If we really and truly understand how important powerful they are , we would ensure that take full advantage of this GIFT OF NATURE. Yes, Antioxidants are crucial to good health.

What are Antioxidants?

They are natural compounds that help protect our body from Harmful FREE RADICALS.
So you ask : What are Free Radicals ? In laymen’s terms , they are atoms or groups of atoms that can damage our cells , thus causing serious damage . They can cause damage to our DNA
To understand what free radicals do , I’ll share a simple example : you know when you have a bite into an apple and leave it exposed to air , then change of colour takes place ( Oxidation). This is a result of oxidation or free radical damage . It’s also like what happens when a knife gets rusty . Free radicals cause a form of rust in our bodies

Free radicals are very unstable because they have lost an electron and must then steal electrons from our cells to become stable again . Once they steal electrons from our cells , damage starts
Antioxidants sacrifice their own electrons to the free radicals so they become stable and unable to cause damage without they becoming free radicals themselves . That’s how Antioxidants protect us

Some Impact of free radicals on our health :
🎯Impair the immune system which can lead to infections
🎯Activate degenerative diseases like cancer and heart disease
🎯Cause inflammation which leads to diseases like Arthritis
🎯Cause Premature aging
🎯Oxidative stress in our cells, tissues and organs

How are they formed ?
Understanding this can help us protect ourselves
🎯From Polluted Air
🎯From cigarette smoke
🎯Exposure to Radiation
🎯Household chemicals
🎯From the various metabolic processes like regular digestion , breaking stored fats down for energy , breathing in and out
🎯Exposure to the sun’s rays

Do you now realise how important antioxidants are and why we need to consume them in diet and from supplements

Watch out for the next part on Antioxidants