What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that cause cellular damage known as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the underlying cause of many chronic health problems like aging, cardiovascular disease, anemia, and cancer.

Vitamin C and vitamin E are among the most important vitamins and are potent natural antioxidants. Natural antioxidants are mostly found in plant sources. Fruits and vegetables that are red, orange, and blue have the highest antioxidant activity. Other natural antioxidants are beta-carotene, lycopene, selenium, and flavonoids

Antioxidants increase shelf life of foods (and people!). Manufactures add antioxidants, like vitamin C (ascorbic acid, usually synthetic), as food additives.

Drugs that Deplete Antioxidants

Avoid these like your life depends on because it does.

• Doxorubicin (antineoplastic)

• Azidothymidine (antiretroviral)

• Cisplatin (antineoplastic)

• Diclofenac (anti-inflammatory)

• Paracetamol (analgesia)

• Chlorpromazine (antipsychotic)

Benefits of Antioxidants

• Anti-aging (limits the process of growing old)

• Anticancer (inhibits growth of cancer)

• Anti-Inflammatory (controls inflammation)

• Antioxidant (protects against oxidation)

• Protects against many types of diseases

• Protects eye health

• Protects brain function

• Improves mental health

• Keeps skin healthy

• Improves gut health

Symptoms of Antioxidant Deficiency

• Cancer

• Cardiovascular disease

• Congestive heart failure

• COPD

• Eye disease, including cataracts

• Hypertension

• Increased oxidative stress

• Inflammation

• Neurological disease, like Alzheimer's

• Parkinson's disease

• Renal disease

• Rheumatoid arthritis

  
  

Causes of Antioxidant Deficiency

• Air pollution

• Asbestos

• Bacterial infections

• Cigarette smoke

• Fungal infections

• High blood sugar levels

• Intense or prolonged exercise

• Too much or too little oxygen in the body

• Toxins

• Viral infections

Natural Sources of Antioxidants

• Blueberries

• Broccoli flowers

• Chocolate

• Coffee

• Fish

• Grapes

• Green tea

• Lemons

• Meat

• Oranges

• Plums

• Prunes

• Red beans

• Strawberries

• Tomato

Did you know lycopene, found in tomatoes, is very protective against prostate cancer?

Resources

1) Zehiroglu, C., & Sarikaya, S. B. O. (2019). The importance of antioxidants and place in today’s scientific and technological studies. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 56(11), 4757–4774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-03952-x

2) BSc, A. A., PhD. (2023, July 12). Antioxidants explained in simple terms. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained#free-radicals

3) Janciauskiene, S. (2020). The beneficial effects of antioxidants in health and diseases. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Journal of the COPD Foundation, 7(3), 182–202. https://doi.org/10.15326/jcopdf.7.3.2019.0152

4) Pham-Huy, L. A., He, H., & Pham-Huy, C. (2008, June 1). Free radicals, antioxidants in disease and health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3614697/#sec5

5) Deavall, D. G., Martin, E. A., Horner, J. M., & Roberts, R. (2012). Drug-Induced Oxidative stress and toxicity. Journal of Toxicology, 2012, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/645460

6) Kahn, J. (2022, August 26). Nine benefits of antioxidants: From disease prevention to healthy aging. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/benefits-of-antioxidants