How Antioxidants Work – Part 1

Antioxidants are substances, chemicals, that are capable of counteracting damage done to the body through the normal process of oxidation. Antioxidants are nutrients, often vitamins and minerals, as well as enzymes produced by the body. The oxidation process happens during normal metabolism in the production of energy in the body. This oxidation process produces free radicals which are chemically active atoms or fragments of molecules that have changed because of an excess or deficient number of electrons.

Because free radicals have one or more unpaired electrons they are highly unstable. Their objective is to become stable and they scavenged through the body looking for other cells that can donate an electron or where they can grab another electron. This process damages the cells, proteins and the genetic material in the body. Researchers believe that antioxidants play a role in preventing the development of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cataracts just to name a few of the diseases believed to be triggered in part by the damage done to cells from free radicals.

It is impossible for humans to avoid the damage done by these free radicals because they arise from sources both inside and outside the body. The oxidation as a result of normal respiration, metabolism and inflammation produces free radicals while others formed in the environment from pollution, sunlight, strenuous exercise, x-rays, smoking and alcohol all cause similar damage inside the body.

This oxidative process is the same thing that turns an apple slice brown, makes fish become rancid or develops a raw and inflamed area on a cut on your skin. To help protect the body from this oxidation are thousands of different antioxidants that are in a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes.