What are Antioxidants and Why do You Need Them?

We hear a lot of buzz about antioxidants on the health front, but it may not be clear to everyone what they are and why they’re important.

First, antioxidants are not new. Our bodies produce their own antioxidants and fresh fruits, vegetables, and some vitamins also boost our bodies with additional antioxidants. While antioxidants may be nothing new, understanding them and learning how to benefit from them is on the rise.

The Inner War Between Good and Evil

Our bodies work hard to combat invasion. One of the chief ways we are at risk is through toxic substances inside and outside of our bodies. If you think about your body like a fortress, free radicals are trying to infiltrate it and take over. Free radicals are a term used to describe compounds in our bodies that can cause great harm if levels become too high. Free radicals are linked to health issues that can lead to death, so they are important to pay attention to. 

Interestingly, our bodies rely on free radicals to combat infection so they aren’t all bad, but too many can outweigh the benefits they provide. When free radicals build up and outnumber antioxidants our bodies develop oxidative stress which can lead to significant health issues including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. That’s why every day, there’s a war between the good antioxidants and the evil free radicals happening inside our bodies.

What Causes Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress happens in our bodies when we are bombarded inside and out by free radicals. These potentially dangerous compounds are found inside our bodies, but they are also found in the environment, foods, and chemicals we use every day. Some typical sources include-

Cigarettes

Alcohol

Air pollution

Polyunsaturated fats

Bacteria, fungus, and viruses

Our bodies can also have an increase of oxidative stress from unhealthy conditions like-

Low or high oxygen levels

High blood pressure

Overuse of antioxidant vitamins

Too much iron, magnesium, copper, or zinc

Excessive sun exposure

Antioxidants Fight Free Radicals 

Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells. Our bodies produce antioxidants naturally, but so do all living things which means we can increase the levels of antioxidants we have through our diet and supplements. Many whole foods are a great source of antioxidants as well as tea, dark chocolate, and olive oil.

Thankfully, you can help your body build up antioxidants by choosing whole foods rich in Vitamins C and E, which are some of the most effective in combating free radicals. Foods are preferable to supplements because too many antioxidants can be harmful. Eating an antioxidant-rich diet with fresh fruits and vegetables will make it less likely you’ll overload antioxidants excessively.

Antioxidants are an essential way to combat illness and disease in the body and fight free radicals that cause oxidative stress. Keeping a healthy balance of antioxidants and free radicals should be the goal.