Antioxidants are natural chemicals that help to protect the body from destructive free radicals. These are atoms of groups of atoms that can harm cells, disrupt the immune system, and cause infections and other degenerative illnesses such as heart disease and cancer: Antioxidants therefore have a protective effect against illness.
They can be caused by radiation, including exposure to the sun's rays, toxic chemicals such as those found in cigarette smoke, polluted air, and industrial and domestic chemicals, and various metabolic processes such as the breakdown of stored fat molecules for use as an energy source.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells. The body has natural mechanisms, such as enzymes, to neutralize free radicals and prevent them from causing cellular damage.
Four enzymes that eliminate free radicals are superoxide dismutase (SOD), methionine reductase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The body produces these as a matter of course. There are also many phytochemicals and nutrients that serve as antioxidants, including vitamin A, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins C and E, and the mineral selenium.
Eggplant has been found to have high quantities of chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to be a highly effective antioxidant. Melatonin is an antioxidant that is also a powerful free radical neutralizer. Antioxidants are present in certain herbs as well.
Although you can find antioxidants in food, such as sprouted grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, it is difficult to get enough of them from these sources to prevent free radicals from forming. However, we can reduce free radical damage by consuming supplements containing key nutrients. A high intake of antioxidant nutrients appears to offer extra protection against cancer.
Herbs are a great way to supplement your diet with antioxidants. Some herbs that are high in antioxidants include cloves, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric. Adding these herbs to your diet can help protect your body against oxidative stress and damage.
Source: Balch, Phyllis A. “Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition.” A Practical a-To-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Food Supplements, Penguin Books, 2010.
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