Fighting Free Radicals - Do You Need Antioxidants?

The body produces hundreds of substances called “free radicals” in response to pollution, toxins, alcohol, processed foods, stress, and during normal metabolic processes like breathing.

Once formed, these toxic compounds can start a chain reaction which can lead to cells function poorly or die. Resulting oxidative stress is associated with more than 200 diseases.

Free radicals - Oxidative stress - Antioxidants Connection

But let’s start from the beginning to understand why we do need to supplement Antioxidants

1. As long as there is oxidation, there will be free radicals. Oxidation is unavoidable! It is ironic that as long as we will breathe oxygen there will be oxidation in our body and thus the creation of free radicals will always continue! For a visual reference of the oxidation process, think of rust on iron, patina on copper, and foods like apples, avocados or potatoes that turn brown when cut.

2. Free radicals are simple molecules (atoms or groups of atoms) with a missing electron.  To become ‘whole’ again these highly reactive radicals seek out other chemical structures in our bodies from where they can steal an electron. That starts a chain reaction with important cellular components such as DNA or the cell membrane being damaged.

3. To stabilise and stop this domino effect the body has a defence system of antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the electron-"stealing" chain reaction. The antioxidant themselves don’t become free radicals by donating an electron because they are stable in either form. They act as scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue damage.

4. All antioxidants are either exogenous, like those found in vitamins and foods, or endogenous, produced by your body. While endogenous antioxidants are thought to be more powerful free radical fighters than those you can get from your diet, we need to know, that our body loses its ability to produce endogenous antioxidants as we get older.

5. The principle micro-nutrient (vitamins) antioxidants are vitamin E, vitamin C, and B-carotene. The body cannot manufacture these micro-nutrients, so they must be supplied in the diet. With the body being incapable of producing enough endogenous antioxidants to combat free radicals on their own, experts recommend increasing the intake of exogenous antioxidants to balance their loss due to disease or aging.

As you can see, a balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body's ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues. Hence application of external source of antioxidants can assist in coping this oxidative stress. This external source should be first through a healthy diet.

The body cannot manufacture these micro-nutrients, we need to supply them

Food sources are:

• Beta-carotene: found in apricots, cantaloupe, kale, mangoes, papaya, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash and sweet potatoes.
  

• Vitamin C: found in broccoli, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, peppers, potatoes, strawberries and tomatoes.
• Vitamin E: found in almonds, avocado, leafy green vegetables, liver, olives, peanuts, seeds, vegetable oils, walnuts and wheat germ.
• Phytochemicals (Certain phytochemicals in these foods are recognised as antioxidants): onions, garlic, leeks, chives, tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, kale, spinach, turmeric, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, apples, grapefruit, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, legumes, natural cocoa powder, cauliflower, cabbage, seeds, citrus fruit peels, nuts, grapefruit, mushrooms and tea.
  
• Selenium: found in Brazil nuts, beef, brown rice, chicken, pork, seafood, and whole wheat bread.
• Ubiquinol (Co-Q 10): found in fish, meat, poultry, nuts and seeds.
  

Research suggests that when it comes to longevity and overall health, some of the benefits of consuming antioxidant foods, herbs, teas and supplements include:

• Slower signs of aging, including of the skin, eyes, tissue, joints, heart and brain
• Healthier, more youthful, glowing skin
• Reduced cancer risk
• Detoxification support
• Longer life span
• Protection against heart disease and stroke
• Less risk for cognitive problems, such as dementia
  
• Reduced risk for vision loss or disorders like macular degeneration and cataracts
  

In a perfect world:
+ where we eat a truly (not what TV ads promote) healthy diet,
+ where we are not exposed to environmental contaminants such as air pollution,
+ where we don’t use any toxic personal care and home care products,

+ where there is no EMF from Wi-Fi, mobile phones, electrical devices,
+ where we don’t get too much sun exposure,
+ and where we don’t experience any emotional or physical stress …
… our body could handle free radicals for many years without help… But that is not the world we live in.

Antioxidants are a daily essential

Taking a high-quality Antioxidant supplement is therefore one of the daily essentials for optimum health and well-being together with a Multi-Vitamin, a Multi-Mineral-Drink (don’t destroy the crucial mineral ratios by taking single minerals!) as well as a high potency Synbiotic (Pre- and Probiotic), that delivers 1.5 TRILLION !!! good bacteria to your gut.

I take and recommend the supplements (and other products) from Modere. Modere pioneered clean living decades ago and is committed to providing products that are safe (toxin-free) and deliver amazing results. All ingredients, not just for their supplements but all other products, are carefully sourced and tested. What they leave out is as important as what they put in.
Try them today - Modere welcomes new customers with free shopping credits - use the Modere Promo Code or link below!

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NOTE: The links above go to Modere Australia. If you live outside of Australia - go to your local Modere website and use PROMO CODE 174339 when registering your account to receive FREE shopping credits!

I trust the information on this page is beneficial to you. Please feel free to comment.

P.S. When I started my research on the topic of Antioxidant supplementation, I found some interesting information. Many sites mentioned a study which showed increased risk for smokers to develop lung cancer when taking certain antioxidants. Turns out this study related to Acetylcysteine, a synthetic antioxidant drug which is normally prescribed in inhaled form to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a lung disease that is often triggered by smoking. So, the cancer risk is not increased by taking antioxidants, it is increased by taking a certain, synthetic antioxidant!