Antioxidants - Essential Information
Following the important discovery by scientists that
there is a connection between degenerative diseases and the presence
of free radicals in the body; there has been a lot of assessment on
antioxidants and how they can benefit the body. Antioxidants can
effectively work against free radicals, neutralizing them and
therefore keeping the body young and healthy.
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The occurrence of wrinkles, crow’s feet at
the corners of your eyes and laugh lines around your mouth
is due to the normal aging process. However, it is important
to understand what causes aging and also what we can do to
slow the process of aging. We all want to look and feel
young.
The ordinary process of oxidation leads to aging. Through
the process of oxidation; free radicals which are highly
reactive are created. These free radicals can react with and
damage other molecules in our bodies. When free radicals
start attacking the body’s own cells, we age.
The good news is that there is a way of getting rid of these
harmful free radicals – antioxidants.
Antioxidants can destroy these free radicals that cause
aging and degenerative diseases. |
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Common vitamins such as retinol or Vitamin A, ascorbic
acid or Vitamin C, tocopherol or Vitamin E, and selenium are the
sources of antioxidants. These antioxidants can be nutrients
(vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins in your body
that assist in chemical reactions). Antioxidants play a significant
role in avoiding the development of such chronic illnesses as heart
disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and Rheumatoid
arthritis, among others. By fighting these diseases, antioxidants
can help us live longer and healthier lives.
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While antioxidants can not entirely remove
free radicals from our bodies; they can however work to hold
back or minimize the damage caused. In addition,
antioxidants obstruct the process of oxidation by
neutralizing free radicals. Through neutralization, they
themselves become oxidized. Due to this fact, our bodies are
always in need of a steady supply of antioxidants. It is
therefore recommended that you constantly eat fruits and
vegetables that can supply your body with antioxidants.
Antioxidant comes in to break the chain reaction of free
radicals turning other molecules into free radicals like
them. In addition, antioxidant enzymes like superoxide
dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase prevent
oxidation by reducing the rate of chain initiation in the
body. |
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In this case, instead of waiting for the free
radicals to make a long chain of free radicals, antioxidants
hunt for initiating radicals and destroy them before oxidation
is set in motion. This therefore reduces the presence of free
radicals in our body. Antioxidants are very essential for our bodies.
They slow the process of aging and also help our bodies to fight
against degenerative diseases.
Antioxidant Effects of Green Tea
For centuries, green tea has been consumed
throughout the ages in Asia. In traditional Chinese and
Indian medicine, green tea has been used as a stimulant,
diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to
control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart
health.
The benefits of green tea have been largely attributed to
the presence of polycatechins which have potent antioxidant
effects. However, besides polycatechins, there are also
other ingredients in green tea that contribute to its
antioxidant effects.
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