How Do Antioxidants Damage The Body

The primary task of antioxidants is to stop free radicals before they damage the body. Free radicals are primarily a by-product of oxygen. During aerobic metabolism, each cell in the body utilizes oxygen to make energy so that it can do its job. Just as burning wood forms smoke as a by-product, the body creates by-products called free radical oxidants, or free radicals, when cells burn oxygen. These dangerous free radicals cause extra oxygen to damage cells in the body as they react to molecules in and around the cells. A free radical floating around in the body seeks another molecule to make it whole. Unfortunately, when it binds to another molecule, it tears cell walls, rips pieces of DNA, or changes the chemistry of cell structures. When
this little bit of damage is magnified by millions per second, the body suddenly has a disaster on its hands. Over time this cellular damage ages the body and facilitates various disease processes. Antioxidants prevent this negative cascade of events, which explains why it’s so important that you always have adequate antioxidant levels in your body to protect you. When the body has enough antioxidants to fight damage, it stays healthier and doesn’t age as quickly. There are four levels of defense that antioxidants help to protect the body.
The first is it keeps free radicals from forming in the first place. They also prevent heavy metals from sparking oxidation. Prevention is vital, since oxidation causes the body to break down and become weak. The second is it intercepts oxidizing radicals that have already formed and stop them from multiplying. Unless the body has ample defenses, oxidizing chain reactions will make it vulnerable to further damage. The third is it gets to work on damage already caused by oxidation. The body has an amazing ability to heal, and with this defense system it can clean up messes already progress. Antioxidants go through and wipe out oxidants. The four and last defense is it remove the molecules that are severely damaged and beyond repair. During this process, antioxidants clean up the debris and toxins generated by free radical damage. Antioxidants are found in food as amino acids, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidant powerhouses that prevent as well as clean up free radical damage. For example, vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents oxidative damage in cells, keeping cell walls from breaking down by protecting the essential fatty acids within those cell walls. Vitamin E is best known for protecting skin cells from ultraviolet radiation (UV rays); it also keeps stored vitamin A from
deteriorating. Base on my dietary intake, I have been getting enough of antioxidant because my diet generally consists of various groups of food that have them.
For example, I have been eating fruits like oranges, grapes, and tangerine as part of dessert in each meal. In addition, I also ate carrots, kale, spinach, and other vibrant vegetables that contain carotenoids. Lastly, I make sure I consumed green leafy vegetables such as spinach, brussels sprouts, and broccoli, which are great sources of vitamin. I prefer to consume these nutrients as part of a colorful whole food diet so that I don’t need to take any supplement in order to compensate a deficiency in my
body.