Antioxidant Supplements

About Antioxidant Supplements

Antioxidants are essential nutrients for maintaining health and preventing the development of chronic disease. The two sources of antioxidants are those we synthesize within our body (endogenous), such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, and antioxidants we ingest through food or supplements (exogenous). The enzymatic antioxidants that the human body synthesizes also require cofactor nutrients in order to neutralise free-radicals. For instance, the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase requires zinc, copper and manganese to function.

Antioxidants reduce our burden of oxidative stress, which if left unchecked can lead to heightened damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. This may enhance the processes associated with chronic disease and perhaps speed the aging process. The antioxidant potency of a food or supplements can be assessed by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Some of the highest foods on the ORAC scale are dark chocolate, pecan nuts and elderberries. Two to three squares of dark chocolate (at least 85% Cocoa) each day provides robust antioxidant support and is a source of essential minerals, such as magnesium.

A quality diet contains a broad range of antioxidant-rich foods. This can be visually assessed by the range of different coloured foods on your plate, as different phytochemicals offer different colours. Selecting from a broad range of different coloured fruits and vegetables ensures a balanced range of natural antioxidant compounds. When it comes to antioxidants, variety and synergy are key.

Some antioxidants have close relationships within the body, in that they support the regeneration of each other. For this reason taking a broad range of antioxidants, rather than one single antioxidant in high doses, is perhaps the best approach. A classic example of this is the regeneration of glutathione sulfhydryl, which requires Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Lipoic Acid. Supplementing with glutathione alone will lead to a lot of oxidised glutathione, which is basically glutathione that has "done its job".

There is a natural synergism inherent within the biochemistry of the human body wherein the sum of two can be greater than the total of them separately. For example, 1 + 1 (antioxidants taken individually) = 5 (benefit when taken together). A little synergism can go a long way when it comes to antioxidants. Other great sources of antioxidants are green tea, olive leaf extract, quercetin (a bioflavonoid), astaxanthin (found in krill oil) and Ubiquinol.