How antioxidants minimise the effects of harmful free radicals.

Here is how antioxidants minimise the effects of harmful free radicals.

Free radicals are simply unstable atoms. Perhaps the most well known free radical which effect us all everyday is our very own Oxygen atom. Every time we breathe we are subjecting ourselves to free radicals. The Oxygen atom has a nucleus in the center with tiny electrons circling around it like satellites orbiting the earth. Any atom that has eight electrons in its outer orbit is stable, but oxygen has only six. It is therefore very unstable and it needs two more electrons to stabilise.

When Oxygen comes into contact with other atoms it may steal two electrons from them, this produces a fire like reaction that releases heat energy. Alternatively the oxygen atom may simply attach itself to one or more atoms to share electrons, as it does with hydrogen to make water (H20) or carbon to make Carbon dioxide (CO2). Either way this is called “oxidation”.
In your body, oxygen captures electrons from digested food releasing the energy you use for all the activities in your body. This process produces CO2 which you exhale, but what remains in your body are electron-deficient molecules called “free radicals”. Free radicals are highly reactive, short lived molecules that can damage proteins, fats, and even DNA inside of our bodies. Every day our cells get about 75 thousand free radical hits to their DNA. They are dangerous because they roam through your body attempting to replace their missing electrons by stealing electrons from your vital cells and causing damage which usually disables their ability to reproduce as healthy normal cells. Scientists agree that oxidized compounds wrinkle your skin, damage internal organs, damage DNA and contribute to the signs and symptoms of early aging. The natural way to resist oxidized damage is to provide your body with anti-oxidants
Please note: the essential function of an antioxidant is to supply electrons to electron-deficient free radicals so they no longer steal electrons from vital cells.
What science has shown is that we benefit from a variety of antioxidants, so in any case don't rely on a single source, remember variety is the spice of life!

Hopefully that clears up the question of why we need antioxidant rich foods, now let us look at the findings from Horizon concerning vitamins and minerals.
A rather unscientific test was conducted on 5 pairs of twins over 3 weeks. One twin was given a diet of 5 a day standard fruit and veg and the other a diet of Superfoods. After 3 weeks a blood test showed that although the Superfood group had eaten more nutrition, they had no higher levels of vitamins in their blood than the control group. It was concluded therefore that the body only takes the nutrition it requires and excretes the rest. Therefore excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals are not necessarily required?

An interesting conclusion, however, if, as the test suggest, the body only takes the nutrients it requires, it poses the question, ‘does the body always require the same amount of nutrients?’ Is it not logical to suggest that during times of sickness, stress, or physically demanding activity the body may require far more? During such times if by eating superfoods an excess of nutrients were available, would the body not utilise them? Imagine if for some reason the body were to require more nutrients and they were not available, what would be the outcome?

Trying to draw any conclusion from such a small test is unreasonable but if anything it highlights the difficulty in trying to quantify the benefits of ‘Superfoods’. There is after all no way of studying prevention and few ways to quantify a feeling of well being often expressed by those people on a ‘Superfood’ rich and balanced diet.

This small ‘Horizon’ study would perhaps have been better off questioning the subjects on how they felt rather than trying to come up with a scientific conclusion. True Scientific Studies which have sought to find the benefits of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are often conducted over several years, one of the largest published studies was the Nutritional Intervention Trials in Linxian (Blot et al. 1993). In that study, in a population of 29,584 subjects, a daily dose of 15 mg b-carotene, 30 mg vitamin E and 50 mg Se over a 5-year period significantly reduced overall mortality by 9%, mortality from cancers by 13 %, and specific gastric cancer mortality by 21 %. These results were consistent with results of observational studies on the protective effects of antioxidant nutrients, and especially b-carotene.

Creative Nature ‘Superfoods’, as with all plants have evolved over millions of years and we humans have evolved with them. We have developed a synergistic relationship. If a plant contains high levels of nutrition there is a good reason for it!

I would question the validity of any programme which surmises that organic nutritious foods are no better for you than pesticides or pharmaceutical drugs, common sense and intuition surely dictates otherwise!

To conclude I would suggest that as with most things in life the experience is of greater value than the theory. Try incorporating Superfoods into your diet and feel the benefits for yourselves. (28/02/08)