Antioxidants to Supplement
May 2nd, 2008
Free Radicals-BAD, Antioxidants- GOOD.
Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are created in the body during normal metabolic functions or introduced from the environment. Free radicals are inherently unstable, since they contain “extra” energy. To reduce their energy load, free radicals react with certain chemicals in the body, and in the process, interfere with the cells’ ability to function normally. Antioxidants work in several ways: they may reduce the energy of the free radical, stop the free radical from forming in the first place, or interrupt an oxidizing chain reaction to minimize the damage caused by free radicals.
Free radicals are believed to play a role in more than sixty different health conditions, including the aging process, cancer and atherosclerosis. Reducing exposure to free radicals and increasing intake of antioxidant nutrients has the potential to reduce the risk of free radical-related health problems.
Many vitamins and minerals act as antioxidants in their own right, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc, selenium and coenzyme Q10. There are also powerful plant antioxidants including the carotenoids and the bioflavanoids. All which provide powerful antioxidant protection for the body and may be beneficial when taken as a supplement.
The body relies on food to replenish the antioxidant pool of the body. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, lutein is found in green leafy vegetables and we all know vitamin C is in oranges. Unfortunately, in today’s busy and polluted world staying ahead of the free radicals is more likely to depend on much more then what our diets can supply us. If we are not eating a fresh, whole food, organic diet then it is quite possible that the same food we are supposed to be getting our antioxidants from is causing oxidative stress of its own, it is almost impossible to depend on food alone. The good news is that many of these potent antioxidants are now available as nutritional supplements. The key to supplementing your antioxidants is to make sure they are part of a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement as they have been found to work synergistically.
As a result of current research we are also lucky enough to have access to concentrated amounts of plant antioxidants. ALL ONE’s Fruit Antioxidant Formula offers 2 full grams of fruit antioxidants from the fabulous, yet seasonal blueberries, cranberries and tart cherries, that are proving to be up to 10-times the potency of the traditional antioxidants A, C and E. As well as having the ability to “re-charge” these nutrients once exposed to free radicals. ALL ONE combines these with their high potency multi-vitamin and mineral base for a highly effective free radical fighter. In the ALL ONE formula for Active Seniors Nutritech has also combined the key antioxidants lutein and coenzyme Q10.
As the research continues to roll in it is clear that antioxidants are a natural and effective way to combat degeneration and disease caused by the stresses of today. So, know your antioxidants and be sure they are included as part of your daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.
