Table of Contents
ROLE OF ANTI-OXIDANTS IN HUMAN BODY
- Vitamin E, C and the carotenoids such as betacarotene, lutein and lycopene are examples of the primary antioxidants in your diet.
- Other examples of antioxidants include selenium and vitamin A.
- Foods high in vitamin E include nuts, seeds, vegetables, fish oils and whole grains
What Are Antioxidants and How do They Work?
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- all matter in the universe is made of atoms.
- Atoms are composed of a core with protons and neutrons, and a bunch of electrons that revolve around the core.
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- The blue balls are electrons, which carry a negative (-) charge, while the protons (red balls) in the core carry a positive (+) charge.
- When two or more atoms are linked together, they become what we know as molecules.
- The human body is made up of substances like proteins, fats and DNA, which are basically just large molecules with dozens, hundreds or thousands of atoms joined together.
- Humans and other organisms maintain their structure and function by chemical reactions. All the chemical reactions needed to sustain life are collectively known as metabolism.
- In these chemical reactions, bigger molecules are broken down into smaller molecules, and smaller molecules are organized into bigger molecules.
- In order for a molecule to be stable, it must contain the right amount of electrons. If the molecule loses an electron when it isn’t supposed to, it can turn into a free radical.
- Free radicals are unstable, electrically charged molecules in the cells, that can react with other molecules (like DNA) and damage them.
- They can even form chain reactions, where the molecules they damage also turn into free radicals.
- This is where antioxidants come in… if a molecule loses an electron and turns into a free radical, the antioxidant molecule steps in and “gives” the free radical an electron, effectively neutralizing it
Antioxidants and Free Radicals Are Both Important
- Free radicals are constantly being formed during metabolism.
- Without antioxidants, they would destroy our bodies very quickly.
- However, it’s important to keep in mind that free radicals also serve important functions that are essential for our survival.
- For example, the body’s immune cells use free radicals to kill bacteria that try to infect us .
- As with so many things in the body, we need a certain balance… we need the right amount of free radicals, and the right amount of antioxidants to keep them in check.
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