The radical is currently called an atom or a group of atoms with an unpaired electron. About these particles it is important to know the following: they can be active and stable. For active antioxidants and free radicals, chain reactions are characteristic. For example, peroxide, or peroxide oxidation of lipids. As a result of peroxide oxidation of lipids, of which cell membranes are composed, dangerous hydroperoxides are formed for the body. What role do antioxidants play? They encounter active radicals and terminate the chain process of peroxidation. In this case, the antioxidant molecule becomes a stable radical. It is thanks to the stability of the particle into which the antioxidant is converted that the chain breaks down.
Excess oxygen in the tissues. The proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere is approximately 21%. Even a small increase in concentration will be stressful for the body. Even ozone, in fact, the modification of oxygen, which protects all life from harmful UV rays, can also be toxic.
Poisoning with poisons. Alas, pollution of the environment also makes itself felt. Mercury is an evaporating liquid. And it is the fumes of mercury that are poisonous. And even more dangerous are organic derivatives of mercury. Mercury and its inorganic compounds, which are widely used in many industries, with sewage fall to the bottom of water bodies.
UV-Ray. On the one hand, they are useful and necessary for our body, under their action in the body, vitamin D is formed. Doctors recommend ventilating rooms to "let in" the useful ultraviolet into the house, since it has antiseptic properties. And at the same time under the influence of ultraviolet free radicals are formed. The solarium is also harmful.
Having received a beautiful tan , you can grow old ahead of time.
Flavonoids. There are ten groups of flavonoids, five of which are colorless, for example, catechins. They easily oxidize and change color. The remaining five groups of flavonoids are colored, these are the pigments of leaves, flowers, fruits, berries.
Vitamin E. It is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. Now vitamin E is added to almost all creams. By the way, artificial antioxidants are analogues of vitamin E.
Coenzyme Q or ubiquinone. Also probably a well-known component of creams. Coenzyme Q10 is best known. This vitamin is present in all cells of our body. Until recently, scientists talked more often about the antioxidant activity of vitamin E. It turned out that ubiquinone is also a very strong antioxidant.
Vitamin C. In small amounts, too, is an antioxidant.
Steroid hormones. It turns out that our hormones take part in the antioxidant defense of the body.
Hormone thyroxine. This hormone is produced by the thyroid gland and contains iodine. Accordingly, to have thyroxine in our possession, iodine is needed.
Selenium. It's also an important element. Selenium is a constituent part of the enzyme, which exhibits antioxidant properties.
Amino acids and glutathione. Amino acids are part of the enzymes. And methionine is an indispensable amino acid, that is, the body can not produce it. Hence, in our diet should be products that contain methionine.
Aging - alas - the process is inevitable. Affects lifestyle, bad habits, nutrition. Over the past decades, 200 theories and hypotheses of aging have been proposed. One of the first places among them is the free radical theory. Accumulation of products of peroxidation and free radicals reduce the activity of enzymes, disrupt the function of cell membranes, resulting in an excess of pigment - lipofuscin - in the cells. This pigment is a complex of oxidized fatty acids with a protein. Moreover, the greater the degree of unsaturation of acids and the greater their oxidation, the more the pigment of old age is formed. At the same time with age, the activity of enzymes that fight with destructive processes, and other protective factors decreases. Hence, the body needs additional protection.
There is evidence that antioxidants reduce the effect of carcinogens. And free radical processes, respectively, contribute to the development of cancer. The data that the researchers get is very contradictory. However, if carcinogens are acting on the body for a long time, the consequences will be noticeable. And here, a very important role is played by what we eat and how food is cooked. Healthy and properly cooked food is useful to everyone. When frying, the fats contained in the products are usually heated to 160-200 ° C, and even higher.
Of course, at this temperature, even useful unsaturated fatty acids are oxidized and converted into forms that are dangerous to health. Therefore, the ideal way to process food is steaming. And vegetable oils, which are very useful for our body, should be used for dressing salads. Every day, or even several times a day, we eat fried. Think about it. It's not so easy to force yourself to eat boiled meat with cauliflower cooked for a couple, but it's worth it.
Antioxidants are part of cosmetic products. But this is not enough. After all, free radicals attack the whole body, and not only skin ages. Food is very important.
Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils: sunflower, olive, corn and others. Also, vitamin E is rich in wheat germ. Therefore, it is better to eat bread from a meal of coarse grind or with bran. As for the large amount of carbohydrates in flour products. From one or two slices of bread will be more good than harm. It is better to eat less cakes and other sweets.
Flavonoids. The sources of flavonoids are vegetables and fruits, for example, artichokes. Catechin is contained in cocoa. Therefore, it is better to give preference to bitter chocolate than to milk chocolate.
Selenium can be found in coconuts, pistachios, garlic.
Most of all iodine is found in sea kale, as well as in other seafood.
Ubihinon is found everywhere. By the way, from the lat. ubique - everywhere, everywhere. Therefore, it is very difficult to talk about the deficiency of coenzyme Q.
Sources of amino acids are proteins. Do not give up meat and soup. Because there are essential amino acids that are simply necessary for our body, for example, lysine. This amino acid is found only in bones and cartilages.