Simple Answers To The Enquiry What Is An Antioxidant

By Alice Right

With the advent of the internet consumers have more access to information than ever before. At the same time, they are exposed to much more advertising. It is especially the health industry that succeeds in scaring people into believing that they need supplements, minerals and a host of vitamins in order to stay healthy. The question what is an antioxidant has been of particular interest to many consumers.

No living organism can survive without oxygen. Oxygen plays a vital role in providing the body with the ability to metabolize, thus providing energy that is essential for existence. However, oxygen can have a dangerous side. Because it is highly reactive, it can easily become part of molecules that are damaging and that may lead to disease. These damaging molecules are called free radicals.

Free radicals are molecules that are unstable. This happens when the bond that holds the cell become weak, resulting in a molecule that has an unpaired electron. They are formed during exercise but there are many other causes for the formation of free radicals. These causes include smoking, too much exposure to the sun, pollution and even certain over the counter drugs.

Free radicals attack healthy cells in order to gain back the missing electron. Of course, this results in a healthy cell becoming a free radical itself. This chain reaction can progress very swiftly and can cause the destruction of millions of molecules. In many cases, free radicals are responsible for the development of heart disease, asthma, cancer and even premature ageing.

With free radicals raging through the body, causing damage and disease, only antioxidants can cause the process to cease. They are able to give an electron to free radicals without the danger of turning into a free radical themselves. This is because they will remain stable regardless of whether they possess the additional electron or not. In this way the chain reaction can be broken and the free radicals are absorbed into the antioxidants.

The good news is that there are many foods that contain this amazing ability to neutralize free radicals. Scientists use ORAC scores to indicate just how many any given food has. Some foods are much richer than others. They are abundant in foods such as berries, dark green vegetables, avocado pears and green tea. Experts agree that it is highly advisable to consume a variety of foods rich in this substance.

Experts agree that it is necessary to consume more foods that are rich in substances that can neutralize free radicals. It is generally thought more beneficial and effective to consume raw fruit and vegetables, rather than to rely on artificial supplements. If free radicals are not kept under control serious health problems can ensue. It may also help to try and reduce contributing factors such as stress and poor sleeping patterns.

The short answer to what is an antioxidant must be that it is a miracle substance that occur naturally in many foods and that it plays an important role in the health of human beings. Consumers should be careful, however, to be careful when buying supplements. The health and wellness industry often makes extravagant promises that cannot be substantiated by science.

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