Herbal Anti-Oxidant Facts

There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that supports the efficacy of antioxidants. A recent survey by the American National Institutes of Health found that there have been 45,250 articles published in numerous biological and medical journals relating to studies on the use of antioxidants in health.

Antioxidants are agents that disable the havoc rendering molecules called free radicals. The body generates free radicals as a by-product of living, when we burn fuel within the cells, exercise, fight infections, are exposed to pollution, tobacco smoke, ultraviolet light or radiation we create free radicals. Even when we breathe some of the oxygen that we need for life is changed into a free radical and in an attempt to be stable steals electrons from other molecules producing what is known as oxidative damage. Oxidative damage of cholesterol is what increases your risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Oxidation of DNA can accumulate in the body and eventually lead to cancer, ageing and degenerative disease. Your antioxidants are there to stop this accumulation of damage. When we are young our body has a large defence force of antioxidants that it makes to stem the damage of free radicals but as we age, or if free radical levels increase, our defence force weakens and we need the assistance of supplem ental antioxidants.

Plant antioxidants are now recognised as an important source of protection against free radical damage. Some of the most powerful of these are in Table 1.

Table 1

Lycopene is now recognised as one of the most important carotenoid antioxidants. Numerous studies have shown lycopene to be far superior to its relative beta-carotene. Lycopene is believed to be protective against mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, colon and rectum cancer. It is known to reduce the risk of prostate cancer in males by 45%. Lycopene has been shown to be much more powerful for reactive oxygen's than beta-carotene and it has been shown to mitigate the harmful effects of radiation, as does Gingko biloba. OPC'S play an important role in regenerating the body's own antioxidants as does Milk Thistle.

As antioxidant nutrients work as a team a supplement should supply a broad combination of herbs to give you the best of what is now recognised as 'fountain of youth.'