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Antioxidant, What Is An Antioxidant?
by Heather Colman
An antioxidant is a chemical that reduces the rate of particular oxidation reactions in a specific context, where oxidation reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from a substance to an oxidising agent.
Antioxidants are particularly important in the context of organic chemistry and biology: all living cells contain complex systems of antioxidant chemicals and/or enzymes to prevent chemical damage to the cells' components by oxidation. The importance and complexity of antioxidants in biology is reflected in a medical literature of more than 142,000 scholarly articles.
A diet containing antioxidants from plants are required for good health since plants are an important source of organic antioxidant chemicals. Antioxidants are widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements that are used for health purposes such as preventing cancer and heart disease. However, while many studies have suggested benefits for antioxidant supplements, several large clinical trials have failed to clearly demonstrate a benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may be harmful.
Antioxidants are chemicals that reduce oxidative damage to cells and biochemicals. Researchers have found high correlation between oxidative damage and the occurrence of disease. For example, LDL oxidation is associated with cardiovascular disease. The process leading to atherogenesis, artherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease is complex, involving multiple chemical pathways and networks, but the precursor is LDL oxidation by free radicals, resulting in inflammation and formation of plaques.
Research suggests that consumption of antioxidant-rich foods reduces damage to cells and biochemicals from free radicals. This may slow down, prevent, or even reverse certain diseases that result from cellular damage, and perhaps even slow down the natural aging process.
Since the discovery of vitamins, it has been recognized that antioxidants in the diet are essential for healthful lives. More recently, a large body of evidence has accumulated that suggests supplementation of the diet with various kinds of antioxidants can improve health and extend life.
Many nutraceutical and health food companies now sell forms of antioxidants as dietary supplement. These supplements may include specific antioxidant chemicals, like resveratrol (from grape seeds), combinations of antioxidants, like the "ACES" products that contain beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E and Selenium, or specialty herbs that are known to contain antioxidants such as green tea and jiaogulan.
Disclaimer The information presented here should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you need more information about Antioxidants, please consult your physician or a qualified specialist.
Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.
About The Author: This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more antioxidant resources at: http://www.antioxidant-centre.info
These articles on lifestyle and more
Return to the selection of antioxidant
You may want to try these articles on antioxidant
Antioxidant, Grape Seed Extract: The Most Powerful Antioxidant by Jane Wyvern Approximately 514 Words
Antioxidant, Peanuts Are Loaded With Anti-oxidants by Ethan Miller Approximately 530 Words
Antioxidant, Antioxidant Food Sources by Jason Dunn Approximately 329 Words
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0912845139?vglance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312964323?vglance
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/4/591
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!
An antioxidant is a chemical that reduces the rate of particular oxidation reactions in a specific context, where oxidation reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from a substance to an oxidising agent.
Antioxidants are particularly important in the context of organic chemistry and biology: all living cells contain complex systems of antioxidant chemicals and/or enzymes to prevent chemical damage to the cells' components by oxidation. The importance and complexity of antioxidants in biology is reflected in a medical literature of more than 142,000 scholarly articles.
A diet containing antioxidants from plants are required for good health since plants are an important source of organic antioxidant chemicals. Antioxidants are widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements that are used for health purposes such as preventing cancer and heart disease. However, while many studies have suggested benefits for antioxidant supplements, several large clinical trials have failed to clearly demonstrate a benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may be harmful.
Antioxidants are chemicals that reduce oxidative damage to cells and biochemicals. Researchers have found high correlation between oxidative damage and the occurrence of disease. For example, LDL oxidation is associated with cardiovascular disease. The process leading to atherogenesis, artherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease is complex, involving multiple chemical pathways and networks, but the precursor is LDL oxidation by free radicals, resulting in inflammation and formation of plaques.
Research suggests that consumption of antioxidant-rich foods reduces damage to cells and biochemicals from free radicals. This may slow down, prevent, or even reverse certain diseases that result from cellular damage, and perhaps even slow down the natural aging process.
Since the discovery of vitamins, it has been recognized that antioxidants in the diet are essential for healthful lives. More recently, a large body of evidence has accumulated that suggests supplementation of the diet with various kinds of antioxidants can improve health and extend life.
Many nutraceutical and health food companies now sell forms of antioxidants as dietary supplement. These supplements may include specific antioxidant chemicals, like resveratrol (from grape seeds), combinations of antioxidants, like the "ACES" products that contain beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E and Selenium, or specialty herbs that are known to contain antioxidants such as green tea and jiaogulan.
Disclaimer The information presented here should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you need more information about Antioxidants, please consult your physician or a qualified specialist.
Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.
About The Author: This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more antioxidant resources at: http://www.antioxidant-centre.info
These articles on lifestyle and more
Reprint this article free of charge as long as you keep the author's resource box or bio intact and the links active. A copy of the ezine or URL of the page where the article was reprinted emailed to the author would be very much appreciated. antioxidant
Return to the selection of antioxidant
You may want to try these articles on antioxidant
Antioxidant, Grape Seed Extract: The Most Powerful Antioxidant by Jane Wyvern Approximately 514 Words
Antioxidant, Peanuts Are Loaded With Anti-oxidants by Ethan Miller Approximately 530 Words
Antioxidant, Antioxidant Food Sources by Jason Dunn Approximately 329 Words
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0912845139?vglance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312964323?vglance
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/4/591
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!
