Antioxidants: Our Natural Protectors
Parris M. Kidd, PhDAntioxidants protect us. They are our bodies' natural defences against oxidant agents that damage or destroy our tissues, initiating disease and accelerating normal aging.
Antioxidants protect us. They are our bodies' natural defences against oxidant agents that damage or destroy our tissues, initiating disease and accelerating normal aging. Our defence team of antioxidants includes enzymes, minerals and nutrients such as vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, glutathione, taurine, carotenoids and flavonoids.
Whenever these antioxidant defences are breached, whether through mineral or nutrient deficiencies, or simply excessive oxidative challenge, oxidative reactions self-propagate and explode out of control, mutating DNA, crippling enzymes and disrupting membranes. As cells disintegrate, oxidative products leak out of cells to travel around the body and attack at other sites. As they escape antioxidant restraints, oxidative processes can amplify into inflammation.
The inflammatory response
Inflammation is the immune system's response to tissue injury. It eliminates the offending agent, removes the debris and initiates healing. However, the immune system employs oxidative activity to do its work. If oxidation gets out of balance, inflammation can cascade out of control. Long-term, chronic inflammation is implicated in atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and other cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, intestinal malabsorption conditions, cataracts, macular degeneration, osteoporosis, prostate hypertrophy and multiple degenerative brain diseases, including Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and dementia.
Nancy Hillis
Michelle von Hahn
Alexa Everett
Laura Bolt