Understanding Antioxidants: Protecting Your Body from Oxidative Stress NL-088
Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells and tissues from the damage caused by free radicals. At high concentrations, free radicals cause oxidative damage and inflammation, leading to many chronic health conditions such as heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity, diabetes, vision loss, arthritis and even cancer. Let’s understand how antioxidants work to keep free radicals in check and combat oxidative stress.
Free radicals, oxidative stress and inflammation
Free radicals are molecules that are naturally generated as by-products during metabolic reactions. At low concentrations, these molecules are necessary. For example, your immune cells release powerful free radicals to destroy pathogens. Free radicals are also involved in cellular signaling. However, certain factors such as smoking, UV exposure, unhealthy diet, chronic stress, and everyday exposure to chemicals in the form of pesticides, artificial food colouring and air pollution result in the excessive production of free radicals. Unrestricted formation of free radicals creates oxidative stress in the body.
Our body is well-equipped to manage and repair oxidative damage by several natural defense mechanisms. For example, it naturally produces antioxidant compounds and enzymes that work as the first line of defense against oxidative damage. Your cells make super-powerful antioxidants such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which play a critical role in defusing free radicals as well as regenerating other antioxidants, like vitamin C and E for an added antioxidant boost.
You also get antioxidants when you consume a well-balanced diet, comprising of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and nuts. Vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols found in whole foods work as potent antioxidants, however, excessive generation of free radicals overwhelms the natural mechanisms through which your body scavenges, neutralizes and removes free radicals, thus creating oxidative stress.
Unchecked production and accumulation of free radicals causes oxidative damage to cells and their fragile structures. Free radicals contain unpaired electrons, which makes them hunt for extra electrons in order to stabilize. That is why free radicals attack nearby healthy cells and cellular structures (proteins, lipids and DNA) to steal their electrons. This disrupts the normal structure and functions of cells and their components – causing inflammation and ageing. We know how oxidative stress and inflammation can initiate the progression of many chronic health ailments such as heart disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, depression, cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
How do antioxidants work?
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals through a number of mechanisms. For example, antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E donate their extra electrons to the free radicals, effectively neutralizing these volatile molecules. Antioxidants also scavenge free radicals, bind to metals and prevent them from reacting with biological molecules, and even activate pathways that enhances the body’s natural production of antioxidant substances such as glutathione.
It is true that a well-balanced diet is an excellent source of all kinds of antioxidants that you need to fight and neutralize free radicals, thus restricting oxidative damage and reducing the risk of many chronic health conditions. However, you should consider taking antioxidant supplements that will further reinforce your body’s inherent capacity to fight free radicals and offset oxidative damage. High-quality supplements help boost your immunity, reduce inflammation and reverse nutritional deficiencies.
Health benefits of antioxidants
- Reduces inflammation
- Slows down premature ageing
- Supports cardiovascular health
- Supports brain health
- Reduces risk of chronic ailments
- Helps in weight management
- Helps manage depression and anxiety
References:
- Rad et al. Lifestyle, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Back and Forth in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases. Front. Physiol. 2020
- Juszczyk et al. Chronic Stress and Oxidative Stress as Common Factors of the Pathogenesis of Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Role of Antioxidants in Prevention and Treatment. Antioxidants 2021