2007-02-03 19:08:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
they are biochemicals that prevent the content of your blood and cells from being oxidized by free radicals. hence the name anti-oxidant.
What are free radicals? They are rogue chemicals that disrupt the normal function of your body. Your cells has a special place to deal with oxidation-type chemical reactions. An acid is an oxidizer, for example. You don't want acid to run free in your blood, right? So free radicals are bad. And if they mess around with your DNA, some times that can cause cancer.
Most times, free radicals are just junk your body needs to clean up. So eat less artificial stuff. Those tend to cause more free radicals.
Beauty/ageing: free radicals can hurt your connective tissues. This will directly cause your skin to lose its youthful look. So they make you age quicker.
Vitamin C is one of the antioxidants. Now that word won't sound mysterious or somehow magical. Don't let the labels mislead you. No vitamin supplement can replace good eating habits. Fruits and vegetables are good for you.
2007-02-03 19:13:01 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Lee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Antioxidant" is a classification of several organic substances, including vitamins C and E, vitamin A (which is converted from beta-carotene), selenium (a mineral), and a group known as the carotenoids. Carotenoids, of which beta- carotene is the most popular, are a pigment that adds color to many fruits and vegetables -- without them, carrots wouldn't be orange, for example. Together as antioxidants, these substances are thought to be effective in helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, the oxygen molecule. The oxygen molecule wants to be oxidized and this oxidation process can sometimes be carcinogenic. Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells.
2007-02-04 03:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by ThinkaboutThis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They help strengthen your system against free radicals in the cells, which form when you are exposed to environmental toxins or form them in the course of metabolizing. They alter the natural chemistry of your cells, leading to damage.
In a nutshell, immunity protection.
2007-02-04 03:15:18 · answer #3 · answered by musicimprovedme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They clean the toxins out of your body. vitamin c prevents free radicals. Green tea is cleansing and water also.
2007-02-04 03:12:49 · answer #4 · answered by JAMI E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that it has to do with the destruction of oxidation in your body... and it's supposed to keep you healthier.
2007-02-04 03:11:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they help keep your body from breaking down in old age. im not sure how much it really works.
2007-02-04 03:12:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antioxidats are supposed to fight the free radicals that cause cancer.
2007-02-04 03:11:31 · answer #7 · answered by FaceFullofFashion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are agents that boost your immune system to fight diseases
2007-02-04 03:11:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋