Why do we need Antioxidants?
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To combat free radicals\n-----------------\nIn biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation (plus a minor contribution from ionizing radiation) produce highly reactive free radicals. These can readily react with and damage other molecules. In some cases the body uses free radicals to destroy foreign or unwanted objects, such as in an infection. However, in the wrong place, the body's own cells may become damaged. Should the damage occur to DNA, the result could be cancer. Antioxidants decrease the damage done to cells by reducing oxidants before they can damage the cell.\n\nVirtually all studies of mammals have concluded that a restricted calorie diet extends the lifespan of mammals by as much as 100%. This remarkable finding suggests that food is actually more damaging than smoking. As food produces free radicals (oxidants) when metabolized, antioxidant-rich diets are thought to stave off the effects of aging significantly better than diets lacking in antioxidants. The reduced levels of free radicals, resulting from a reduction in their production by metabolism, is thought to be a major cause of the success of caloric restriction in increasing life span.\n\nFree radical damage in the mitochondria of living cells is a byproduct of oxidative phosphorylation. Superoxide radicals are generated, which can damage mitochodrial and mitochondrial membranes. Unlike DNA in the cell nucleus, mitochondrial DNA has only a few DNA-repair enzymes and the DNA is not protected by histones.\n\nMany antioxidants, however (including vitamin C and vitamin E) can't get into mitochondria for various reasons (e.g. because they are too hydrophilic to cross mitochondrial membranes or too hydrophobic to cross the cytoplasm). Melatonin is an important natural antioxidant that has been demonstrated [citation needed] to strongly protect mitochondria from damage. A group of scientists in Russia (led by V. Skulachev) have created a custom antioxidant (a Skulachev ion forms the point of the molecule and penetrates the mitochondrial membrane; the antioxidising part is attached behind it) that can enter the mitochondria and stays there due to the membrane potential gradient; preventing damage to DNA.\n\nAlthough there is little doubt that antioxidants are a necessary component for good health, there is considerable doubt as to the most beneficial antioxidant(s) and as to the optimal amount for results. A study of lung cancer patients found that those given antioxidant supplements had worse prognoses. This is believed to be due to antioxidant interference with the body's normal use of localised free radicals e.g. Nitric oxide for cell signalling. Due to the complex nature of the interactions of antioxidants with the body, it is difficult to interpret the results of many experiments designed to test such things. In vitro testing (outside the body) has shown many natural antioxidants, in specific concentration, can halt the growth of or even kill cancerous cells.\n\nFor example, recent studies are suggesting that at high levels, synthetic antioxidant vitamins such as A, E and C may prove to have pro-oxidant effects: increasing the formation of free radicals. The fact that natural antioxidants are always ingested together with a wide variety of flavonoids and other phytochemicals also likely plays a part. Many supplement manufacturers supply more expensive tablets containing these. Newer liquid nutritional supplements using plant ionic compounds are believed to be more readily absorbed in the human body.\n\nThe benefits of antioxidants were examined during the Age-Related Eye Disease Study.\n\nNutritional antioxidants\nThe following substances have shown positive antioxidant effects:\n\nVitamin A (Retinol, also synthesized by the body from beta-carotene) protects dark green, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits from solar radiation damage, and is thought to play a similar role in the human body. Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tom
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YES it is, green tea has a potent antioxident that has been linked to cancer prevention, lowering cholesterol and even cavity prevention.
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Vitamins that are antioxidants include:\n\nVitamin C\nVitamin E\nBeta Carotene (a form of Vitamin A).\n\nA couple of antioxidants that are frequently mentioned but are not vitamins are Green tea and Selenium (a mineral). \n\nA good way to ingest the necessary antioxidants is by both eating a sufficient amount of fresh fruits and vegetables that are loaded with many of the mentioned vitamin antioxidants and also take a multi vitamin supplement.\n\nIf you need any clarification, please contact me through "Answer" and I will change my response accordingly.
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I loved your Menudo answer. You had me laughing. OK, on to the question, though - great segue there, huh- pomegranates and blueberries are high in antioxidants. They have the highest content of any fruits. I think it's a head-to-head competition, albeit, people don't eat pomegranates in the US very often because they're a pain in the @ss & very messy (very sweet, but a lot of seeds like a tomato... tastes like a tomato/tangerine, too- tomatoes are fruits, too, for scientific purposes)... Blueberries are fantastically easy to grow and just as high in antioxidants. What are these antioxidants? They help with cell regeneration. Most cells in our bodies have high turnover naturally and because of free radicals in the environment, they get damaged... I imagine it's like working at Wal-Mart... being a cell. In any case, antioxidants help cells. That, in turn, helps our bodies stay younger, which leads to overall longevity.
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BHA is an antioxidant. Oxygen reacts preferentially with BHA rather than oxidizing fats or oils, thereby protecting them from spoilage.
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i don' believe it, 'cause Ascorbic Acid is just another name for the vitamin C, ano it's known as an antioxidant.
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Studies have shown that tea in general is a natural antioxidant. It used to be thought that green tea only had these qualities, but now its understood that plain old black tea has the qualities too.\n\nI drink both black and green tea. (any brand) and I put a slice of lemon in it for the limonine.  I try to have at elast 3 mugs of this per day
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Drinking lots of water that is pureified or spring water is important, also exercise because healthy skin comes from good circulation. For vitamins, Vitamin A & E is great as well as selenium. The amino acids can also be bought as supplments and lysine is particularly good.
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Free radicals, during our process of intake and metaboism some of the oxygen are emerge in our body. These are the main free radical which is highly potensive to destroy our body. \n\nAs you can see, oxygen radicals are very powerful and that is the same one which leads for the corrosion of iron.\n\nIn the same way accumulation of free radicals are very much danger to the body. Almost all diseases in our body are due to the act of this highly reactive free radicals.\n\nThe anti-oxidants are the only one to fight against the free radicals. We can get all nececessary anit oxidants from the colored fruits. \n\nThe another method to come out of these free radicals is detoxify our body.\n\nHave a great day.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_radical#Free_radicals_in_biology
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Vitamin E, one of the antioxidants, can be taken regularly as part of a daily vitamin and mineral supplement or spread as in an ointment on sunburn. Vitamin C is another antioxidant that will help prevent severe damage from sunburn and shorten its effects. Selenium is a mineral that will help fight sunburn.
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Depends on the antioxidant.  There's herbal antioxidants, vitamin antioxidants and others.  You would have to be more specific on exactly which you are referring to, including age as well.
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Nutritional things a person can do to help strengthen his/her immune system are taking Vitamins A, C, and E area which are collectively known as the anticancer vitamins. The immune system needs these plus minerals like zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) to do its job. Dark green leafy vegetables, especially cabbage relatives like broccili and kale and orange vegetables like carrots are high in ACE. These nutrients also are valuable in fighting colds, flu, etc. Many knowledgable nutritionists feel that the RDA for vitamin C (currently 100 mg for non-smokers) is way too low, and often recommend anywhere from one to three grams a day.
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Vitamin E is safe and necessary.  There are three specific situations when a vitamin E deficiency is likely to occur. It is seen in persons who cannot absorb dietary fat, has been found in premature, very low birth weight infants (birth weights less than 1500 grams, or 3 1/2 pounds), and is seen in individuals with rare disorders of fat metabolism. A vitamin E deficiency is usually characterized by neurological problems due to poor(bad) nerve conduction.\n\nThe health risk of too much vitamin E is disputed. A recent review of the safety of vitamin E in the elderly indicated that taking vitamin E supplements for up to four months at doses of 530 mg or 800 IU (35 times the current RDA) had no significant adverse effect on general health, body weight, levels of body proteins, lipid levels, liver or kidney function, thyroid hormones, amount or kinds of blood cells, and bleeding time. Even though this study provides evidence that taking a vitamin E supplement containing 530 mg or 800 IU for four months is safe, the long term safety of vitamin E supplementation has not been authoritatively tested. However, "toxicity symptoms have not been reported even at intakes of 800 IU per kilogram of body weight daily for 5 months" according to the Food and Nutrition Board (Rosenberg, et al), an amount that corresponds to 60,000 IU per day for a 75 kg adult.
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Health Benefits\n\n♥ ANTIOXIDANTS\n\n♥ CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH\n\n♥ CANCER\n\n♥ AGING
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free radicals are basically rogue particles that bounce around inside your cells, damaging your cells as they go.  This causes your cells to deteriorate over time, which in effect is the aging process.  Theoretically, eliminating some of them slows the damage rate, and the aging process as well.
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Sunlight helps to to metabolize vitamin D, warms the planet to a pleasant temperature conducive to life, and provides a direct energy source for solar power, and is a great source of energy for chloroplasts, which happen to be how plants excrete oxygen that we breathe.  Basically, we would be dead without the sun.\n\nSunlight also has ultraviolet light and various other radiations, most of which are currently blocked by our ozone layer.  Sticking with ultraviolet light, sunlight can damage the skin, leading to skin cancer.  Too much exposure can result in dehydration and death.  Increased amounts of ultraviolet light may also interrupt the chloroplast processes in plants, such that too much will cause plants to die instead of producing oxygen.