Antioxidant types
There are three main types of
antioxidants:
Enzymes: These are antioxidants that are synthesized in our body. They are made from the protein and minerals in the food we eat. It is therefore important to have good quality protein and minerals in our daily food.
Vitamins and Minerals: The four main antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin A (beta carotene being the precursor), vitamin E and selenium. Our body cannot make these essential micronutrients, so we must get them from our diet.
Phytonutrients: These are antioxidant substances that are contained in plants. Also called phytochemicals, they are natural chemical compounds. The commonest among these are the carotenoids, beta carotene, lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin, flavonoids that include, anthocyanidins, hesperidin, isoflavones and quercetin that are all phenolic compounds as well as allyl sulfides and resveratrol.
