why are anti oxidants required for the body?

Answer 1

I've Seen people Make a Great Deal Out of Orally Administered Antioxidants, I Think These Will All be Swamped By Antioxidants Produced Naturally By the Body, Consider Urate.

Answer 2

Researchers have proved that the degeneration of all the various body e.g. with aging, is a process which has been likened with the oxidation process in physics and chemistry.
In the body there are chemical by-products of normal metabolism that act as catalysts thus speeding the oxidation reaction i.e the ageing process and its accompaniment.

Vitamin E is one of the many substances that has the property of being an antioxidant i.e. it removes the oxidising factors.

THE FUTURE OF ANTI-AGEING TREATMENT MAY LIE IN ANTI-OXIDANTS.

Answer 3

Principally, all metabolic processes of human body utilize 'molecular oxygen' for the purpose of oxidative reactions. We have not yet fully understood each & every mechanisn of incorporation of molecular oxygen in biochemical reactions that occur in our body. One of the established theories suggests that oxidative reactions generate 'free radicals' which are chemically most reactive entities. These free radicals naturally & realistically are assumed to be responsible for cellular damage.Anti-oxidants are the substances which take 'care' of these free radicals.All nutritional studies have 'statistically' shown that consumption of anti-oxidants in diet is usefull for humans.Examples are- Ascorbic acid,Vitamin E (Tocopherols),Zinc, Selenium etc. One can not give a definite list & exact proportions of these substances for inclusion in our diet. Because till date conclusive 'Evidence' for exact mechanisms of anti-oxidants has not been given. Hence a nutritional 'fashionable' trend is found 'World-wide' is to include an anti-oxidant in either a food supplement or 'Tonic-supplement'. With a claim of having 'anti-aging' properties. It is much better to consume foods containing natural anti-oxidants,which mainly include all types of vegetables & fruits.

Answer 4

All living organisms maintain a reducing environment inside their cells. All cells contain complex systems of antioxidants to prevent chemical damage to the cells' components by oxidation. These antioxidants include glutathione and ascorbic acid and are substrates for enzymes such as peroxidases and oxidoreductases.

Antioxidants are widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements used for health purposes such as preventing cancer and heart disease. Studies have suggested antioxidant supplements has benefits for health, but several large clinical trials did not demonstrate a definite benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may even be harmful.

Research suggests that consumption of antioxidant-rich foods reduces damage to cells and biochemicals from free radicals.This may slow down, prevent, or even reverse certain diseases that result from cellular damage, and perhaps even slow down the natural aging process. This is the basis for the free-radical theory of aging.

Some studies suggest that by destroying free radicals and reducing cellular damage, antioxidants in the diet can have positive health effects, such as preventing macular degeneration (studied in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study);maintaining the immune system;potentially preventing neurodegeneration due to oxidative stress;preventing DNA damage; and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Any specific antioxidant may perform only a small fraction of these functions. The mixed results from controlled studies using antioxidant vitamins suggest that other antioxidant substances in fruit and vegetables at least partially explain the better health of those who consume more fruit and vegetables.

hope this helps

Answer 5

They combat free radicals which build up in the body and cause ailments like cancer.

Well-known antioxidants include lycopene, found in tomatoes, watermelons and some red fruits, and catechins, in green tea.