Oxygen is critical for life, but when oxygen is utilized, free radicals are also produced. These free radicals are unstable molecules that are capable of attacking DNA which can then increase the likelihood of cancer. The hydroxyl radical, which is produced due to radiation, destroys everything in its path. Dr Denham Harman, a postdoctoral researcher at Berkeley, proposed that free radicals was instrumental to aging.

Free radicals can worsen inflammation, aggravate arthritis or other diseases.

Free radicals do have their uses. Our bodies produce free radicals to destroy viruses, bacteria and cancer cells, but if left uncontrolled, they can turn on our bodies instead.

Why antioxidants are so important

Antioxidants render free radicals harmless. When an antioxidant meets a free radical, it engulfs the free radical to form weak, harmless free radicals that are unlikely to further damage your body.

The book The Antioxidant Miracle: Put Lipoic... lists vitamins C,E, coenzyme Q10, Lipoic Acid and Glutathione as the network antioxidants. Network meaning that they support one another. In addition, flavonoids like those in Gingko Biloba and Pycnogenol are important as they control the free radical nitric oxide. Carotenoids like lycopene that is found in pizza can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Recycling antioxidants

The antioxidants recycle one another. When an antioxidant meets a free radical, engulfs the free radical and becomes a free radical itself, another antioxidant can donate an electron turning it back into an antioxidant again. Vitamin C and vitamin E recycle one another. Lipoic acid recycles vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione and coenzyme Q10. Selenium is essential for the production of glutathione. Together, they form a potent protection against free radicals.

Lipoic Acid

Lipoic acid protects against stroke related brain injury. Lipoic acid protects against cataracts. Lipoic acid protects the heart from damage as a result of heart attacks. Lipoic acid protects the liver and aids recovery from liver disease. Dr Berkson treated a 35 year old woman who had hepatitis C and who was expected to die within weeks. He gave her lipoic acid supplements as well. She recovered quickly. Lipoic acid is found in traces in potatoes and spinach. It is recommended to take lipoic acid supplements.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E can maneuver through the fatty part of the cell membrane and quench free radical there. Vitamin E inhibits tumour growth. Vitamin E prolongs the lifespan of human cells in laboratory tests. Vitamin E traps free radicals that would otherwise cause oxidative damage, triggering the formation of plaque, which can clog the arteries, which in turn may lead to a heart attack. As such, vitamin E protects your heart. There are different types of vitamin E, all of which are important. The natural alpha tocopherol, tocotrienols and the other tocopherols all have important roles in protecting your body. For example, Tocotrienols which are found in rice bra, wheat bran and oat bran clean up the arterial walls, preventing arterial blockage.

We all know that exercise is good for you. But during exercise, more oxygen is utilized, leading to more free radicals being formed. These free radicals damage the muscle cell membranes. After exercise, 99.9% of the damage is repaired, but the remaining 0.1% damage, accumulated over time can cause problems in the future. Vitamin E protects against this damage and should be taken as supplements if you exercise a lot.

Vitamin C

Sometimes said to be a cure for common cold, Vitamin C boosts a persons immunity by its antioxidant action and by the fact that it recycles vitamin E giving added protection against free radicals.

An amazing thing about vitamin C, in addition to the protection it gives as as an antioxidant, is that it enhances the production of collagen. An increase in collagen leads to younger looking skin. The effect can even be seen by applying certain products with vitamin C on your skin. Try Cellex C skincare

Coenzyme Q10

Heart disease is often linked to deficiency in the enzyme Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 also speeds up the recovery of heart patients. CoQ10 enhances the ability of the mitochondria (the power generators in the cell) to produce energy. It should help slow down or even reverse common age related disorders. CoQ10 is used to treat gum disease in Japan.

Glutathione

Glutathione is the cell's primary antioxidant. It is found in the cell sap. Glutathione gets rid of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with iron to produce the dangerous hydroxyl radicals which can change cellular DNA which may lead to cancer. Glutathione also repairs damaged DNA. Glutathione attaches itself to toxic compounds in the liver and makes them water soluble so that the kidneys can flush them out of the body.

Gingko Biloba and Pycnogenol

Both gingko biloba and pycnogenol are flavonoids. They improve memory and concentration, boost the effectiveness of vitamin C and regulate nitric oxide and also quench the hydroxyl radical. These flavonoids protect the heart, reduce inflammation and boosts your immunity. Pycnogenol may slow down cell death in your body.

Food rich in antioxidants

Look younger by using Anti oxidants on your skin