How truly beneficial antioxidants

Tips Health / by admin / December 19, 2019

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If you believe the marketers, the word "antioxidants" brings health benefits, longevity. The more we get the antioxidants, the better we live.

The benefits of these supplements is actively promoted by doctors, pharmacists and nutritionists. Antioxidants seem to be "an elixir of immortality."

You should not thoughtlessly give yourself and your body in your hands is not always interested in our health. costs enable head and use it for its intended purpose - to think, analyze, compare and draw conclusions. However, this concerns not only health issues.

theoretical antioxidant benefits

antioxidants (Antioxidants, preservatives) - oxidation inhibitors, natural or synthetic substance, capable of slow oxidation (discussed primarily in the context of the oxidation of organic compounds).

The mechanism of action of the most common antioxidants (aromatic amines, phenols, naphthols, etc.) Is interruption of the reaction chain: antioxidant active molecules interact with radicals to form inactive radicals. Even in a small amount (0.01-0.001%) antioxidants reduce the oxidation rate, however for some time period (braking period induction) oxidation products are not detected.
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In more simple, unscientific language, antioxidants are designed to stop the action of free radicals.

Free radicals - is unstable particles, the outer electron shell which may be one or two unpaired electrons. They'll want to pick the missing electron from a neighbor, that is, in your cells. Thus, start a chain reaction that destroys the donor cells (your cells). Unfortunately, we can not control the penetration of free radicals in our body. Their source is the food, the air, the skin reaction or eye retina into the sunlight.

Are antioxidants help neutralize free radicals? Do they help in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases? Moreover, according to the myth, they are not only healing, but also anti-aging effect.

Antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals, giving them the electrons and thereby blocking their harmful effects on the body. The human body can handle free radicals on their own, but it is better not to leave him without a recharge. The main antioxidants are considered to be vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E and selenium. In our body, they can not be synthesized. From these considerations, doctors and nutritionists recommend to include in the diet of foods rich in these substances.

Practice

In theory, antioxidants may be a good prevention of many chronic diseases. However, studies have failed to confirm the fact that the adoption of vitamins C, E and beta-carotene does help fight cancer, heart disease and chronic diseases.

Heart diseases

Several studies have found no difference in the condition of cancer patients who were treated with vitamin E, and those who took a placebo. Only one study in Israel showed progress in the treatment of coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes Type II diabetes (acquired).

Research on the effectiveness of beta-carotene have shown that taking it as a supplement does not affect the patient's condition. The study of vitamin supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium, have shown that they do not reduce the risk of

Cancer

Unfortunately, managed to hold only a few long-term studies in the treatment of cancer patients with antioxidants. Tests with beta-carotene did not show any positive results. Experiments using selenium showed a reduction in the risk of cancer among men, but no apparent benefit to women. The positive effect was seen for men with cancer of the skin, colon and lung.

Output

To date, there is no direct evidence that antioxidants daily decision will save you from cancer or a heart attack. However, these substances continue to be added to many foods that are advertised as healthy. Radio and television broadcasts tirelessly us about the use of beta-carotene in this "miraculous" dry breakfast (yogurt, juice and so on).

That is, at the moment, all this talk about antioxidants - it's just marketing, with which you are trying to sell their ordinary foods with excess sugar for the big money.

The idea is not that antioxidants - it's bad. In natural products contain a huge amount of other nutrients. Green tea, ginger, broccoli, cranberries, without any additives not less useful. Do not think that there is a special porridge in the morning with a high content of antioxidants will lead you to a long life without illness. The body - a complex system in order to maintain that you need to think not only about physical health and nutrition.

Learn how to determine for themselves what is useful to you and what is not. If you eat broccoli through force, gaining favor, you lose the joy and pleasure, and without them to be healthy not succeed.