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How antioxidants affect your health, beauty and aging.

Antioxidants are found in Nature in compounds that are particularly rich in hydrogen and excess electrons. These hydrogen-rich and electron-rich compounds are usually visible to our eye as pigments of color in plants.

The richly pigmented plants prove to be the easiest way to discover and track down where real antioxidant values are to be found. Superfoods ranging from cacao to acai to goji berries to spirulina to blue-green algae to marine phytoplankton all contain extraordinarily-rich antioxidant content.

Antioxidants can be water or fat soluble. All raw, pure fats and oils are antioxidants as they contain excess electrons. That means, that not only are richly-colored foods loaded with antioxidants, but so are all raw olives, avocados, nuts, and seeds.

Antioxidants are known to stop runaway free radicals. Free radicals behave like bad drunks because they create problems in every cell they touch. Free radicals are aggressive oxygen molecules that oxidize and damage tissue. Free radical damage has been implicated in numerous symptoms ranging from skin wrinkles all the way to cancer.

According to the free radical theory, the more antioxidants you consume, the better, due to the ability of antioxidants to quench and deactivate free radicals.

Not only are antioxidants capable of quieting free radicals, some antioxidants have medicinal value. The xanthone antioxidants in the rind of the mangosteen fruit are known to fight the organisms that cause rheumatism and arthritis better than any other known botanical substance. The blue-pigment antioxidants in blue-green algae help increase the natural production of stem cells.

Vitamins A, C, and E are considered antioxidants. Vitamin A is a metabolite of beta-carotene, a red pigment commonly found in plants (e.g. goji berries, carrots, etc.). Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant with a tremendous volume of research behind it. We believe that natural vitamin C sources (Camu berry) instead of simply ascorbic acid are best. Vitamin E has undergone substantial revision in recent years as its antioxidant value varies with quality and type (tocotrienols or tocopherols). Tocotrienols are more powerful Vitamin E antioxidants than tocopherols.

Some atomic minerals, such as zinc and selenium, are considered antioxidants, but they are not capable of antioxidant action by themselves. These antioxidant minerals must work in conjunction with antioxidant enzymes in order to be effective.

By David Wolfe.

List of antioxidants:

Carotenoids

Plants are constantly being bombarded by sunlight and ultraviolet rays. Since they can’t just go inside or erect a parasol when they’ve had enough sun, they produce strong antioxidants to protect their cells against cell damage from ultraviolet radiation and other environmental carcinogens. It is a potent group of antioxidants, and having a daily intake of them is an important disease-preventing measure. Several hundred of these antioxidants are known to exist, and the most potent and beneficial ones are these six:
Alpha-carotene
Beta-carotene
Cryptoxanthin
Lycopene
Lutein
Zeaxanthin

See how you can measure these important Carotenoids in our Measure Antioxidant Levels blog.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are antioxidant phytochemicals that form the water-soluble colors of vegetables, fruits, grains, leaves, and bark. Flavonoids come in many forms, and different plants contain different concentrations of them. Some flavonoids may have up to fifty times more antioxidant activity than vitamins C and E. Impressively, flavonoids from red grapes are more than a thousand times more powerful than vitamin E in inhibiting oxidation of human LDL cholesterol. A steady intake of flavonoids can do a lot for your health.
Catechins
Reserveratrol
Proanthocyanidins

Isoflavones

Isoflavones are found in soybeans and other legumes. In the body, they are converted to phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), compounds that may help inhibit the growth of hormone-dependent cancers and other cancers. In addition, they lower total cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease.
Genistein
Daidzein

Vitamins

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Minerals

All minerals are antioxidants and must be acquired through the diet, because none of them are produced by the body. Minerals are exceedingly important for the proper functioning of the body and the assimilation of vitamins. Selenium and zinc are the two most powerful mineral antioxidants.
Selenium
Zinc

Allium vegetables

The genus allium encompasses over 500 plants, but the best antioxidants in this group are garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks. These vegetables contain flavonoids, vitamin C, selenium, and sulfur compounds that have potent cancer-fighting properties. In addition, they may help prevent heart attacks stroke by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and preventing blood clots. They benefit the liver by activating detoxification enzyme systems, and may be helpful in preventing allergies and asthma. These vegetables retain their antioxidant properties even when cooked, and odorless garlic caps are available.

Bilberry

This potent antioxidant, which is an herb, is also called European blueberry. It contains anthocyanides, which keep capillaries strong, protect against cataracts and night blindness, and improve circulation. As well as having anti-carcinogenic effects, it inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Bilberry supplements are widely available, either as pills or in liquid form.

Coenzyme-Q10

This antioxidant is also known as ubiquinone, since it is present in every living cell. It provides the cells with energy to effectively carry out their functions. Without this antioxidant, our cells would simply not work. The levels of Q10 fall with increasing age, a fact which may have impact on the diseases and illnesses we associate with age. Infection, stress, and poor eating habits can also affect the body’s ability to produce sufficient amounts of this necessary enzyme. Q10 shares many of its antioxidant properties with vitamin E. It has been shown to increase energy, improve heart function, help reverse gum disease, and strengthen the immune system. It may also slow the deterioration rate in Parkinson’s disease, and is the only known substance to have that effect. Coenzyme Q10 has many other positive effects and is a most valuable antioxidant ally in disease prevention and anti-aging. Coenzyme Q10 is found in meat, dairy products, eggs, cereals and vegetables. Storage, processing and cooking significantly reduces the Q10 content of these foods, so supplementing your diet with additional Q10 is a good idea.

Cruciferous vegetables

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cale etc. are very rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and other flavonoids, and also phytochemicals called indoles and sulforaphane. Indoles inactivate estrogens that promote the growth of tumors, particularly in the female breast. Sulforaphane stimulates cells to produce cancer-fighting enzymes. This combination of antioxidants makes cruciferous vegetables potent cancer-preventers. Cruciferous vegetables may not be among the most popular foods, but many of their beneficial antioxidant effects may be obtained through supplements.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is a potent antioxidant herb which is best known for improving circulation. It helps increase the blood supply to the brain, the heart, and all other body parts. It strengthens the mental processes and the ability to concentrate, as well as ease muscle pain and improve male potency. For this last reason, Ginkgo Biloba is sometimes known as “nature’s Viagra”. Interestingly, this antioxidant may improve perception and social functioning in victims of Alzheimer’s disease. Like many other antioxidants, it protects cells from free radicals and may therefore prevent cancer and slow the aging process. Macular degeneration of the eyes may be prevented and treated with Ginkgo Biloba, which also has been shown to work as an antidepressant. Ginkgo Biloba is widely available as a supplement.

Glutathione

This antioxidant is produced in the liver from amino acids. It protects cells throughout the body, and may help prevent cancer, especially of the liver. Glutathione is beneficial as an immune system booster, a detoxifier of heavy metals and drugs, and may also protect against radiation poisoning and negative effects of smoking and alcohol abuse. It also functions as an anti-inflammatory treatment of allergies and arthritis. Glutathione is found in vegetables and fruit, but cooking will significantly reduce its potency. Taking it as a supplement is a good idea.

Lipoic acid

This antioxidant is produced naturally by the body. It is a unique defender against free radicals, and is sometimes called the universal antioxidant. Many other internally produced antioxidants have specific jobs, whereas lipoic acid enhances the activities of other antioxidants in the body, as well as being an excellent antioxidant on its own account. Lipoic acid may, for instance, temporarily fill in for vitamins C or E if their levels are low. Because of its ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier, it can reverse the negative effects caused by a stroke. Lipoic acid helps normalize blood sugar levels and can prevent serious complications from diabetes. Our bodies’ production of lipoic acid decreases with advancing age, so it is a very beneficial supplement for those over age forty.

Melatonin

This antioxidant hormone is produced by the brain’s pineal gland during sleep and helps maintain the body’s natural biorhythm. Melatonin may also help retard the aging process, especially by preventing the oxidative damage to brain cells that are associated with Alzheimer’s and other conditions. Cluster headaches may be alleviated by melatonin, and it has the ability to boost the immune system’s ability to stop tumors from spreading. Melatonin is found in tomatoes and other vegetables, and is available as a supplement. As we age, the body produces less and less melatonin, so for a lot of people over forty, a melatonin supplement is a good idea.

Superoxide dismutase

This antioxidant is an enzyme which is particularly powerful with skin tissue, revitalizing cells and reducing the rate of cell destruction. Superoxide dismutase helps the body use essential zinc, copper and manganese. Good sources of this antioxidant are barley grass, cabbage, wheatgrass and broccoli. As we age, our bodies produces less of this beneficial antioxidant, so supplementation could be an important factor in reducing wrinkles and retarding the aging process.

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