It is a very popular word in health these days: antioxidants. But do you know what they are and what they do for your body? Before sitting down to write this, I just knew they were supposed to be good for you.
Antioxidants are organic stuff. That’s a good start. They come from a group of organic compounds that helps plants have color. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A are all antioxidants. You’ve heard of beta-carotene? Maybe you heard it in a vitamin commercial — more complete from A to Zinc? Without beta-carotene, carrots wouldn’t be orange.
Antioxidants do a very useful thing for your body — they help neutralize “free radicals” — the leftover stuff when your body burns oxygen for energy. Some free radicals are produced naturally; some come from tobacco smoke or radiation, or other environmental factors. Free radicals can damage cell walls and cell structures. Free radicals can even damage the genetic material within your cells! All this cellular damage can increase your chances of ending up with heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Antioxidants come along and help clean up the free radicals BEFORE they can do long-term damage to your body.
This isn’t to say that antioxidants are the cure-all. Researchers haven’t agreed on the true role of antioxidants in preventing heart disease or cancer. They aren’t sure WHO (if anybody) would benefit from taking antioxidant supplements. It’s also important not to overdo the vitamins and supplements. Too much of anything can be bad for your system.
Your best bet for keeping a healthy level of antioxidants in your system is to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Apples and sweet potatoes (with the skin on) are good sources of antioxidants. You can get your daily dose of antioxidants from carrots, spinach, cantaloupe, blueberries, cranberries, and even mangoes! And by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, you get all the other great vitamins and minerals that come from plants.