What Are Antioxidants?

We read about the antioxidant properties of certain foods and supplements almost every day, but do you know what they are, and why they are needed?

Antioxidants are crucial for helping protect your liver damage, and if the reopening of the UK’s pubs and bars has had you rushing to grab a drink in the sunshine, you’d be well urged to familiarise yourself with the importance of antioxidants and supplements to keep your liver healthy.

 

So, what are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause harm if their levels become too high in your body. They’re linked to multiple illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease.

Luckily, your body has its own set of antioxidant devices to keep free radicals under control. However, antioxidants are also found in food, especially in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based, whole foods. Several vitamins, such as vitamins E and C, are effective antioxidants.

Antioxidant preservatives also play a crucial role in food production by increasing shelf life.

 

How do free radicals function?

Free radicals are constantly being formed in your body. Without any antioxidants, free radicals would ultimately cause very serious harm to your body and eventually lead to your death.

But free radicals serve an important role in several functions of the body that are essential for maintaining your health. For instance, your immune system uses free radicals to fight infections, and as a result, your body needs to maintain a healthy balance of free radicals and antioxidants.

When free radicals outnumber antioxidants, it can lead to a state called oxidative stress, and prolonged oxidative stress can damage your DNA and other important molecules in your body, sometimes even leading to cell death.

If your DNA becomes damaged, some research has suggested that it can play a role in the ageing process.

There are several lifestyle, stress, and environmental factors that are known to promote excessive free radical formation and oxidative stress, including:

  • air pollution
  • cigarette smoke
  • alcohol intake
  • toxins
  • high blood sugar levels
  • high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids
  • radiation, including excessive sunbathing
  • bacterial, fungal, or viral infections
  • excessive intake of iron, magnesium, copper, or zinc
  • too much or too little oxygen in your body
  • intense and prolonged exercise, which causes tissue damage
  • excessive intake of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E
  • antioxidant deficiency

Oxidative stress has been linked to many diseases, in particular fatty liver disease. Your liver plays an important role in helping detox your body, filtering out the nutrients from the waste products in your blood.

There are many causes for liver disease, from alcohol abuse, obesity, autoimmune deficiencies, to reactions to chemicals or drugs, and there are over 100 different types of liver disease.

However, if diagnosed early, you may be able to prevent any further damage to your liver, and it can even regenerate itself.

If you’re looking for antioxidant liver detox supplements to keep your health in check, visit our online store today.