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The Daily Insight

What are your antioxidants

Author

Sophia Edwards

Published Mar 13, 2026

Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you’re exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.

What are antioxidants give an example class 12?

Complete answer: – When food gets oxidized, free radicals are generated which have bad effects on our body. Antioxidants react with these free radicals and stop further oxidation of food. – Examples of antioxidants are Butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT and Butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA.

What is an antioxidant in simple terms?

In simple terms, an antioxidant is a chemical compound that protects cells against the effects of free radicals (molecules produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to pollutants such as tobacco smoke or radiation).

What are antioxidants Class 10 examples?

Vitamins C and E, selenium, and carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are examples of antioxidants.

What are the top 5 antioxidants?

  • Artichokes. …
  • Goji Berries. …
  • Raspberries. …
  • Kale. …
  • Red Cabbage. …
  • Beans. …
  • Beets. Beets, also known as beetroot, are the roots of a vegetable scientifically known as Beta vulgaris. …
  • Spinach. Spinach is one of the most nutritionally dense vegetables.

What are antioxidants Class 11?

The substances that act against oxidants arc called antioxidants. Antioxidants thus minimize the damage caused by oxidants. Antioxidants protect us against cardio vascular disease, cancer and cataract and they slow down the effect of ageing.

What are the most powerful antioxidants?

Glutathione is the most powerful and important among the antioxidants our body produces. It’s a combination of three amino acids; it tackles ageing through the intestines and circulatory system.

What are antioxidants give two examples of water soluble antioxidants?

Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene are among the most commonly studied dietary antioxidants. Vitamin C is the most important water-soluble antioxidant in extracellular fluids.

What is antioxidant in biology?

Antioxidants are defined as substances that inhibit or delay the oxidation of biologically relevant molecules either by specifically quenching free radicals or by chelation of redox metals [113].

Is Zinc an antioxidant?

Zinc in human plays an important role in cell mediated immunity and is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Zinc supplementation studies in the elderly have shown decreased incidence of infections, decreased oxidative stress, and decreased generation of inflammatory cytokines.

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How do antioxidants help immune system?

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. In making this sacrifice, they act as a natural “off” switch for the free radicals. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell and other cells in the body.

Where are antioxidants found?

Sources of antioxidants They are most abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods including nuts, wholegrains and some meats, poultry and fish.

How can I increase antioxidants in my body?

  1. Vitamin A: Dairy produce, eggs, and liver.
  2. Vitamin C: Most fruits and vegetables, especially berries, oranges, and bell peppers.
  3. Vitamin E: Nuts and seeds, sunflower and other vegetable oils, and green, leafy vegetables.

What food have antioxidants?

Broccoli, spinach, carrots and potatoes are all high in antioxidants, and so are artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale. Using lots of spices in cooking is good.

Is vitamin E antioxidant?

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with several forms, but alpha-tocopherol is the only one used by the human body. Its main role is to act as an antioxidant, scavenging loose electrons—so-called “free radicals”—that can damage cells.

Is Tea an antioxidant?

Spotlight on tea and antioxidants. Polyphenols, or flavonoids, are likely a key component to what makes tea a healthful drink. These chemical compounds act as antioxidants, which control the damaging effects of free radicals in the body.

Why antioxidants are bad for you?

However, high-dose supplements of antioxidants may be linked to health risks in some cases. Supplementing with high doses of beta-carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Supplementing with high doses of vitamin E may increase risks of prostate cancer and one type of stroke.

What is the most important natural antioxidant?

The most important natural antioxidant is Vitamin E.

Is coffee a antioxidant?

Antioxidant activity of coffee is related to chlorogenic, ferulic, caffeic, and n-coumaric acids contained in it [12]. In roasted coffee, melanoidins (brown pigments) are synthesized—these are strong antioxidants [13]. In some publications, caffeine and trigonelline are considered to be antioxidants also [14].

What is antioxidant in chemistry?

Antioxidant Agents An antioxidant is the substrate that prevents the oxidation of molecules inside a cell. It is a well-known chemical process that allows the removal of electrons or hydrogen from a substance. Free radicals are produced during the biological oxidation reaction.

Which oxide is an example of antioxidant is?

Ascorbic acid is a redox catalyst which can reduce, and thereby neutralize, reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. In addition to its direct antioxidant effects, ascorbic acid is also a substrate for the redox enzyme ascorbate peroxidase, a function that is used in stress resistance in plants.

Which is natural antioxidant?

Some of the most commonly used natural antioxidants are tocopherols, rosemary extract or ascorbic acid, which are increasingly being sought after by companies in the food industry because of their many benefits. Over the centuries, nature has developed different compounds to prevent the oxidation of lipids.

Is Omega 3 an antioxidant?

In particular, the fish oil n-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and doxosahexaenoic (DHA) acids have demonstrated the most promising and consistent cardioprotective effects, including anti-inflammatory, vasodilating, anti-arrhythmic, and antioxidant properties.

Is Vit C an antioxidant?

There is interest in the antioxidant role of vitamin C, as research has found the vitamin to neutralize free radical molecules, which in excess can damage cells. Vitamin C is also involved in the body’s immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells.

What makes Vitamin C an antioxidant?

Vitamin C is a monosaccharide oxidation-reduction (redox) catalyst found in both animals and plants. The antioxidant effect of vitamin C is due to its ability to donate electrons from both the second and third carbon.

Are all vitamins antioxidants?

Some food nutrients, especially vitamin C, E, and carotenoids are well-known antioxidants; however, other vitamins such as Vitamin K, Vitamin D, Niacin, Pyridoxine and Riboflavin that may have antioxidant potential are usually not put into consideration.

Do bananas have antioxidants?

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants, and bananas are no exception. They contain several types of potent antioxidants, including flavonoids and amines ( 3 ).

How much antioxidants do we need daily?

Whilst there is no “official” daily recommended intake of ORAC units, various researchers suggest an optimal intake to be 3000-5000 ORAC units per day, and the USDA have come up with a suggested intake of 5000 ORAC units per day.