Antioxidants are specific vitamins and minerals. The most common antioxidants being vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, Selenium.
Simple body functions, such as breathing or physical activity, stress, breakdown of certain medications, byproducts of normal processes in body and other lifestyle habits, such as smoking produce substances called free radicals that attack healthy cells. When these healthy cells are weakened, they are more susceptible to heart diseases and certain types of cancers.
Antioxidants help protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Role of antioxidants in body:
One major action of antioxidants in cells is to prevent damage due to the action of reactive oxygen species.((H2O2), (O2−), and free radicals (·OH )
Keeps the immune system in good shape, or boost the immune system when it has been compromised.
Prevents age-related neurodegeneration ..
Prevents DNA damage and therefore have anticarcinogenic effects .
Has antiatherogenic effects .
Antioxidants are believed to protect body from free radical damage, that doesn’t mean we overload our body with mega doses of vitamins as long term effects of these large doses of nutrients have not been proven.
The lesson: eat your fruits n Vegetables 5- 8 servings of fruits &vegetables per day.
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