Anti-Oxidants
See Also: Antioxidants for Sports and Physical Fitness
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Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, Vitamin C and Vitamin E as well as Enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dimustase and various peroxidases. Low levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes, cause oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells.
A paradox in metabolism is that while the vast majority of complex life on Earth requires oxygen for its existence, oxygen is a highly reactive molecule that damages living organisms by producing reactive oxygen species. Consequently, organisms contain a complex network of antioxidant metabolites and enzymes that work together to prevent oxidative damage to cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. In general, antioxidant systems either prevent these reactive species from being formed, or remove them before they can damage vital components of the cell. However, since reactive oxygen species do have useful functions in cells, such as redox signaling, the function of antioxidant systems is not to remove oxidants entirely, but instead to keep them at an optimum level.
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| Sources of Antioxidants |
Antioxidants are found in varying amounts in foods such as vegetables, fruits, grain cereals, eggs, meat, legumes and nuts. Some antioxidants such as lycopene and ascorbic acid can be destroyed by long-term storage or prolonged cooking. Other antioxidant compounds are more stable, such as the polyphenolic antioxidants in foods such as whole-wheat cereals and tea. The effects of cooking and food processing may increase the bioavailability of antioxidants, such as some carotenoids in vegetables. In general however, processed foods contain fewer antioxidants than fresh and uncooked foods, since the preparation processes may expose the food to oxygen.
The body produces several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, that neutralize many types of free radicals. Supplements of these enzymes are available for oral administration. However, their absorption is probably minimal at best. Supplementing with the “building blocks” the body requires to make SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase may be more effective. These building block nutrients include the minerals manganese, zinc, and copper for SOD and selenium for glutathione peroxidase. In addition to enzymes, many vitamins and minerals act as antioxidants in their own right, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, Vitamin B12, Coenzyme Q10, and cysteine (an amino acid). Herbs, such as bilberry, tumeric (curcumin), grapes seed or pine bark extracts, and ginkgo can also provide powerful antioxidant protection for the body.
You can find powerful amounts of many essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in Intenz Derma Rejuvenator.
| What are Free Radicals? |
Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are created in the body during normal metabolic functions or introduced from the environment. Free radicals are inherently unstable, since they contain “extra” energy. To reduce their energy load, free radicals react with certain chemicals in the body, and in the process, interfere with the cells’ ability to function normally. Free radicals are believed to play a role in more than sixty different health conditions, including the aging process, cancer and atherosclerosis.1
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| Benefits of Antioxidants |
Antioxidants work in several ways to keep the damaging effects of free radicals in check: they may reduce the energy of the free radical, stop the free radical from forming in the first place, or interrupt an oxidizing chain reaction to minimize the damage caused by free radicals. Reducing exposure to free radicals and increasing intake of antioxidant nutrients has the potential to reduce the risk of free radical-related health problems.
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| Who Is Commonly Deficient in Antioxidants? |
People may want to increase their Antioxidant intake if they are in any degree of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen and a biological system's ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates (free radicals) or easily repair the resulting damage. Research has demonstrated that strenuous exercise increases production of harmful free radicals which can damage muscle tissue and result in inflammation and muscle soreness. Exercising in cities or smoggy areas also increases exposure to free radicals. All forms of life maintain a reducing environment within their cells. This reducing environment is preserved by enzymes that maintain the reduced state through a constant input of metabolic energy. Disturbances in this normal redox state can cause toxic effects through the production of peroxides and free radicals that damage all components of the cell, including proteins, lipids, and DNA.
In humans, oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, such as atherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Heart Failure, Myocardial Infarction, Alzheimer's disease, Fragile X Syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome, but short-term oxidative stress may also be important in the prevention of aging.
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| How Can I Get the Right Amount of Antioxidants? |
Consuming a product that contains a wide variety of antioxidant enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and herbs like Intenz Derma Rejuvenator may be the best way to provide the body with the most complete protection against free radical damage.
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| References |
1. Ames BN, Shigenaga MK, Hagen TM. Oxidants, antioxidants, and the degenerative diseases of aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1993;90:7915-22.
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