{"id":4856,"date":"2023-06-16T09:04:39","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T02:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=4856"},"modified":"2023-06-16T09:04:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T02:04:39","slug":"what-are-antioxidants-what-do-they-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=4856","title":{"rendered":"What Are Antioxidants? What Do They Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Antioxidants are one of those compounds you hear about all the time, but their functions, benefits, and sources aren\u2019t always clear. This article is for everyone who\u2019s ever wondered \u201cwhat are antioxidants, and am I getting enough of them?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s separate myths from facts and look at which vitamins have antioxidant properties, which foods are high in antioxidants, and what the benefits are of antioxidants in your diet.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>What Are Antioxidants?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nccih.nih.gov\/health\/antioxidants\/introduction.htm#science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Antioxidants<\/a>\u00a0and antioxidant-like compounds are substances found in foods like fruits and vegetables that may prevent or delay certain types of cell damage. \u201cThey\u2019re the body\u2019s way of fighting toxins and inflammation,\u201d says\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.caitlinselfnutrition.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caitlin Self<\/a>, MS, CNS, LDN, of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalnutrition.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Frugal Nutrition<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAntioxidants can be consumed in certain known vitamins, like vitamins\u00a0A,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/5-vitamin-c-rich-foods-to-eat-that-arent-oranges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">C<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0E,\u201d explains Liz Wyosnick, MS, RDN, owner of the Seattle-based practice\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/equilibriyum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Equilibriyum<\/a>. There are also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/what-are-phytonutrients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">phytochemicals<\/a> (chemicals derived from plants) that have antioxidant-like properties, such as selenium\u00a0and\u00a0zinc, and some carotenoids,\u00a0flavonoids, and phenols.<\/p>\n<p>Most foods boast a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2841576\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unique blend and amount of antioxidants<\/a>\u00a0and antioxidant-like compounds \u2014 from apples to walnuts and goji berries to spinach \u2014 but don\u2019t worry about specific levels or combinations, says Self: \u201cEat the rainbow to get a wide range of antioxidants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>How Do Antioxidants Work?<\/h2>\n<p>Antioxidants and antioxidant-like compounds can help prevent or counteract the oxidative stress that results from exposure to highly reactive atoms called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3249911\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">free radicals<\/a>. Wyosnick likens this stress to a gradual rusting in the body.<\/p>\n<p>Free radicals can form as a product of normal metabolic processes in the body, including those associated with exercise and the conversion of food to energy. They can also result from environmental factors like X-rays, smoking, and pollution, explains Wyosnick.<\/p>\n<p>By altering the chemical structures of cells, free radicals have the potential to damage them and their components, including cell proteins and DNA. Antioxidants serve as a balancing agent in an otherwise toxic environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Should You Take Antioxidant Supplements?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162134\/nootropics-header-e1570835093571.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-161281\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162134\/nootropics-header-e1570835093571.jpg\" alt=\"supplement pills in hand | antioxidants\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162134\/nootropics-header-e1570835093571.jpg 700w, https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162134\/nootropics-header-e1570835093571-715x358.jpg 715w, https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162134\/nootropics-header-e1570835093571-394x197.jpg 394w, https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162134\/nootropics-header-e1570835093571-340x170.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Supplements can serve as a handy backup if you\u2019re not getting enough antioxidants in your diet. Of course, that may also be an indication that you need to make some changes to your grocery list. That\u2019s why Wyosnick recommends trying to get your antioxidants primarily from whole foods.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpinach is a great source of antioxidants because it\u2019s spinach, not because it contains carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin,\u201d she explains. \u201cTaking lutein on its own may not give you the same benefits as a simple spinach salad\u2026 The food always has the perfect combination of compounds for assimilation and utilization by the body.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for how to choose that food, Wyosnick has some advice: \u201cI encourage my clients to allow the season and their taste preferences to guide them when choosing food sources of antioxidants, and to aim for diverse colors of these foods, as often as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When that\u2019s not possible, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teambeachbody.com\/shop\/us\/b\/shakeology?ICID=BLOG_SHK_PKS_DESSERT&amp;refsource=Blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shakeology<\/a> contains antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E and superfoods like camu-camu and pomegranate, which have antioxidant properties, all in a form factor that\u2019s convenient and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/shakeology-desserts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">versatile<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Antioxidant Benefits<\/h2>\n<p>Since oxidation is happening all the time in the body, antioxidants have their work cut out for them \u2014 and that\u2019s also why antioxidants have broad benefits. But while antioxidants are found in foods like fruits and vegetables that are known to help promote normal function and lower health risks,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nccih.nih.gov\/health\/antioxidants\/introduction.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">it remains unclear<\/a>\u00a0whether it\u2019s the antioxidants in those foods that provide the benefits or something else.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at known benefits\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jofs.in\/article.asp?issn=0975-8844;year=2015;volume=7;issue=2;spage=71;epage=75;aulast=Kattappagari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">linked specifically to antioxidants<\/a>.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162011\/antioxidant-foods.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-161280\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15162011\/antioxidant-foods.jpg\" alt=\"overhead shot of antioxidant foods in bowls\" width=\"700\" height=\"504\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>1. Reduce free radicals<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cEssentially, we have free radicals in our bodies from different exposures and stressors,\u201d Self says. \u201cThey are like a bunch of bulls in a china shop \u2014 they run around wreaking havoc and causing damage in the body. Antioxidants swoop in and neutralize them so they can\u2019t damage our cells.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>2. Stimulate normal cell growth<\/h3>\n<p>Cell death, or apoptosis, is a part of a cell\u2019s life cycle, but free radicals can cause more cells to die off faster in the body.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jn\/article\/134\/11\/3179S\/4688577\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Antioxidants<\/a>\u00a0and antioxidant-like compounds not only help suppress cell death, but also stimulate normal cell growth in healthy individuals.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Protect cells from premature aging<\/h3>\n<p>As we age, our cells regenerate more slowly, but\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/21226664\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">certain types of antioxidant-like compounds<\/a>\u00a0(such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2835915\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">polyphenols<\/a>) can help offset or delay aging-related changes to cells.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Support immune function<\/h3>\n<p>The immune system is \u201cparticularly sensitive to oxidative stress,\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/51064441_Dietary_Antioxidants_Immunity_and_Host_Defense\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according to researchers<\/a>. Antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, and beta-carotene, along with antioxidant-like compounds such as selenium, copper, iron, and zinc, can help keep the immune system strong.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Antioxidants are one of those compounds you hear about all the time, but their functions, benefits, and sources aren\u2019t always clear. This article is for everyone who\u2019s ever wondered \u201cwhat are antioxidants, and am I getting enough of them?\u201d Let\u2019s separate myths from facts and look at which vitamins have antioxidant properties, which foods are &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}