What Are Antioxidants?

What are antioxidants?

1. Your defense mechanism against free radicals
2. They can be sourced from your diet
3. Your protection against chronic diseases
4. They fight the symptoms of aging

There are many benefits to drinking pure barley grass powder every day. Aside from its high fiber content which can be good for your gut health and digestion, it also contains a high amount of antioxidants. But what are antioxidants and their benefits? Keep on reading to learn more!

Your Defense Mechanism Against Free Radicals

Free radicals are harmful compounds that can cause cell damage by breaking them down over time. These are produced as your cell byproduct, but levels increase in your body in response to smoking, UV exposure, alcohol drinking, eating fried foods, and pollution.

The damage happens because free radicals absorb electrons from other molecules, causing oxidative stress. When this continues, it can increase your risk for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and diabetes. It can also cause symptoms of aging including hair loss, wrinkles, and greying hair.

To keep free radicals in check, your body naturally produces antioxidants—such as glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid. It provides electrons in place of your cells, acting as a switch to neutralize these unstable compounds. But because free radicals in your body can become prevalent, you need to source additional antioxidants from your food.

They Can Be Sourced from Your Diet

Aside from producing them in your body, antioxidants can also be sourced from your diet—whether through food or supplements. Many nutrients can act as an antioxidant. Even meat sources contain these beneficial compounds, but you can get more from fruits and vegetables. Several vitamins can neutralize free radicals—such as vitamin C.

Good sources of antioxidants include barley grass, green tea, coffee, and dark chocolate. A healthy plant like barley grass is rich in essential nutrients—including vitamin A, C, K, flavonoids, enzymes, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), chlorophyll, and polyphenols—which fights oxidative stress. These also offer many health benefits for your body, making it stronger against diseases.

While you can get them from food, antioxidants can also be sourced from health supplements. You must choose a product that comes from a reputable brand, with good reviews and high-quality manufacturing standards.

Your Protection Against Chronic Diseases

Because of their capacity to neutralize free radicals, antioxidants are vital in protecting you from certain chronic diseases. Two of the most commonly known vitamins—vitamins C and E—which are found in barley grass may prevent cardiovascular diseases due to their capacity to scavenge oxygen free radicals and inhibit oxidation of bad cholesterol.

Flavonoids are also found in Barley grass, having 94 mg per 100 g. Dietary intake of flavonoids is associated with a decreased risk for gastric cancer in Europeans and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Catalase, an enzyme that is also found in this plant, has also been studied in its effects against certain cancers.

If you like to drink coffee, it might also come as a pleasant surprise that it also contains beneficial antioxidants such as polyphenols which can reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol in addition to fighting free radicals. Green tea, a popular drink for its health benefits, also contains catechins that fight cell damage aside from having anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties.

They Fight Symptoms of Aging

Antioxidants help your body fight symptoms of aging—whether it’s brain degeneration or skin aging. This is because they neutralize free radicals which have a lot of negative effects on the body when the level becomes too high.

Studies suggest that oxidative stress might be a factor in brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why more researchers are studying effective treatments against free radicals. In animal studies, the dietary supplementation of antioxidants has helped prevent the effects of aging on antioxidant mechanisms in the brain.

When it comes to skin aging, vitamin C is an antioxidant that is often used topically to fade hyperpigmentation and promote collagen production. Aside from this, oral supplementation might also be effective. A long term study suggests that ascorbic acid, when taken orally with vitamin E, could help reduce sunburn and DNA damage due to UV exposure.

Key Takeaway

What are antioxidants? In simple terms, they are molecules that neutralize free radicals in your body. This prevents the harmful effects of oxidative stress such as chronic diseases and symptoms of aging. While your body produces them, they can also be sourced from food and supplements—such as barley grass powder, coffee, green tea, chocolate, and vitamin C capsules.

Barley grass is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin A, C, K, flavonoids, enzymes, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), chlorophyll, and polyphenols. If you’re interested in this plant, you can try Santé Barley™ capsules and powder. Organically produced in New Zealand, you can assure that it is made from high-quality and pure barley grass.

If you’re interested, Santé also offers Daily C, Fusion Coffee, Fit N’ Trim with green tea, and Choco Barley at the online store.