Comments on: The (silly) battle of the antioxidants http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:20:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anthony Sebastian MD http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9974 Anthony Sebastian MD Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:57:53 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9974 I, too, agree that variety, way to go, for phytochemical benefit. Recent study provides evidence that the so-called anti-oxidants (misnomer, because they have other biochemical/physiological effects in addition to anti-oxidation), when administered in combination, have beneficial effects not seen by any of the individual phytochemical compounds. -- a synergistic effect. See: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.10.050 and references therein. Incidentally, I have no financial or other vested interest in the particular 'anti-oxidant' product used in the study. I, too, agree that variety, way to go, for phytochemical benefit. Recent study provides evidence that the so-called anti-oxidants (misnomer, because they have other biochemical/physiological effects in addition to anti-oxidation), when administered in combination, have beneficial effects not seen by any of the individual phytochemical compounds. — a synergistic effect. See: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.10.050 and references therein. Incidentally, I have no financial or other vested interest in the particular ‘anti-oxidant’ product used in the study.

]]> By: Jess http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9973 Jess Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:48:42 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9973 I agree variety is the key. Stress, pollution, and many other factors can deplete our body's internal antioxidants like glutathione. Taking antioxidants from a variety of fruits and vegetables or even supplements can really help. I agree variety is the key. Stress, pollution, and many other factors can deplete our body’s internal antioxidants like glutathione. Taking antioxidants from a variety of fruits and vegetables or even supplements can really help.

]]> By: Anna http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9972 Anna Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:35:28 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9972 Many, if not most plants, are exposed to a lot of UV radiation. That's one possible need for anti-oxidents. I always wonder about the defensive chemicals (to prevent being consumed) in plants and how they affect us. Clearly some plants are to toxic to consume by animals (including humans) but what about low levels of toxin in plants? particularly over time? Probably during the past 5-12 thousand years of human intervention from agriculture and selective breeding, those chemicals have beed reduced and bred out by now. Many, if not most plants, are exposed to a lot of UV radiation. That’s one possible need for anti-oxidents.

I always wonder about the defensive chemicals (to prevent being consumed) in plants and how they affect us. Clearly some plants are to toxic to consume by animals (including humans) but what about low levels of toxin in plants? particularly over time? Probably during the past 5-12 thousand years of human intervention from agriculture and selective breeding, those chemicals have beed reduced and bred out by now.

]]> By: Erin http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9971 Erin Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:40:23 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9971 Glutathione peroxidase is one of the major enzyme systems that has antioxidant functions. Vitamins that we get from food, on the other hand, work as antioxidants nonenzymatically. Basically, there are a number of ways that radicals are oxidized. Also, there are definitely a lot of antioxidants in fruits (from the Vitamin C and lycopene), but I know that Vitamin E also has antioxidant effects. You can get vitamin E from vegetable oils like sunflower, canola, and olive. Glutathione peroxidase is one of the major enzyme systems that has antioxidant functions. Vitamins that we get from food, on the other hand, work as antioxidants nonenzymatically. Basically, there are a number of ways that radicals are oxidized.

Also, there are definitely a lot of antioxidants in fruits (from the Vitamin C and lycopene), but I know that Vitamin E also has antioxidant effects. You can get vitamin E from vegetable oils like sunflower, canola, and olive.

]]> By: Anton http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9970 Anton Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:02:13 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9970 I'm also curious as to why many fruits seem to contain such high percentages of anti-oxidants. Is it because plants tend to generate so much oxidation and free-radical formation? Why do plants NEED so many anti-oxidants in the first place? I’m also curious as to why many fruits seem to contain such high percentages of anti-oxidants. Is it because plants tend to generate so much oxidation and free-radical formation? Why do plants NEED so many anti-oxidants in the first place?

]]> By: Anton http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9969 Anton Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:57:05 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9969 I am curious. Is there any evidence that the body actually commandeers these plant-based antioxidants and actually uses them to neutralize free radicals? I'm aware that glutathione is considered the primary antioxidant in mammalian systems. But it is generated internally and not eaten. I am curious. Is there any evidence that the body actually commandeers these plant-based antioxidants and actually uses them to neutralize free radicals?

I’m aware that glutathione is considered the primary antioxidant in mammalian systems. But it is generated internally and not eaten.

]]> By: Holistic Health and Healing Information » Blog Archive http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/comment-page-1/#comment-9968 Holistic Health and Healing Information » Blog Archive Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:20:08 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/2007/11/19/the-silly-battle-of-the-antioxidants/#comment-9968 [...] The (silly) battle of the antioxidants [...] [...] The (silly) battle of the antioxidants [...]

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