Antioxidant Supplements And Anti-Oxidant Diet

Oxidation is a pervasive process that oxidizes various molecules in the body. Oxidation reactions produce substances like free radicals, which are capable of initiating chain reactions in body, leading to immense damage. Antioxidants are chemical agents that reduce the pace or terminate these oxidation reactions by removing these free radical intermediates.

Types Of Antioxidants And Antioxidant Foods

Antioxidants are of various kinds. The major classification of antioxidants includes two kinds of antioxidants namely, enzymes (like ascorbic acid and tocopherol) and vitamins (like Catalase and Glutathione peroxidase)

The various functions of antioxidants are:

• Antioxidants help maintain normal growth and repair of skin and bones.
• Antioxidants help in the normal reproduction process.
• These substances also help maintain eye and muscle integrity.
• Antioxidants prevent birth defects associated with the nervous system.
• Antioxidants enhance hair color.
• Antioxidants reduce the level of stress.
• These substances also assist in the normal functioning of immune system.

Antioxidants are found in a number of foods, some of which can be listed as follows:

• Foods with Vitamin A are particularly helpful in averting the harmful effects of free radicals by getting oxidized. Such foods include squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, peaches, collards, kale, apricots, apples, and capsicum.
• Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin rich foods are also rich in antioxidant content. These foods include mushrooms, milk, almonds, salmon, organic beef, and eggs.
• Citrus fruits like orange and grapefruit are also good sources of antioxidants.
• Green leafy vegetables, green pepper, strawberries, and tomatoes also serve as good sources of antioxidants.
• Folic acid is a rich source of antioxidants. These foods include asparagus, turnip greens, banana, papaya, lettuce, green peas, cowpeas, beef liver, and wheat germ.
• Foods rich in Vitamin E are essential to provide the body with antioxidants. These foods include nuts, whole grains, vegetable oil, liver oil, and spinach.
• Certain minerals are also a good source of antioxidants, Selenium being one such mineral. Selenium rich foods include garlic, chicken, red meat, eggs, and shellfish.
• Copper rich foods like grapes, kiwi fruit, lime, onions, lemon, corn, and cucumber are rich in antioxidants.
• Zinc is another mineral with a good amount of antioxidants. Zinc rich foods are avocados, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, pulses, lentils, pine nuts, and cereals.
• Manganese rich foods like blackberries, lima beans, pecans, walnuts, and chestnuts are also good sources of antioxidants.
• Fruits, particularly pomegranate, grapefruit, watermelon, and cranberries are rich sources of antioxidants.
• Green tea is one of the richest sources of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are generally present in the foods mentioned above, but they may be provided by supplements too.