Antioxidant is a molecule that can prevent or slow down the oxidation of other molecules in the body. Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which electrons of a substance are transferred to the oxidizing agent. Oxidation produces free radicals that start the chain reaction, damaging cells. Antioxidants stop this chain reaction by removing the free radical intermediates, and also inhibiting other reaction by being oxidized themselves. The process of oxidation can be compared to rusting, and it is very essential to keep the free radicals in control without eliminating them.

Basic Natural Antioxidants

There are five basic natural antioxidants: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q 10, Lipoic acid and Gluthatione. All these work together to give the ultimate protection to the body. Natural antioxidants grab the free radicals, becoming the weak free radicals themselves, and are regenerated by other antioxidants.

Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant, and is essential for collagen production. Collagen is cellular glue, responsible for keeping the cells attached together and strengthening the connective tissues. Vitamin C also protects against lipid oxidation and cataract, and is essential for good immune system health.

Vitamin E is composed of four different tocotrienols and tocopherols, and is a natural antioxidant. It works with vitamin C and prevents the oxidation of lipids in the blood cells. It also gives protection against DNA damage and prevents the formation of cancer cells.
Coenzyme Q 10 is a fat-soluble natural antioxidant, and is used to treat and speed the recovery of heart patients. Lipoic acid is capable of recycling all the network antioxidants, and is critical for energy production. It control diabetes, prevents cataracts, boosts entire antioxidant defense network and also prevents complications of diabetes.
Gluthatione is a water-soluble natural antioxidant and rejuvenates immune system, recycles oxidized form of vitamin C, detoxifies blood, has anti-aging properties and protects the lining of the lungs.

Tomato extract contains beta carotene, lycopene and vitamins that act as natural antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables are natural sources of antioxidants and provide defense against the free radical molecules. Selenium and zinc are powerful natural antioxidants. Strawberries, red wine, green tea, Brussels sprouts, red grapes, plums, butternut squash and cantaloupe are good sources of beta-carotene and vitamin C and E nutrients.

Doctors prescribe that maximum antioxidants must be taken from the dietrather than from supplements. Maintaining a healthy eating pattern consisting 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday can supply the required daily dose of essential antioxidants. Bovine milk contains lutein, vitamin A, lycopene, alpha and beta carotene.

You probably haven’t ever heard of an antioxidant known as coenzyme Q-10.  It doesn’t exactly have a ring to it, but it is one of the vitamins and supplements that are coming to the forefront when it comes to fighting heart disease.  Coenzyme Q-10 is a vitamin-like substance that resembles vitamin E, but which may be an even more powerful antioxidant.   It also goes by the name ubiquinone.  

Coenzyme Q-10 is being hailed by scientists as one of the brightest new antioxidants around for postponing aging and preventing or treating heart disease.  It is most easily found in salmon, but it has been synthesized into a supplement that is available at health food stores.  Because it hasn’t been tested as much as other vitamins and supplements no one is quite sure of the dosage to take, but as you age, your body produces less of it.  This happens around the age of twenty, often leaving most people with a deficit by the age of forty.  Studies on the cells of aged and diseased hearts have shown them to have serious deficiencies of coenzyme Q-10.  The most sensible way to correct this appears to be to take coenzyme Q-10 as a supplement.

However, no one is quite sure how this untested antioxidant actually works.  What they do know is that coenzyme Q-10 is an antioxidant that works similar to vitamin E in that it protects fat molecules being oxidized or damaged by free radicals.  It does this by stabilizing the membrane of the fat cells and then (read more…)