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What in the World is an
Antioxidant?
Okay, so by now you’ve
undoubtedly heard about green tea’s wonderful antioxidant abilities, and
how this particular quality helps it fight dangerous diseases like
cancer and heart disease. But what is an antioxidant, anyway? And why
would anything that’s anti-oxygen be good for you?
Despite their name,
antioxidants don’t work against oxygen. They work against a
chemical reaction called oxidation, the same process that turns
bananas black, rusts metal and makes oil rancid. Oxidation is the
interaction between oxygen molecules and the substances they come in
contact with. When that substance happens to be living tissue, damage
and disease can occur.
Oxidative damage, the
harm caused by oxidation, is primarily caused by free radicals,
highly reactive, unstable molecules that travel around the body wreaking
havoc. Although free radicals can be generated by exposure to UV rays,
toxins, cigarette smoke, microbes and other sources, the most common
source is the oxygen molecule itself.
Oxygen typically travels
throughout the body in pairs, and these two molecules share electrons.
But sometimes this double molecule splits into two separate oxygen
molecules called singlet oxygen. When this happens, there are no
longer enough electrons to go around, so each oxygen molecule ends up
one electron short. This destabilizes the molecule, in a sense throwing
it off balance. In order too stabilize itself, it races off throughout
the body in search of another electron.
But singlet oxygen
doesn’t just wait for a spare electron to float on by. Instead, it
boldly steals one from some other molecule. This destabilizes the “new”
molecule which, in turn, careens off to steal an electron from yet
another molecule. The process of serial "electron stealing" damages
cells, tissues, organs and even entire body systems, and is believed to
be a major cause of cancer, heart disease, aging and many other
conditions.
Antioxidants work against
"electron stealing" by neutralizing and stabilizing free radicals. They
do this by donating an electron so that singlet oxygen and other free
radicals no longer have the urge to “steal.” And while the body does
produce a certain amount of antioxidants for the express purpose of
taking care of such problems, it also needs the added help of
antioxidants found in foods. Among others, these include beta-carotene,
vitamins C and E, the mineral selenium, and various phytochemicals such
as lycopene and quercetin. But the catechins, especially EGCg, are among
the most powerful and effective antioxidants of all.
(For a simplified look at the studies showing
green tea's antioxidant
effects, click here.)
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com,
the most comprehensive collection of scientific information
describing the health benefits of green tea.
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