Antioxidants ? Our body is daily exposed to the action of free radicals – atoms or molecules, which by their action can lead to particularly serious consequences. The factors leading to their generation are numerous: exposure to radiation – solar or X-ray, tobacco smoke, car gases and last but not least – nutrition.
Free radicals are normally present in our body, and each of them exists for only a small fraction of a second, but the damage it leaves behind is irreversible. These particles cause damage to cell membranes, DNA molecules, becoming the main cause of the aging process of the cell.
The presence of free radicals potentiates the occurrence of lung, cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. It is estimated that about 10,000 free radicals are produced daily in every cell of the body. People who often eat foods rich in antioxidants are less likely to get sick and have relatively good resistance, ie the consumption of such healthy and nutritious products is the best preventive measure against the action of dangerous particles.
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Antioxidants
They are a group of elements that protect human cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, which can significantly damage our immune system. From a chemical point of view, an antioxidant is any substance which, although in much lower concentrations than that of the oxidizable substrate, significantly slows down and / or inhibits its oxidation. In a broader sense, all the factors that slow down or prevent oxidative damage to biological structures can be added to the word antioxidants.
Our body also has its own antioxidants (coenzyme Q10, glutathione, etc.), which effectively fight the action of free radicals. But unfortunately with age, the intake of monotonous and incomplete food and the ever-increasing negative factors (cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, chemically contaminated food and water), the amount and effectiveness of antioxidants decreases inversely with the activity of radicals.
This means only one thing – you need to increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C and E, beta-carotene and selenium – or some of the best antioxidants that will not only inactivate free radicals, but also improve the physiology of the body by protect against viruses, bacteria and toxic substances.
Mechanism of action
The body’s protective antioxidant mechanisms can be divided into three consecutive levels:
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The first level includes all factors that prevent the endogenous formation of free radicals, the so-called preventive antioxidants (transferrin, ferritin, hemosiderin, lactoferrin, albumin).
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The second and basic level of protection in the body provides capture and neutralization of already formed free radicals, turning them into non-radical particles or to radicals with lower reactivity. This is done with the help of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Enzymes include superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase.
Non-enzymatic antioxidants are divided into two groups: lipo- and water-soluble. The former include fat-soluble vitamins – vitamin E (mainly α-tocopherol and to some extent γ-tocopherol) and carotenoids (mainly β-carotene). Water-soluble antioxidants include vitamin C, thiol compounds and flavonoids.
- The third protection level includes enzymes that partially repair the damage caused by free radicals. Such activity is shown, for example, by phospholipase A2, some proteolytic enzymes, DNA repair enzymes and others.
Here is a list of some of the most popular antioxidants:
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Jiaogulan
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Resveratrol
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Lycopene
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Pycnogenol
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Acai
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Berry
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Blackberries
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Lactoferrin
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Cocoa
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Raspberries
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Alpha lipoic acid
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Melatonin
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Coenzyme
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Q10
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Blue-green algae
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Dried fruit
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Cat’s claw
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Grapes
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Ginkgo Biloba
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Nar
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Spirulina
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Red wine
Modern research shows that their beneficial effects increase when used together. This raises the question: “Is it possible to create a superantioxidant that effectively protects all cells from degeneration?”, And the answer would probably be yes. And this is because all these ingredients can be combined in an appropriate way to create a product that will be extremely useful in:
- active or passive smokers;
- daily moderate to high exposure to polluted air-car gases, work in an environment with a high concentration of toxins, etc .;
- excessive exposure to sunlight;
- negative effects of overload;
- increased risk of cardiovascular, liver, degenerative and neoplastic diseases;
- in the first trimester of pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of congenital anomalies and malformations;
- prophylactic in all people who want to slow down the aging process and keep their body in good health, even after the age of 60;
- to maintain young, healthy, supple and good looking skin and to reduce wrinkles.
Health risks
We all know the fact that the consumption of foods such as blueberries, broccoli, pomegranate, citrus fruits, as well as coffee and green tea is extremely useful and desirable for any healthy diet. But hardly any of us suspect that sometimes this poses a potential danger to the health of the body.
Although the addition of antioxidants to a variety of foods and beverages is increasingly relevant, a study by U.S. researchers at the University of Kansas shows that daily intake of such products high in antioxidants (such as vitamin C and E) can cause dangerous and unwanted changes in the somatic cells of the human body, which significantly increases the risk of tumors and cancers.
The researchers observed how increasing the flow of oxygen to the cells affected their function. According to them, the antioxidant and prooxidative balance is extremely sensitive and even a small decrease or increase can have the corresponding negative consequences.
The BBC quoted US experts as saying: “An unreasonable overdose of antioxidants can only do harm. Even if it sounds absurd at first glance, too much substance with antioxidant properties does not increase, but reduces the body’s ability to carry oxygen to cells and thereby disrupting key signaling mechanisms in the human body necessary for its proper functioning. “
The authors of this experiment believe that high doses of antioxidants affect the activity of certain enzymes involved in correcting errors in the DNA chain resulting from the process of cell division. The study confirms the hypothesis that high doses of antioxidants can cause errors in the genetic code of the cell and generate mutations. In turn, errors in the DNA material are a prerequisite for the development of tumors and a number of cancers.
Therefore, before proceeding to the use of food supplements containing antioxidants, it is necessary to prove that the body really needs them, which means that it is mandatory not only to consult a specialist, but it is also important what lifestyle leads. the person concerned.
On the other hand, the lack of antioxidants is a sure prerequisite for the development of chronic viral and infectious diseases and premature signs of aging, in addition, the rate of development of degenerative eye diseases such as cataracts is increasing. Which means that it is necessary to find the right balance in order to be as effective as possible in the intake of antioxidants. And this intake, combined with a healthy lifestyle, will allow you to be in good shape even in old age.
