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| Ageing and a variety of age-related conditions such as heart disease and cancer have been linked to oxidation processes within the body that take place due to an excess of reactive molecules, also known as "free radicals". A diet with a high content and wide variety of antioxidant nutrients appears to offer some health advantage. Regularly eating a wide variety of plant food is better than relying on a few antioxidant supplements. In the body, certain molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are normally produced as part of the defence system and as by-products of cellular metabolic processes utilising oxygen. These include smoking, drinking alcohol, too much fat in the diet, too much sun exposure, too many pollutants in the air and even too much exercise. Antioxidants are substances that reduce oxidation and so counteract the reactive species. Treatment & Prevention There are many compounds with so-called antioxidant properties that are derived from food, but foods, with antioxidant potential may or may not realize that potential in vivo for various reasons. Naturally-occurring antioxidant vitamins include carotenoids (which may also be pro-vitamin A), the vitamin E family of compounds (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and vitamin C. An advantage in getting antioxidants from food is that there are literally thousands of different antioxidants in the human diet and they are numerous in chemical types. They may therefore act in integrated systems or cascades in which antioxidants may remove free radicals within the biological system to safer destinations. Unfortunately, many of us do not choose a healthy diet, despite having access to the necessary foods: 'junk food' often replaces 'real food' in our day-to-day choices. High intakes of antioxidant nutrients from food sources appear to offer some health advantages. Vitamin and mineral supplements do not necessarily make up for 'poor food habits' or 'unhealthy lifestyle choices'. |
| Antioxidants Increased Fruit/Vegetable Consumption |