Antioxidants are essential to stop free radical damage to our cells.  Vitamin and mineral support from our diet helps our internal enzyme and coenzyme systems prevent free radical damage.  Healthy cells are a result of this synergistic relationship.  Healthy cells mean a health body. 

 Too many people are living in pain and suffering due to degenerative processes.  Lupus,  fibromyalgia, alzheimer’s, cancer and diabetes…..are among a handful of these diseases.    There are NO KNOWN cures in conventional medicine available for  these diseases. 

 Let us look at the benefits of antioxidants.
 
  A definition:

ANTIOXIDANTS: are substance(s) that inhibit oxidation or inhibit reactions promoted by oxygen or peroxides.

 To simplify.  If  you have ever cut into an apple and left it for awhile it turns brown. This is OXIDATION… oxygen is reacting with the inside of the apple.  ANTI oxidation would be something to stop oxidation from happening.  Therefore the benefits of antioxidants is to help stop oxidation from occurring.

In the human body there are millions of cells performing tasks with every breath we take.    Oxygen is a vital component to sustain life.   However there is a DARK SIDE to OXYGEN. 

Within our cells there are REDOX reactions happening.  These reactions involve molecules giving up and taking in electrons.  This is a fairly controlled environment within the cell; however, sometimes electrons go for a “journey” out of their respective places and react with the oxygen in the cell.  This new molecule now has an unpaired electron in it’s outer shell making it highly reactive and volatile.  This now called a FREE RADICAL.

 This free radical has a lifespan of one trillionth of a second and in this period of  time it can cause without the benefits of antioxidants,  irreparable damage to the cell.  It is like a bouncing ball slamming into everything within the cell damaging the cell’s fragile components.  This is just ONE free radical.  Because there are millions of reactions taking place in a cell there are millions of free radicals produced as a by product.  So picture millions of bouncing balls in a small room bouncing uncontrollably…there is bound to be some damage to the room and anything in the balls’ path.


Now, the role of the benefits of antioxidants in this scenario is vital.  As I mentioned before a free radical has an unpaired electron in its outer shell.   The benefits of antioxidants is, they readily accept that unpaired electron from these free radicals.  This in turn stabilizes the free radical instantly rendering it harmless to the cell and it is then transported out. 

Common  benefits of antioxidants are found in food and vitamin supplements. Vitamins C (ascorbic acid), E, A (beta-carotene among other carotenoids) are among these and cannot be manufactured by the human body.  The benefits of  these antioxidants must be obtained through diet.

  There are some antioxidants manufactured within the body.  These are enzymes, coenzymes and sulphur containing molecules.  One of such called glutathione.   All of these work in synergy with one another increasing the benefits of antioxidants to replenish and support the others actions. Minerals also play a role in the benefits of antioxidants’ support.  These minerals being selenium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc.   For example vitamin C and E along with the mineral selenium enhances the effects of vitamin A (beta carotene).  Take one of these away from the equation and the others cannot perform their function.  This is why they all are essential in our diet.

  We MUST adopt better nutrition habits and support this with HIGH QUALITY nutritional supplementation (vitamins).   So we can reverse the chronic sickness that plagues our society.