What are anti-oxidants and why do we need them?
Oxidation, which is a regular function of metabolism and cell funtion, strips an electron from certain molecules. These molecules ( called free radicals) then must steal an electron from a neaby molecule to repair themselves, which means that the neaby molecule must steal an electron from another molecule and on and on. This vicious oxidation cycle ends when an electron is taken from a molecule which has an excess electron to donate. These ‘donor’ molecules are called anti-oxidants and are provided by nature in Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene, Selenium etc. In biological systems, removal or addition of an electron constitutes the most frequent mechanism of oxidation-reduction reactions. These oxidation-reduction reactions are frequently called redox reactions. Researchers almost univerally blame oxidation for premature aging and degenerative diseases.
