A lot of hype surrounds a group of compounds found in food called "antioxidants." They are touted as everything from disease fighters to memory protectors to the antidote to aging. What are these compounds? Why are they important? And should you take supplements to get enough (or more) in your diet?
Antioxidants help fight oxidation, a normal chemical process that takes place in the body every day. It can be accelerated by stress, cigarette smoking, and alcohol. When there are disruptions in the natural oxidation process, highly unstable and potentially damaging molecules called free radicals are created. Oxygen triggers the formation of these destructive little chemicals, and if left uncontrolled, they can cause damage to cells in the body. It's much like the chemical reaction that creates rust on a bicycle or turns the surface of a cut apple brown.
Oxygen triggers the formation of these destructive little chemicals, and if left uncontrolled, they can cause damage to cells in the body. It's much like the chemical reaction that creates rust on a bicycle or turns the surface of a cut apple brown.
Antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals and stop the chain of damaging reactions before damage is done to cells.
The human body is not without its own defenses against this damage. It creates many different types of molecules – antioxidants – to combat these free radicals and protect the cells from attack by oxygen. Antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals and stop the chain of damaging reactions before damage is done to cells. There are several enzyme systems in the body that scavenge free radicals, but we can also gain these helpful molecules from foods that we eat. Some vitamins are antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. Some minerals are antioxidants, such as selenium and manganese, and there are plant compounds that act as antioxidants such as beta carotene and lycopene, terms you may have heard before or seen in ads for vitamin supplements.
Many foods are good sources of antioxidants. The table below shows several types of antioxidants, their possible effects, and food sources of each. The big thing to notice is that antioxidants are found primarily in plant foods. The antioxidant minerals, selenium and manganese, are found in small quantities in meats and seafood, but the primary food source of all antioxidants is plant foods.
| Chemical Name | Possible Effects | Food Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Carotenoids (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, lycopene, beta-crpytoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, lutein, and many other related compounds) | Neutralizes free radicals which may damage cells; bolsters cellular antioxidant defenses; possible potential anti-cancer and ant-aging compounds; may enhance the function of the immune system and reduce the risk of many diseases. | Deeply pigmented fruits and vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, tomatoes) |
| Flavonoids (include quercetin, rutin, hesperidin, apigenin and luteolin) | Bolster cellular antioxidant defenses;Â may contribute to maintenance of brain function; may contribute to heart health and boost immune defenses; may contribute to vision and urinary tract health. | Apples, apricots, blueberries, pears, raspberries, strawberries, black beans, cabbage, onions, parsley, pinto beans, black tea, celery, citrus fruits, green tea, olives, oregano, purple grapes, purple grape juice, soybeans and soy products, vegetables, whole wheat, wine |
| Isothiocyanates | May enhance detoxification of undesirable compounds and bolster cellular antioxidant defenses by deactivating carcinogens, counteracting the effects of carcinogens that have been activated, and speeding up their removal from the body; may reduce risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer | Cruciferous or "cabbage family" vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, turnips, collards, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, radish, and watercress |
| Resveratrol | May protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart; may prevent inflammation, reduce LDL cholesterol, and prevent blood clots. | Red wine, red and purple grapes and juice, peanuts, blueberries, cranberries |
| Tannins | May decrease the risk of cancer, potential antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic effects. | Pomegranates, persimmons, nuts, lentils, red and white wine, green tea |
The best way to get a variety of antioxidants in the diet is to eat foods that represent all the colors of the rainbow. Each color provides its own unique antioxidant effects. Bright orange, deep yellow fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and apricots provide one type of antioxidant. Red foods like tomatoes, provide another. Green vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage, and blue or purple foods, like blueberries and eggplant, each have their own antioxidant packages. Curcumin, the substance that makes turmeric yellow, is also believed to offer benefits.
Scientists began to theorize that free radical damage was involved in the early stages of atherosclerosis and might play a role in the development of many other chronic medical conditions in the 1990s. Studies at the time suggested that people who ate few antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables had a greater risk of developing these medical conditions. So began several clinical trials in which antioxidant supplements like beta carotene and vitamin E were tested for their protection against heart disease, cancer, and other conditions.
As a result, "antioxidants" became a buzzword in the 90s, and their benefits were glorified by the media, by the the food industry who began labeling foods as" rich in antioxidants," and by the supplement industry as they began hyping the health benefits of antioxidant supplements. They were even promoted as anti-aging ingredients in beauty products.
Whether they are taken singularly or in combination concoctions, antioxidants could have adverse health effects, as the prostate cancer and lung cancer studies mentioned earlier suggest. Supplementation has also been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer in women. Another study indicated that those who took vitamin A, E, and beta carotene supplements may be at risk for premature death. Excessive intake of vitamin E has also been associated with heart failure and increased bleeding.
Despite numerous studies, no substantial health benefits have been demonstrated for supplemental antioxidants. Antioxidants in food, however, are considered safe.
The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate dietary supplements, and they can be sold with little or no research as to their safety, purity and effectiveness. Dietary supplement manufacturing methods are not always standardized so how well they work and their side effects can differ between brands or even within a brand. The form of a dietary supplement purchased in a drug store or health food store is likely not the same form used in research. The long-term effects of supplemental antioxidants are not known.
Despite numerous studies, no substantial health benefits have been demonstrated for supplemental antioxidants. Antioxidants in food, however, are considered safe.
No one antioxidant can provide the protection that the many antioxidants found in foods and working together can provide.
Until there is more conclusive research, the best source of antioxidants is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Health organizations such as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Institute for Cancer Research recommend getting antioxidants from food instead of supplements until research determines whether supplements are safe and provide the same benefits as antioxidants found naturally in food. There is plenty of research that suggests that whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, all of which contain extensive networks of antioxidants, are beneficial to health.
The best assurance of consuming adequate amounts of protective antioxidants is to eat between five and nine servings of fruits and vegetables representing all the colors of the rainbow every day. Snacking on small amounts of nuts and consuming wine in moderation also contribute to antioxidant consumption.
To prevent the "biological rust" that oxidation and the stress of life can wreak on your cells, help them help themselves by choosing your foods wisely. Your cells need the variety of antioxidants provided by different foods to fight the destructive little molecules that wage war in the body on a daily basis.
