What Is an Antioxidant?
Think of your body like a car engine. The oxygen we breathe acts as fuel, helping our cells produce the energy we need to survive. However, just like a car engine produces exhaust, our cells produce a waste product during this process. This waste is made up of unstable molecules called free radicals.
The Problem: Free Radicals
Free radicals can be dangerous. Because they are unstable, they attack the building blocks of our cells—damaging our proteins, fats, and even our DNA.
- Cumulative Damage: As we age, a single cell can accumulate thousands of these tiny injuries.
- The Risk: Over time, this damage to our DNA can contribute to aging and serious diseases, including cancer.
The Solution: Antioxidants
This is where antioxidants come in. You can think of an antioxidant as a chemical “cleanup crew.” Its job is to find free radicals and neutralize them, turning them into harmless byproducts before they can damage the cell.
The Debate: Do We Need Supplements?
Our bodies naturally produce antioxidants to keep us safe. However, many people believe our natural defenses aren’t enough to handle the extra stress caused by the modern world, such as:
- Cigarette smoke
- UV rays from the sun
- Pollution and radiation
The Theory
The idea is that taking antioxidant supplements (like vitamins) should boost our immune system and act as a shield against cancer.
The Reality Check
While the theory sounds perfect, the science is complicated. Major studies have actually shown the opposite effect in some cases. For example, when smokers were given high doses of Vitamin A and E supplements, they didn’t get fewer cancers. Instead, the antioxidants increased their risk of developing the disease.
The takeaway? While antioxidants are vital for health, getting them from high-dose supplements may not always be the safest path compared to getting them from a healthy diet.
Plants are not only a source of vitamins and minerals: They also contain thousands of phytochemical compounds that play key roles in maintaining plant health.
The phytochemical compounds have very powerful cancer-fighting properties in terms of the processes that occur in the development of cancer.
A diet based on a constant intake of foods that contain exceptionally large amounts of these compounds is the best weapon we have at our disposal today to prevent cancer.