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Location: East Texas
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 Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:15 am Post subject: The Benefits of Antioxidants |
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The Benefits of Antioxidants
By Marks Angela
eDiets Contributor
By this point, you've probably heard about antioxidants. But, do you really know what they are, or why they are vital to your well-being? If you answered no, you are far from alone. It is time to spread the word about the many benefits of these all-natural health enhancers.
Are you interested in fighting premature aging? Well, you better pay attention to the environment around you and learn how to protect yourself from the "free radicals" that are on the loose.
No, I am not talking about some kind of political mobster. Rather, I am referring to something that can wreak havoc on your body and result in the development of a host of different diseases, including cancer, heart disease, cataracts and early aging.
A free radical is an unstable oxygen molecule that has become damaged due to factors such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, ultraviolet light, pesticides, radiation, emotional stress, and yes, excessive exercise. This unstable oxygen molecule must find another electron to make itself complete, so it begins to bombard other molecules -- resulting in injury to surrounding tissue.
Free radicals are common in all people, but the human body can, for the most part, defend itself with endogenous antioxidants. "Endogenous" antioxidants are those antioxidants that are naturally in the body and serve as "free radical scavengers." However, these endogenous antioxidants can be used up very quickly. This is why it is often important to take antioxidants in supplement form.
To help you understand how an antioxidant works to protect you from free radicals, imagine the following scenario: A beautiful woman is walking down a dark alley all alone and suddenly a stalker comes out of nowhere with plans to harm her. Before the stalker gets to her, a heroic young man jumps in front of her and kills the stalker -- but is killed himself. In this scenario, the woman is your body, the stalker is the free radical, and the young man is the antioxidant. Antioxidants merely "donate" the missing component to the unstable oxygen molecule (free radical), making it complete and rendering it harmless.
Antioxidants include numerous different nutrients and substances, including beta carotene, carotenoids, vitamin A, polyphenols, selenium, vitamin C, lycopene, vitamin E, coenzyme Q-10, Glutathione, lignan, and lutein. Research has shown that all antioxidants have special characteristics that can help your body ward off free radicals and keep them from causing harm. Below is a description of some of the most common types of antioxidants.
Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene and Carotenoids
Beta-Carotene and other members of the carotenoid family are precursors to vitamin A (transformed into the vitamin after entering the body). Beta-carotene helps lower your risk for cataracts, heart disease, and certain types of cancers (such as rectal cancer, melanoma, and bladder cancer). The November 4,1994 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association stated that the natural carotenoids, including beta carotene (5,000 IU) but also lutein and zeaxanthin, have been shown to be effective in decreasing the risk and even reversing the development of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 65 years of age.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has been proven to reduce early cataracts by 77 percent and to lower the rate of moderate cataracts by 83 percent in women between 56 to 71 years of age. These women took 1,000 mg daily for a period of 10 years. Another study in The Journal of the American Medical Association in November 1997 stated that vitamin C (1,000 mg) coupled with vitamin E taken in conjunction with a 900-calorie meal containing 50 grams of fat, blocked the detrimental effects of a fatty meal on blood circulation. More recently a study published in the December issue of The Lancet showed that 500 mg of vitamin C taken for one month could reduce blood pressure.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease because of its ability to neutralize the oxidation of "bad" LDL cholesterol. Oxidation of LDL is a primary factor in the buildup of plaque in the blood vessel, which leads to atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Other studies link vitamin E to a lower risk of cancer, cataracts and increased immunity. Vitamin E has also been shown to prevent exercise induced DNA damage.
Research conducted by Dr. Ishwarlal Jialal at the UT Southwestern Medical School, a member of the Cooper Complete Consultation Board, has done extensive research in the area of oxidized LDL cholesterol and vitamins C and E. Low density (LDL) cholesterol is not inherently bad, and is only harmful when it is modified or changed. These particles are the ones that are changed or oxidized by free radicals, which can cause damage to the lining of the artery walls. Once the artery has been damaged, the body attempts to fix it and in the process begins a plaque build-up (atherosclerosis).
Dr. Jialalā??s research has shown that by taking at least 400 IU of vitamin E, you can actually lower the oxidized LDL cholesterol. In fact, this is exactly what we found in the Cooper Complete pilot study.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that is a structural element of the enzyme that protects glutathionine, which serves as part of the body's internal defense against free radical damage. Selenium works hand in hand with Vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene as an antioxidant defense. Selenium supplementation was shown to reduce the frequency of lung, colon, rectal, and prostate cancer in older men followed for 6.4 years.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a carotenoid that is found in tomatoes, red grapefruit, and watermelon. It gives them their red color. Lycopene has been linked to lower rates of prostate cancer. A six-year study showed that European men in countries such as Greece and Italy were the most likely to eat tomato-based products and the least likely to develop prostate cancer. Studies have shown that intakes of 6.4 to 10 gm of lycopene per day from 2 to 4 servings of tomato sauce a week have the lowest risk of prostate cancer.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols are chemical substance found in plants. Reseearch indicates that polyphenols may reduce your risk for both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Natural sources of healthy polyphenols include berries, grapes, pomegranates, and many other fruits and vegetables. Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 has attracted interest for its potential as an Antioxidant. Various studies have suggested that this coenzyme could play a role in protecting the body against tissue damage from heart attacks, heart disease, retina deterioration, breast cancer, as well as a number of other diseases. Over 400 patients with various forms of cardiovascular disease (enlarged heart, hypertension, mitral valve prolapse, and heart valve disease) were treated with coenzyme Q10 at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston between 1985 and 1993.
Patients in the disease category showed a significant improvement in heart function, and the overall medication requirements dropped considerably. Researchers concluded that coenzyme Q10 is a safe and effective treatment for a broad range of cardiovascular diseases. Another study in Nappoli, Italy showed that patients with chronic heart failure had improved heart responses during exercise when given coenzyme Q10. Studies show that people taking cholesterol-lowering drugs may experience a significant decrease in coenzyme Q10. One might conclude that it would be advisable for these people to supplement with coenzyme Q10.
Angela Marks is the Director of Operations for Cooper Concepts, a division of The Cooper Aerobics Center. Cooper Concepts develops and markets health-related products including the Cooper Complete vitamins and supplements. She is also certified by the Cooper Institute as a health promotion director, a physical fitness specialist and in the biomechanics of strength training.
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