Grape Seed Extract Reference Guide
What is an Antioxidant?
What is an Antioxidant?
You have heard this word probably a million times but maybe don’t know exactly what it is. An antioxidant is a chemical that reduces oxidation of a specific context that produces a chemical reaction. In other words, an antioxidant is a chemical that can get rid of toxins and other foreign substances in the body brought in by food, drinks or air.
The word antioxidant originally referred to a chemical that prevented the absorption of molecular oxygen. In the 19th and 20th century antioxidants were researched in the industrial field in the way of metals and rubber. But early nutrition researchers focused on the antioxidants in food particularly in unsaturated fats.
The antioxidant prevents these substances from doing damage to the cells. All cells contain antioxidants that can help reduce damage to them but they need help with herbal medicines too. A diet that contains what is called polyphenol antioxidants. The contents of the polyphenol antioxidant mainly come from nutrition in such foods as cherries, pears, cabbage, green tea and even chocolate.
Dietary supplements carry antioxidants to help them in the use of preventing certain types of cancer. Such as breast and possibly colon cancer, clinical trials are on going to test the extract in prevention of cancer.
Antioxidants as a whole can promote eye and eye degeneration such as cataracts. They keep the body’s immune system in running order and can even boost the immune system with extra doses of antioxidants. It is said to help in slowing down the aging process in both the brain, keeping the mind alert and in the nervous system. Antioxidants can even assist the body in lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase the HDL (good) cholesterol. Eating food rich in antioxidants or taking a dietary supplement such as grape seed extract and increase your chances for a long happy life.
