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Antioxidants are nutrients that ward off damage from free radicals. Free radicals (UV rays, smoke, environmental pollutants, excessive alcohol damage, for example) are unstable molecules that attack our bodies’ cells. Free radicals damage the body and, over time, cause ageing and diseases.
Our bodies call on natural stores of antioxidants to ward off free radicals and repair the damage caused by them. Antioxidants are found naturally in fruits and vegetables, which is why the health industry practically begs us to eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and veggies or at least take vitamins to supplement our diets.
The beauty industry has found a way to latch onto the popularity of antioxidants. You’ll see lotions and potions claiming to be “antioxidant-rich” and “full of antioxidants.” These products are meant to turn back the hands of time, increase cell turnover, heal wounds, and repair loss of skin elasticity. It’s true the skin can absorb vitamins applied to the skin, so there is some truth to these claims. The most powerful antioxidants are vitamins A, B, C, and E and essential fatty acids.
What is an Antioxidant?
An antioxidant is simply a molecule that prevents another molecule from oxidizing. Since there are many processes in the body which result in oxidation, the intake of antioxidants is essential to counteract some of the negative effects of the build up of too many oxidised molecules in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are ferociously searching for their missing electrons and causing untold havoc along the way. Antioxidants fill those electron needs without becoming free radicals themselves.
Vitamin C is the most common water-soluble antioxidant, while Vitamin E is one of the most common fat-soluble antioxidants. The major benefit of consuming antioxidants is that they seem to prevent and even reverse many kinds of cancer, as well as heart disease and other deadly diseases.
In addition to that, in case you need to know more than that, taking large amounts of antioxidants seems to slow down the ageing process. So run, do not walk, to your nearest farmer’s market and stock up on these wonderful little molecules!
Since antioxidants are being widely studied for their beneficial properties, many pills are being marketed to fill consumer demand for these little cancer-fighting engines. The efficacy and safety of these supplements is in question, however. Undoubtedly, the best way to get antioxidants into your body is to eat them in raw fruits and vegetables (some beans and grains too).
Raw Foods That Are High in Antioxidants
- All berries, especially blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries,
- Carrots
- Green Vegetables—such as kale, broccoli, spinach, and watercress
- Apples
- Cabbage
- Citrus Fruits
- Tomatoes
- Ginger
Antioxidants for Anti-Aging
Antioxidants are one of the dietary supplements most often touted as a natural anti-aging product. Proponents suggest that increasing your intake of antioxidants may help slow the ageing process and prevent a number of age-related diseases (including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s). However, few scientific studies have provided proof of the anti-aging effects of antioxidants.
Theory of Antioxidants and Anti-Aging
Found naturally in many fruits, vegetables, and other foods, antioxidants help knock out free radicals (chemical byproducts known to damage cells). When free radicals overwhelm cells, the cells are unable to recover from free-radical-induced damage. Known as oxidative stress, this process is thought to promote aging. By combating free radicals, antioxidants are thought to fight oxidative stress (and, in turn, produce an anti-aging effect).
Science Behind Antioxidants and Aging
Laboratory experiments on cells have shown that antioxidants may help counter oxidative stress and offer anti-aging benefits. In addition, data from population studies indicates that people with a higher intake of antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits may have a lower risk of some chronic diseases linked to aging. However, few clinical trials to date have tested the anti-aging effects of antioxidants.
Despite the overall lack of human-based research on antioxidants and anti-aging, there’s some evidence that antioxidants may help guard against age-related macular degeneration
(one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States). In an asymptomatic clinical trial published in 2001, researchers followed 3,640 participants with age-related macular degeneration for an average of 6.3 years. When compared to those given a placebo, those who took a supplement containing antioxidants and zinc had a 25% lower risk of developing advanced stages of age-related macular degeneration.
Should You Take Antioxidants for Aging?
Due to the lack of research supporting the anti-aging effects of antioxidants, it’s too soon to recommend antioxidant supplements as a means of promoting longevity. What’s more, some studies suggest that taking antioxidants in excessive doses may have negative health effects.
However, following an antioxidant-rich diet (high in fruits, vegetables, and other antioxidant-packed foods) may offer a wide range of health benefits.
If you’re considering the use of antioxidants for anti-aging (or any other health purpose), make sure to consult your physician before starting your supplement regimen.
