What is the Big Deal With Antioxidants

We hear about antioxidants all the time. They are referred to in news articles, blogs, and so often used in marketing products many of us have become skeptical of their value nutritionally. Most of us even know and understand that they are something that prevents damage from free radicals. But, few of us ever really think about how important and versatile that function can be.

Free radicals are molecules that have an extra oxygen attached to them, making them negatively charged. Nature does not like this, so that extra oxygen molecule will attach to other molecule, changing its state and starting the process over again in a chain reaction. That is the chemical explanation for the process, most of us know it as “rust” and we see it every day. When our cars rust, they are being oxidized and become much weaker, function poorly, if at all, and break easily. The “rust proofing” industry has grown up to protect our investment in our cars.

Our bodies are rusting everyday and we normally do very little about it. In truth, if you are eating a balanced diet with a lot of different, fresh fruits and vegetables, you may not need to add more general purpose antioxidants. Most of the people I know, including myself, find it very difficult to eat just such a diet. This creates a gap in our nutrition that can cause many different illnesses, inflammation, pain, and suffering.

Antioxidants are not part of an anti-aging program. The only way to stop aging is permanent and not recommended. It is part of a healthy aging program. I like to say I am not going to live forever, but I am going live while am alive.