All About Antioxidants
And why are they important to health? And what about free radicals? What is their relationship to antioxidants?
First and foremost, you need to know that antioxidants are the good guys, working FOR your health. Free radicals, on the other hand, are the bad guys, working AGAINST you!
Technically speaking, antioxidants are anti-oxidation molecules that clean up or neutralize what is left over from oxidation–free radicals. These cellular protectors have the ability to accept and neutralize the highly reactive end of a free radical, and thus prevent cellular damage. Common antioxidants include: vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and glutathione.
…and free radicals?
Well, free radicals are molecules with an unbalanced negative charge. The negative charge seeks to balance itself by pulling a positive charge off healthy cells. This process is particularly damaging to cell membranes which keep the cell intact. I like to think of free radicals as a carelessly wielded sword–cutting everything in its path. It is not until the knife is safely sheathed (neutralized) that the damage can be stopped.
In fact, The Free Radical Theory of Aging suggests that aging is a result of free radical damage; the more free radicals your body has to cope with, the more you age! In addition, many diseases are associated with high levels of free radicals. According to this theory, we would be wise to minimize our free radical load!
How are free radicals generated?
Free radicals are an unfortunate by-product of living. Regular, everyday processes create these harmful chemical species. Consider this list:
- infection
- exercise
- digestion of protein and fat
- illness
- depression
- absorption of toxins/pollutants
- injury and any other damage to the body (i.e. cuts and bruises)
- radiation
But fortunately our bodies have cleverly devised a method of cleaning up after these bad guys–antioxidants. However, the body can only do so much. If the body is bombarded, it can’t always fight back effectively.
That’s why your body needs ample supply of antioxidants to do combat.
What can you do to help your body fight these harmful, unbalanced molecules?
- Live a healthy lifestyle. Healthy, balanced living will reduce your free radical load and allow your body to work the most effectively.
- Eat foods rich in antioxidants, as most of the antioxidants our bodies use to neutralize free radicals are obtained in our food. Opt for organics whenever possible so as not to contribute to the problem by increasing the toxic load on your body.
- Elevate cellular glutathione levels. Of all the antioxidants our body uses, glutathione is the only one created BY our cells. As such, it is considered the master antioxidant. Here’s why…
Glutathione recycles antioxidants. It’s the fuel that runs the antioxidant machine! One problem with a good guy grabbing a bad guy is that once bound to a free radical, the good guy (the antioxidant) is rendered inactive (i.e. a sheathed sword renders the sheath inactive). And we need active neutralizers to continue the process. We can replenish some of our antioxidant supply through diet. But even more exciting, we can also recycle or recharge bound antioxidants. Glutathione is key to this recharging. Glutathione is able to remove the free radical from the antioxidant, allowing it to neutralize over and over. High levels of glutathione make the antioxidant system work at its best! You know…at powerhouse capacity!
So we need not despair. Free radicals are, indeed, a negative by-product of living, but we have effective ways to do battle! A diet rich in antioxidants, as well as a supplement to boost glutathione are great places to start.
