Health - Antioxidant

Health – Antioxidant

God has blessed us with the best defense mechanism in our body against free radicals. What free radicals need is an electron donor. Any substance that has an ability to give up an electron to free radical is an “antioxidant”. Antioxidant can neutralize free radical and render them harmless.  Antioxidants donate one of their own electron; ending the electron stealing reaction.  In this manner antioxidants can prevent free radical damage.  Our body has the ability to produce antioxidants.

Antioxidants are broadly classified into two water soluble and lipid soluble.  Water soluble antioxidants react with oxidants in the cell cytosol and blood plasma; while lipid soluble antioxidants protect cell membrane from the lipid per oxidation.  The action of one antioxidant depends on the proper function of other members of the antioxidant system.

Our body cannot produce all antioxidants we need. The rest of the antioxidants must be provided by the food and nutritional supplements we consume. As long as our defense mechanism can supplement us with antioxidant, we can prevent the free radicals damage to our body. The most common antioxidants are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Glutathione and Beta Carotene.

• Vitamin C is water soluble and is the best antioxidant to target free radicals in blood and plasma.  Studies show that vitamin C lowers rate of cancer particularly cancer of mouth, larynx and esophagus.  Vitamin C prevents free radical formation caused by pollution and cigarette smoke, helps vitamin E to regain its active form.
• Vitamin E is the primary defender against lipid per oxidation.  Vitamin E defends against LDL oxidation and artery clogging plaque formation (cardio vascular diseases).
• Uric Acid is another antioxidant found in very high concentration in human blood.  Uric acid property studies show that, it can prevent oxidative stress caused by high altitude hypoxia.
• Glutathione is one of the most important cellular antioxidant.  It is synthesized in cells from its constituent amino acids.
• Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant.  Melatonin can easily cross membranes and the blood – brain barrier.  Unlike other antioxidants melatonin ones oxidized, it forms stable end product with free radical.
• Alpha-lipoic acid has the ability to work both within the cell membrane and the plasma. Vitamin C and Alpha-lipoic acid has the ability to regain the active form of Vitamin E and Glutathione.
• Flavonoids are the biggest class of antioxidants, about 500 flavonoids in various foods.  Polyphenols are a smaller class of antioxidants, like phytonutrients, phytochemicals etc in plants.

Antioxidants that are reducing agents can also act as pro oxidants.  For example vitamin C reduces some metal ions generating free radicals.

The long term effects of large dose of vitamins and minerals have not been proven.  The best way to ensure adequate intake of the antioxidant nutrients is through fruits and vegetables.  To help our body from oxidative stress, nature provides thousands of different antioxidants like fruits, vegetables, whole grain, nuts and legumes.  Go To HEALTH INFORMATION

Antioxidant Enzyme

Our body comprise of endogenous defense mechanism to protect against free radical induced damages.  The antioxidant enzymes – Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase, Catalases (CAT); metabolize oxidative toxic intermediates.  These enzymes also require co-factors such as Selenium, Iron, Copper, Zinc and Manganese for optimum catalytic activity.  READ MORE.....