What are Antioxidants?

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What are Antioxidants?

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By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

All living organisms utilize oxygen to metabolize and use the dietary nutrients in order to produce energy for survival. Oxygen thus is a vital component for living. Oxygen meditates chemical reactions that metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to produce energy.
Dark side of oxygen

While oxygen is one of the most essential components for living, it is also a double edged sword. Oxygen is a highly reactive atom that is capable of becoming part of potentially damaging molecules commonly called “free radicals.”

Free radicals

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Antioxidants.aspx

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Antioxidant Health Effects

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By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

Antioxidants, like oxidative injury causing pro-oxidants, have a profound role in health and diseases in humans. Some of the major beneficial roles include those in disease prevention and treatment.

Disease prevention by antioxidants

There are several antioxidant systems within the body that help cope with the oxidative stress that results from regular metabolic processes. Antioxidants in diet can also cancel out the cell-damaging effects of free radicals. These antioxidant supplements act in addition to the endogenous systems and their lack can cause several ill-consequences of oxidative stress.

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Antioxidant-Health-Effects.aspx

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Antioxidants in Food

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By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

Antioxidants are present in large amounts in several foods. However, actual amount of antioxidants in several plant products may differ due to several factors. These include:

    soil type and chemistry
    available nitrogen and levels of other plant nutrients
    moisture levels
    temperature
    pests

It has been seen that plants which are exposed to stress are driven to synthesize antioxidants and are richer in these polyphenols and flavonoids.

Phenolic antioxidants are present in plants at concentrations up to several grams per kilogram. In general, levels are higher in the rinds and skins of the fruits rather than within them. A number of chemical assays have been developed to measure different antioxidants. In vitro assays are designed to test antioxidant levels in foods, while other assays measure levels in blood, urine or blood cells.

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Antioxidants-in-Food.aspx