Antioxidants is a term that has become popular for a long time. These substances are used in various aspects of human activity (including medicine), so it is important to understand what they are, what they are for, how they work and what the consequences may be.
Functions
The mechanism of action depends on the characteristics of a particular substance. But antioxidants have a common feature – they trigger a chain of specific reactions, the essence of which is to interact with free radicals and convert them into inactive forms.
The latter are gradually destroyed, while additional oxygen is released. This mechanism of action clearly shows why humans need antioxidants.
Types
Antioxidants are classified into natural and synthetic, synthesized in the human body itself or entering it from the outside.
They are also divided according to enzymatic activity. According to this criterion, these substances are classified into non-enzymatic and enzymatic. The latter include various proteins that trigger various reactions in the body.
The group of enzymatic antioxidants includes vitamins (tocopherol, ascorbic acid, carotene), phenols (tannins, flavonoids), lycopene. Another classification criterion is solubility.
Antioxidants are divided into lipophilic and hydrophilic. The former dissolve in lipids, the latter in water. This criterion affects the availability of a particular compound, the completeness of its effect on the body.
Antioxidants in food
Antioxidants are found in a wide variety of foods. They are rich in fruits and berries – blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, cherries, plums, strawberries. Apples are powerful natural antioxidants. These compounds are found in dried fruits, tea and coffee. Red wine is also an antioxidant. From vegetables it is worth giving preference to artichoke and beans.
Foods rich in antioxidants include freshly squeezed juices. Of these, drinks made from citrus fruits, apples, pomegranate, and black ash are considered the best. Natural antioxidants are also found in foods such as nuts and spices. Of the latter, the choice should be given in favor of turmeric, cloves, saffron, rosemary.
Using Antioxidants
The most powerful antioxidants (natural and artificial) are widely used in various aspects of activity. They are indispensable in the composition of products, in medicine, cosmetology.
Antioxidants in the food industry
It is important to know what antioxidants are for in the food industry, where they are widely used. The main task is to extend the shelf life of products. Unlike canning, the use of antioxidants is safer for food quality. Both natural and artificial compounds are used. The most popular in such cases are phenols as antioxidants, ubiquinones, ascorbic acid, tocopherols.
As food additives, these compounds are widely used in the production of sausages and fish products, dairy products, confectionery, semi-finished products. They not only lengthen the shelf life, but also improve the taste of food. Antioxidants are an integral part of dietary supplements, vitamins. This is due to the fact that many vitamins have the corresponding activity, which explains their widespread use in these products – they are classified as both food supplements and medical preparations.
Antioxidants in medicine
After it became clear what antioxidants are, you should understand why they are needed in medicine. The main rule is dosed use as an addition to the main therapy. The biochemistry of antioxidants-vitamins determines their widespread use in treatment regimens for various diseases. Carotenes and tocopherols protect intracellular structures from destruction by free radicals.
The activity of free radicals and antioxidants allows scientists to assume that in the future this mechanism can be used to significantly extend life. Work in this area is being actively carried out, but so far no methods have been developed to radically extend life.
Antioxidants in cosmetology
Products containing a large amount of antioxidants include not only foods, but also cosmetics. Manufacturers use the beneficial properties of these substances to improve the quality of skin and hair, slow down aging. Antioxidants in cosmetics are presented in the form of extracts of various plants and fruits: grapes, green tea, ginkgo, rosemary, pine, chestnut.
The presence of these compounds in creams, serums, balms, shampoos and other cosmetic products has a number of beneficial properties for the skin and hair. Antioxidants fight free radicals, splitting them into oxygen and water, thereby saturating the outer layer with moisture, improving its metabolism.
This mechanism helps fight premature aging and reduce the severity of already existing age-related changes.
Also, creams and other products with antioxidants help to eliminate small defects in the skin and hair, nourishing them. These substances improve cell renewal, the outer cover becomes elastic and more elastic, the blood vessels of the dermis are strengthened, and the severity of inflammatory reactions is significantly reduced.
Antioxidants for the skin of the face and body are also useful in that they prevent the harmful effects of solar radiation. Therefore, they are found in products for natural and artificial tanning.
All these facts give an idea of what antioxidants are used for in cosmetics. In cosmetology, these compounds are used as part of special preparations that are used in peelings, mesotherapy and other procedures. This helps to smooth and improve skin color, saturates it with moisture and oxygen, prevents aging, and eliminates minor cosmetic defects.
Interesting facts about antioxidants
- Green tea is an antioxidant. Black and other varieties of this drink contain beneficial compounds with similar activity to a lesser extent.
- Molecular hydrogen also has antioxidant activity. It is contained in our body, due to which, among other things, the elimination of cancer cells is carried out.
- When using freshly squeezed juices to saturate the body with antioxidants, they should be diluted with boiled water, the maximum amount is 1 glass per day. If you have problems with the organs of the digestive tract, you should refuse to use them.
