glossary

Jul 5, 2016

Antioxidants are active substances that help protect our body against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that arise from many physiological and environmental events. Smoking, pollution, physical activity, sunlight, and conversion of food into energy, are all bodily processes that produce free radicals. Although naturally occurring, an excessive concentration of these molecules can cause oxidative stress that could potentially lead to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc. Antioxidants molecules counteract oxidative stress by interacting with free radicals and inhibiting their action on cellular membrane. Examples of antioxidants include vitamins C and E, selenium, glutathione, and carotenoids.