We, often, hear the term “antioxidants” in relation to our body and health.  What exactly are antioxidants and how do they help us? Here is some light on the topic.

What are Antioxidants:  We all know that antioxidants are substances which prevent the consumption of oxygen.

In Biochemisty, antioxidants are substances that protect body cells from the damage caused by the free radicals that are released from the various oxidation processes carried out in the body. These free radicals may ultimately lead to diseases like cancer; hence, they prove to be dangerous to the body if not tackled in some way. The antioxidants stabilize the free radicals, thus preventing them from destroying the body cells.

Working of Antioxidants: For a good appreciation of how the antioxidants work and their exact role in our body, we need to first have a clear idea of the term “free radicals”. Free radicals are, essentially, chemically active atoms in the body which possess a charge-either positive or negative- owing to the deficit or excess of electrons. As they have unpaired electrons, they tend to become unstable and thus try to donate or usurp electrons from the surrounding body cells, damaging them in the process. 

Now, here is where the antioxidants come into picture. They clean up the free radicals and even slow down the process of oxidation, thus preventing further damage. However, they themselves get oxidised in the process and therefore need to be replenished to the body on a continuous basis.

A common example with which the whole concept can be explained for a better understanding, would be the painting of an iron rod to prevent it from getting rusted due to oxidation. In this case, the paint acts as an antioxidant and the rust is the “free radical”.

Antioxidants in the food: Common antioxidants found in our regular diet include beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene,  Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and polyphenols. These are available in various foods, specially those which are deeply coloured, such as carrots, tomatoes, beetroots, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables and whole nuts. Green tea has been found to be loaded with antioxidants.

Antioxidants in our body:  Superoxide dismutase,catalase and glutathione peroxidise are three antioxidant enzymes in the body which act as the first line of defence in destroying the free radicals that generated during the oxidation process.

Benefits of Antioxidants: Many studies have reported that antioxidants, especially carotenoids, help in the prevention of diseases such as stroke, heart disease, and cancer. They also prove to be beneficial in the effective treatment of asthma, osteoporosis and certain eye-disorders.  Furthermore, antioxidants are the solution for wrinkles and other aging problems; thus acting as effective anti-aging agents.