Antioxidants (And Why You Want Them)

These days, it seems like everyone wants you to get more antioxidants. More and more labels read "Packed with antioxidants!" But what the heck is an antioxidant, anyway, and why should you want any?

To understand what an "anti" oxidant is, it's first helpful to have an understanding of what an "oxidant" is.

Oxidation and Free Radicals

Oxidation is a chemical reaction that, in layman's terms, degrades the integrity of a molecule. Oxidation steals electrons from a molecule, and as a result, a free radical is produced. And just what is a free radical? A free radical is a highly reactive atom. It's missing an electron or two, so it's very unstable and it's looking to get into trouble - specifically, it's looking to replace its missing electrons, and it doesn't care where they come from. These free radicals tend to trigger other chemical reactions.

"Free radicals" are not inherently bad. But when free radicals are set loose within the human body, bad things can happen. Free radicals have been implicated in many different forms of cancer. Oxidation also seems to play a role in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Why? Because these free radicals lead to chemical reactions that damage cells. Likewise, there's something called the "Free Radical Theory of Aging," or "FRTA" that claims that free radicals are the main reason organisms age - cells accumulate damage over time from free radicals, leading to cell degradation and eventually cell death.

Reducing Oxidation with Antioxidants

Antioxidants help protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Current science seems to support a link between a diet rich in antioxidants and a decreased risk of cancer. And when it comes to aging, there is at least some evidence to suggest that antioxidants may prolong life span.

So how does one benefit from antioxidants?

Buyer Beware

Many of the products that claim to be rich in antioxidants are not really what they claim to be. A good rule of thumb when it comes to healthy eating and diet supplementation is to simply eat the foods in which the desired nutrient can be found. Otherwise, buyers who purchase every latest supplement will find themselves with a diet that consists more of pills than of food.

Naturally occurring antioxidants can be found in...

* Fruits and vegetables (containing ascorbic acid, a natural antioxidant)

* Fruits that contain lycopene and beta-carotene, such as tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes

* Foods that contain resveratrol, such as red wine, red grapes, and peanuts

* Vegetable oils (containing Vitamin E)

Study after study seems to indicate that a sufficient intake of these naturally occurring sources of antioxidants is sufficient; the science does not currently support the idea that additional health supplements are necessary.

So the next time you read a label in the grocery store that reads, "Packed with antioxidants!", just remember that your best bet is to find your antioxidants in your produce department, not in a box, and certainly not in the pharmacy.