Antioxidants
Frequently Asked Questions…
What is Aging?
Nutritional science has turned a major corner in the past decade as scientific researchers and physicians alike have acknowledged oxidation as a primary cause of bodily deterioration and endorsed the benefits of antioxidant nutrients.*
What is Oxidation/Oxidative Stress?
Oxidation is the slow deterioration of matter as a result of chemical reactions involving oxygen. It’s a familiar phenomenon found throughout nature: metals rust, apples turn brown, oils become rancid, rubber crumbles. All are signs of oxidative stress… destruction caused by something called free radicals.*
What are Free-Radicals?
Our bodies are made up of billions of molecules, each with paired electrons orbiting a protein nucleus. When oxidation destroys one of a molecule’s orbiting electrons (i.e., one of the “pairs” of molecules), the result is a free radical – which scientists call one of the most unstable substances because this now free radical (or unpaired electron molecule) wreaks havoc as hunts for another molecule to pair with. It is this interaction that damages molecules and even causes cells to die – accelerating tissue damage and becoming a major contributing factor to the rate and severity of aging and illness.*
What Causes Oxidation & Free-Radicals?
Chemicals, pollution, fumes, stress, exertion and food additives are among the substances and activities that accelerate the production of free radicals. Through the air we breathe and the water we drink, we are exposed to thousands of different chemical toxins, including cigarette smoke, car exhaust and vapors from cleaning fluids – with some being toxic in quantities almost too small to detect. Additionally, food additives such as preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, emulsifiers, lubricants, bleaching agents, flavor enhancers and synthetic sweeteners also contribute to oxidative reactions in the body.*
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants in our diet help combat the formation of free radicals. These nutritional agents can help to repair the damage that has already occurred. Antioxidants include Vitamins E and C, as well as numerous carotenoids (substances with nutritive properties) and a number of and flavonoids (a class of antioxidants) found in common foods. Thus, diet and the foods you eat (via fruits and vegetables) are the primary source of antioxidants – but given most people often eat a less-than-perfect diet, antioxidant-rich nutritional supplements are frequently used to help support optimum cellular health and to combat the ravages of free radicals to promote youth and vitality.*