Antioxidants - Their Role in Fighting Free Radicals

Recently, I wrote about free radicals, how they worked and their link to disease. We discussed how they were linked to diseases such as Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Stroke and other degenerative diseases. We also talked about their link to the entire aging process.

I mentioned that antioxidants, like those found in Acai berries, blueberries, etc are needed to fight them. But, we didn't really get into why these are so valuable.

You already know, that free radicals are particles that only contain one electron. This makes them unstable, and they "steal" electrons from you body’s cells causing new organisms that are linked to disease.

Antioxidants work by neutralizing these rogue agents before they have a chance to do damage in your body. They really are the opposite of these oxidizing particles, which don’t have enough electrons. These “Anti”-“Oxidants” have electrons to spare.

Just like in comic books you may have read as a kid, antioxidants are like the super hero with free radicals being the nemesis. The arch enemy if you will.

They work because they have plenty of extra electrons that they can "donate" to the free radical. Once it has 2 electrons, it is no longer unstable. It is just a neutral molecule.

And, as a neutral molecule, the body can just eliminate it. So, in a nutshell, that’s what an antioxidant is - Any substance that binds to free radicals and makes them powerless to steal valuable electrons from your other body cells.

Some of the strongest antioxidants are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene and Selenium. So, it is extremely important that your body receives high enough quantities of these substances.

Think of antioxidants as the super heroes fighting the radical free molecules or “villains”. They work because they can easily donate an electron to the free radical, making it powerless.

Many food items, like Acai berries are loaded with these vitamins and you should investigate ways you can add them to your diet. You should look for foods that are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene and Selenium. Just like with any other diet change, you should talk to you doctor. But, fortunately more and more food items, like Acai berry are being discovered to have high levels of antioxidants. That makes adding them to your diet safe and easy.

You have the chance to win the ongoing battle with free radicals. Fight them by adding strong antioxidants to your diet.