Free radicals are formed as a result of body reaction to environmental and other pressures. Free radicals attack cells of the human body and cause their destruction. They are associated with human diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. Antioxidants are the best thing to fight against free radicals. Let’s take a look at the health benefits, types of antioxidants and more.
What are free radicals?
To understand how antioxidants are best in the fight against free radicals, we need to understand what are they and how they are made. Free radicals are made in the human body every day as results of the oxidation process. In that process oxygen in high concentration in blood, organs and tissue can be toxic. Oxygen releases free radicals that can donate or take electrons from other molecules. If they are taking molecules of proteins, carbohydrates or lipids that are made in the human body cells, that reaction is called ” oxygen stress”. This reaction is the way of how free radicals are causing damage.
What are antioxidants and what are the health benefits for the human body?
They are molecules that can prevent oxidation of other molecules. They donate one or more electron to a free radical, which results in stabilization and prevention of ” oxygen stress”.
Their role:
- Preventing the creation of free radical,
- Fixing damaged cells,
- Neutralization of existing free radical.
There are several benefits of antioxidants such as slowing aging, lowering cholesterol, preventing hearth problems, reducing the danger of cancer, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Types of antioxidants
In nature, there are a large number of antioxidants that are helping the human body in the neutralization of free radicals. Most of them are in food or cosmetics.
The most important types of antioxidants are vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, selenium, manganese, flavonoids, flavones, polyphenols,
Each antioxidant has a different function, that is why is important to have a varied diet. They can be found in a lot of fruit, vegetables, and spices, also in animal-based products such as (eggs, milk products).
Antioxidants food list:
- Fruits: blueberries, strawberries, mango, raspberries, lemon, orange, lime, red apple, grape.
- Vegetables: tomato, spinach, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, garlic, onion
- Spices: cinnamon, oregano, caraway, parsley, paper, mint, curry.
- In other sources: red vine, green tea, matcha, vegetable oils, seafood, dark chocolate.
- Nuts : especially walnuts
Do we need antioxidants?
Antioxidants are essential for the normal function of the human body. There are many benefits of antioxidants such as preventing aging and diseases. It is very important to have a healthy diet plan that includes foods rich with antioxidants.
