An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons which can produce free radicals that cause damage or death to the cell. Antioxidants remove the free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions.
Free radicals are produced by the body during the process of converting food into energy. Free radicals cause the LDL, the bad cholesterol, to be trapped in the artery wall. There is more information about free radicals in my post Phytonutrients .
Nobel laureate James Watson, 87, one of the scientists who discovered the structure of DNA, says that antioxidant supplements do not contain a solution to health, as claimed by manufacturers of antioxidants. “You won’t be healthy by taking antioxidants,” he says. James Watson is chancellor emeritus at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York.
Billions of dollars are spent on antioxidants with the hope of staving off cancer, heart disease and multitude of other ailments. Most common antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, carotenoids, and minerals selenium and manganese. A six-year trial, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), found that a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc offered some protection against the development of advanced age-related muscular degeneration. These antioxidants did not help in cataract.
When taken in high doses as supplements, antioxidants can increase the risk of certain diseases. Consuming foods that are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E is a better solution than popping up supplements. He said that people have a perception that oxidants kill cells and therefore you are better off with antioxidants. But this is not the case. He cites exercise as an example, which reduces cancer risk. It produces oxidants. But yet these oxidants and antioxidants live in perfect harmony in the body. Antioxidants are naturally found in berries and prunes. He says, “Eat them because they taste good.”
In Finland in a large trial of beta-carotene conducted among men who were heavy smokers, who were at high risk for developing lung cancer. The trial was stopped early when researchers saw a significant increase in lung cancer among those taking the supplement compared to those taking the placebo.
According to Transparency Market Research, the global antioxidant market is likely to grow from $2.1 billion in 2013 to $3.1 billion in 2020.
According to Dr. Watson, dementia is a major risk among aging people. Exercise helps prevent dementia. His advice is to do exercise to live longer rather than popping up pills.
Free radicals are produced by the body during the process of converting food into energy. Free radicals cause the LDL, the bad cholesterol, to be trapped in the artery wall. There is more information about free radicals in my post Phytonutrients .
Nobel laureate James Watson, 87, one of the scientists who discovered the structure of DNA, says that antioxidant supplements do not contain a solution to health, as claimed by manufacturers of antioxidants. “You won’t be healthy by taking antioxidants,” he says. James Watson is chancellor emeritus at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York.
Billions of dollars are spent on antioxidants with the hope of staving off cancer, heart disease and multitude of other ailments. Most common antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, carotenoids, and minerals selenium and manganese. A six-year trial, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), found that a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc offered some protection against the development of advanced age-related muscular degeneration. These antioxidants did not help in cataract.
When taken in high doses as supplements, antioxidants can increase the risk of certain diseases. Consuming foods that are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E is a better solution than popping up supplements. He said that people have a perception that oxidants kill cells and therefore you are better off with antioxidants. But this is not the case. He cites exercise as an example, which reduces cancer risk. It produces oxidants. But yet these oxidants and antioxidants live in perfect harmony in the body. Antioxidants are naturally found in berries and prunes. He says, “Eat them because they taste good.”
In Finland in a large trial of beta-carotene conducted among men who were heavy smokers, who were at high risk for developing lung cancer. The trial was stopped early when researchers saw a significant increase in lung cancer among those taking the supplement compared to those taking the placebo.
According to Transparency Market Research, the global antioxidant market is likely to grow from $2.1 billion in 2013 to $3.1 billion in 2020.
According to Dr. Watson, dementia is a major risk among aging people. Exercise helps prevent dementia. His advice is to do exercise to live longer rather than popping up pills.
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