Antioxidants – The Guardians of Your Cells
November 11, 2022 - Updated May 22, 2023 It should go without saying that maintaining good health goes together with a good and nutritious diet. Whole grains, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables all contain essential nutrition that provides your body with the energy it needs to carry out cellular functions, prevent disease, and maintain overall well-being. Antioxidants play a crucial role in all of those categories. You may already be familiar with antioxidants. Increased public awareness regarding antioxidants has been experienced as of late, in addition to facts about antioxidants being used more and more in marketing and advertising. The goal here is to help you understand what antioxidants are and how they benefit your body. As a result, you will be able to make more informed choices about your diet. Remember, as well, to get plenty of exercise to stay as healthy as possible throughout your life. Let's start with offering a bit of information to help you better understand oxidants and the role they play in your body. Then we'll follow it up with some facts about antioxidants and their benefits. We'll wrap everything up with a quick FAQ section.What are Antioxidants and Oxidants?
Oxidants are free radicals that cause chemical reactions with other molecules in your body, a process known as oxidation. Oxidation occurs naturally through internal bodily processes, but becomes imbalanced due to external causes including the following:- Air pollution
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise, etc.
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Heart disease
- Cancer
Berries

Green Tea & Matcha

Dark Chocolate

FAQs
Q: What do antioxidants do for the skin?
A: Pollution, UV rays, and other environmental aggressors attack the surface of your skin causing damage by free radicals. To help protect your skin's surface, antioxidants are crucial. In fact, the best antiaging products and formulas use antioxidants.
Q: What is the most powerful antioxidant?
A: One of the most important and powerful is that of glutathione. Three amino acids combine to form this antioxidant – cysteine, glutamine, and glycine – which helps to create the relationship between antioxidants and aging. Through your circulatory system and intestines, antioxidants help fight off aging, protecting the body's organs, tissues, and cells in the process.
Q: Are there antioxidants in coffee?
A: The good news regarding antioxidants being found in wine and chocolate can further be improved by the fact that antioxidants are also found in coffee. In fact, in addition to red wine and tea, it's one of the most antioxidant rich drinks you can consume. Here are a few related numbers that give you a more precise idea of the antioxidant content of each of the previously mentioned beverages:
- Per glass of red wine, 150 to 400 mg of antioxidants
- In 1 cup of tea, 200 to 550 mg of antioxidants
- In 1 gram of cocoa powder, 50 mg antioxidants (polyphenols, a type of antioxidant)
Q: Which kind of coffee has the most antioxidants?
A: If you're a coffee lover, the following "types" of coffee will make sense to you because you've likely seen them on a package in your home or on the shelf at the grocery store (they are rated by the highest content of antioxidants to the lowest):
- Robusta coffee
- Blonde coffee
- Medium roast arabica coffee
Q: How do antioxidants prevent cancer?
A: Free radicals in the body are tracked down by antioxidants which then neutralize any effects of the free radicals normally considered harmful. As a result, the body has healthier cells which aren't as susceptible to developing cancer.
It's clear, or certainly should be by now, that antioxidants should be included in a healthy, well-balanced diet. With all of the sources available, you are bound to come up with at least a few that can be added to a meal or two throughout your day. Be sure to include them in Thanksgiving dinner and other holiday meals so everyone can enjoy the benefits of antioxidants.
If you can't find enough antioxidant rich foods to supply the level you need, you can always turn to an antioxidant supplement. There are numerous selections on the market today.