"Antioxidants are good for you!"
This is an oft repeated sentence, and a true one. However this statement is at times taken to mean they are the only answer to our health. This obviously isn't true as there are too many factors involved - from genetic predisposition, to lifestyle, exercise and so on.
Numerous scientific studies confirm that antioxidants can be beneficial and others are inconclusive. What is important is to be aware that antioxidants taken as food or supplements can be beneficial, but they are not the equivalent of a magic potion and should be taken a part of a balanced diet.
Antioxidants are found in fresh fruit, in vegetables, in meat and sea food. Fruit and vegetables are the greatest source of antioxidants, but there are three points you have to take into account.
- The first is that there are many types of antioxidants our bodies need. (Just like there are many types of free radicals).
- The second is that it is just about impossible to eat all the antioxidant rich food we need. The recommended intake is five handfuls a day of fruit and vegetables. The amount, variety and having them on hand makes this difficult.
- The third is that as everything in nature, and in fact life, our intake has to be balanced. There is a risk that through supplements we can take too much and some of these can bring side effects. Some studies have shown a negative impact from over supplementing. The positive side is that a natural intake, in other words by eating fresh fruit, our bodies absorb the amounts we need and eliminate the extra and not needed antioxidants. (There are case of slight skin pigmentation caused by heavy eating of carrots or papayas, but that is it).
Anything taken to extremes brings about a loss of balance, and many times this works against your goals. Too thin, too fat, too angry, too happy; too hot, too cold - all these examples of extremes are detrimental and the same thing happens with antioxidants, specially with supplements.
(By the way this is a very important reason behind the "recommended daily allowance" instructions on food packages.)
Another good example is red wine. It has beneficial antioxidants from red grapes but taken to extremes it is harmful.
So what are antioxidant benefits?
- Antioxidants combat free radicals that damage our cells by oxidizing them. Have you ever noticed when you cut open an avocado it soon begins to darken? The same thing with apples. That is oxidization at work.
- Cells can be damaged by free radicals, especially the membrane and this cell can die, therefore we have aging. Or it can suffer other types of damage and as a result there can be heart disease, different types of cancer, Alzheimer's and other cell related illnesses.
Antioxidants work against this cell damage.
