WHAT ARE OXIDANTS?
• Oxidants are free radicals that either our bodies produce or we get from the environment.
• Our bodies create oxidants as a response to stress or poor diet, or we are exposed to oxidants through environmental factors like pollution.
• Oxidative damage is a contributing factor to many diseases, including muscle and tissue degeneration, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other health problems.
WHAT ARE FREE RADICALS?
• Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons.
• They are like bullies that are low in energy and attack healthy cells and steal their energy to satisfy themselves.
• Free radicals cause damage to our blood vessels, which can lead to deposits of bad cholesterol and block arteries.
• Free radicals come in many shapes, sizes, and chemical configurations. What they all share is a voracious appetite for electrons, stealing them from any nearby substances that will yield them.
The human body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to counteract their damaging effects. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. In order to maintain the balance, a continuous supplemental source of external antioxidants are necessary in order to obtain the maximum benefits of antioxidants.
What are antioxidants and why do we need them?
• Antioxidants are the nutrients’ police force!
• They are free radical scavengers!
• They get rid of the bullies!
• Antioxidants are like a million microscopic special ops on a mission to save your body from the inside out.
The benefits of antioxidants are very important to good health, because if free radicals are left unchallenged, they can cause a wide range of illnesses and chronic diseases.
Where can we find antioxidants?
• Obtained through our foods and produced by are bodies, antioxidants are a powerful defense system.
• Antioxidants can be found in flavonols (found in chocolate), resveratrol (found in wine), Ellagic acid (found in Raspberries and pomegranate), and lycopene (found in tomatoes). Other popular antioxidants include vitamins A (beta-carotene), C, E, and catechins.
GREAT SOURCES
• Raspberries and pomegranates contain one of the most powerful antioxidants known, Ellagic acid.
• Ellagic acid is a potent natural antioxidant that can be found in raspberries and pomegranates.
• Ellagic acid has been shown to be an effective anti- mutagen and anti-carcinogen.
Anthocyanins (red flavonoid pigment found in plants) give pomegranates their red color and offer a strong serving of antioxidants. Punicalagins (a type of phenolic compound) specifically support cardiovascular and neurological health. Studies have shown that antioxidants 18. can play a role in reducing the cell damage of free radicals.
ANTIOXIDANTS AND AGING
• Antioxidants are powerful molecules that support healthy aging in more ways than one.
• These potent compounds aid in an overall healthy lifestyle by supporting cellular health.
• Aging isn’t about your chronological age; it is more about the amount of stress in your life and the the function of your cells!