Antioxidants are getting a lot of attention these days. But what exactly are antioxidants and why are they beneficial? 

Here's a simple fact about antioxidants: they're natural compounds that can help prevent or repair free radical damage to your cells.¹ Free radicals are unstable molecules produced in response to environmental factors such as pollution, smog, and the sun's UV rays. They cause inflammation and cell damage, which can lead to diseases such as heart disease and cancer.    (Arnarson, 2019)

If you wish to enhance your overall health, including antioxidants in your diet is an excellent place to start. While our bodies produce some antioxidants naturally, we must also obtain them through our diet and supplements. 

The most popular antioxidants today are vitamins C and E, selenium, and carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein.² Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grain products, meat, fish, and livestock, are all packed with antioxidants. (Antioxidants | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, n.d.)

Antioxidants provide a handful of advantages. The following are some of the most common key benefits.

Lower Cholesterol and a Healthier Heart

Consuming more antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, and legumes is linked to a lower risk of chronic oxidative stress-related diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and high blood pressure. 

Antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E have also been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.³ These antioxidants are thought to prevent cholesterol in the blood from being converted into substances that can form blockages in artery walls, resulting in blood flow obstructions. (Antioxidants, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene & Cardiovascular Disease, 2019)

Eye Disease Prevention

Antioxidants like Vitamin E protect the eye from macular degeneration. Vitamin E protects the macula, an essential tissue deep in the back of your eye that controls central vision, from deterioration.⁴ These may help lower your risk of Acute Macular Degeneration by up to 25%. Antioxidants can also help slow down the progression of the disease if you already have Macular Degeneration. (Antioxidants: Are They Good For You? Pros and Cons, 2020)

Vitamin E combined with Vitamin C reduces the likelihood of developing cataracts, which are hazy films that form on the retina's surface.⁵ The disease's most common symptoms are blurred vision and difficulty focusing on bright lights. Cataracts can cause blindness if they are not controlled or removed. (Meacham et al., n.d.)

Sharp Memory and Improved Brain Health

The hippocampus is a brain region responsible for memory and learning. Free radicals and oxidative stress do not only kill hippocampus cells, but they also prevent new brain cell growth.⁶ Fortunately, antioxidants help protect your brain from these free radicals that target functioning brain cells.  (Oxidative Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Upstream and Downstream Antioxidant Therapeutic Options, n.d.)

Antioxidants also help postpone various types of mental impairment, such as memory problems. The emergence of illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer's disease are both linked to oxidative stress, and antioxidants have been shown to reduce the amount of oxidative stress in the body.⁷  (Brain Anatomy and How the Brain Works, n.d.)

Relief From Anxiety and Depression

One study found that patients with Generalized anxiety disorder and depression have relatively low levels of antioxidant vitamins than healthy or otherwise normal comparison groups.⁸ Vitamin supplementation resulted in lower levels of anxiety and depression. This is because consumption of antioxidant-rich foods and supplements aid in the elimination of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the cause of hormonal imbalances in the body, which leads to depression and anxiety. (Role of Antioxidants in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression, n.d.)

Aside from alleviating depression and anxiety, antioxidants such as whole grains, particularly oats, slow down the body's capacity to absorb carbohydrates. When this happens, the body releases carbohydrates gradually or slowly into the bloodstream. As a result, both your energy levels and your mood remain stable.

Antioxidant For Your Daily Needs

Consuming healthy foods but unsure whether you're getting enough antioxidants? Seek advice from your doctor; your doctor may recommend an effective diet plan and vitamins that can help  increase your antioxidant levels.

If you are looking for an antioxidant to help you boost your immunity against inflammation and to fight free radicals, consider taking dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) Pharex^® E as a supplement and for daily protection.

It has 400 IU of dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate as Vitamin E which helps protect the body against sickness-causing elements. 

dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) Pharex^® E is only Php 9.95 per tablet.

Take one (1) capsule daily along with proper diet and regular exercise. For more information about the proper dosage and intake of this vitamin, you can consult your doctor. Don't forget to check out the latest updates about antioxidants here!

If symptoms persist consult a doctor.

ASC Ref. Code: P0006N032224P

¹Arnarson, A. (2019, July 29). Antioxidants Explained in Simple Terms. Healthline. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained
²Antioxidants | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/
³Antioxidants, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene & Cardiovascular Disease. (2019, April 22). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16740-antioxidants-vitamin-e-beta-carotene--cardiovascular-disease
⁴Antioxidants: Are They Good For You? Pros and Cons. (2020, November 16). WebMD. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-antioxidants#1
⁵Meacham, J., Olsen, N., & Villines, Z. (n.d.). 4 essential vitamins for eye health. Medical News Today. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326758#vitamin-e
⁶Oxidative Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Upstream and Downstream Antioxidant Therapeutic Options. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724665/
⁷Brain Anatomy and How the Brain Works. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/anatomy-of-the-brain
⁸Role of antioxidants in generalised anxiety disorder and depression. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3512361/