Antioxidants.....

Antioxidants, oxidative stress... etc

Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage; the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases.

WHAT ARE ANTI-OXIDANTS?

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules.
Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent . 

Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions . When the chain reaction occurs in a cell , it can cause damage or death to the cell.

Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions. They do this by being oxidized themselves, so antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols , ascorbic acid, or polyphenols.

Why we need anti-oxidants...

Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione , vitamin C , vitamin A, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase , superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases.

Insufficient levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes, cause oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells.

OXIDATIVE STRESS;
Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules.
While our bodies use up about 98% of oxygen, the unused oxygen remains active and thus starts the chain reactions that lead to oxidative stress.

In humans, oxidative stress is thought to be involved in the development of;
※cancer
※Parkinson's disease,
※Alzheimer's disease
※atherosclerosis ,
※heart failure
※myocardial infarction
※fragile X syndrome
※Sickle Cell Disease
※lichen planus
※vitiligo
※autism
※infection
※chronic
※fatigue syndrome.

Sources of anti-oxidants;

Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta- carotene, and vitamin C.
Additionally, selenium, a trace metal that is required
for proper function of one of the body's antioxidant enzyme systems, is sometimes included in this category.
The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet.

Vitamin E : d-alpha tocopherol. A fat soluble vitamin present in nuts, seeds, vegetable and fish oils, whole grains (esp. wheat germ), fortified cereals, and apricots.
Current recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 15 IU per day for men and 12 IU per day for women.

Vitamin C : Ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries.
The RDA is 60 mg per day. Intake above 2000 mg may be associated with adverse side effects in some individuals.

Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A (retinol) and is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato,
cantaloupe, peaches, and grains.
Because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A by the body there is no set requirement.
Instead the RDA is expressed as retinol equivalents (RE), to clarify the relationship.

(NOTE: Vitamin A has no antioxidant properties and can be quite toxic when taken in excess.)

You can get multivitamin supplements that help in adding antioxidants at your local pharmacy at very reasonable prices;

This is Serenity!!!

Related articles:

※ SUPPLEMENTS AND YOU; how they work and what to expect
※ Enzyme depletion and food storage; what we miss from seed to plate
※ Anabolic state, Catabolic state and your Weight
※ HEADACHES: migraines, cluster headaches and what they are about.
※ Oils that penetrate the Hair Shaft....
※ Mange in Dogs (Canine Scabies)

Image credit: simplyjas.com

call/text/whatsapp on +254725733412 for more information or email me at mburu.njeri88@gmail.com

source;
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antioxidants_in_food