Good nutrition is vital in our lives as it greatly influences our health and well-being. We already know that a balanced diet is key to obtaining proper nutrients. 

However, that’s not entirely true!

Micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger affects over 2 billion people globally. Unfortunately, we fail to keep up with a healthy diet for numerous reasons, and it has become very difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle due to our busy schedules. 

This, in turn, leads to the production of free radicals that damage cell production, ultimately affecting your overall health. 

But, How To Prevent The Production Of Harmful Radicals?

Antioxidant supplements like Vitamin C and E help fight the free radicals our body produces in response to stress, pressure, and the environment. These supplements have high concentrations of antioxidants, which stabilize these free radicals. The best antioxidant supplements prevent certain cancers as well.

Antioxidant supplements include different vitamins and minerals that act as antioxidants. These are also known as dietary supplements. Dietary supplements can also include fatty acids, enzymes, amino acids, or other substances such as pills, liquids, tablets, capsules, etc. 

Many health experts advocate dietary supplements to help fulfill the daily nutrient requirement and bridge the necessary dietary gaps. So these help in improving overall health and well-being. 

Nowadays, multiple dietary supplement options are available in the market, and it becomes difficult to select which one to choose and why. Keep reading to learn more about dietary supplements.

In this blog, we look at the different types of antioxidants and understand their consumption in detail. 

What Are The Different Types Of Antioxidants?

Various substances can act as an antioxidant, and each one has its own contribution toward helping the body to work effectively. 

Here are some examples of antioxidants that we obtain from outside the body:

1. Vitamin C
2. Vitamin A
3. Vitamin E
4. Beta-carotene
5. Lutein
6. Selenium
7. Manganese
8. Zeaxanthin

Other antioxidants are found in plant-based food, like flavonoids, flavones, polyphenols, catechins, and phytoestrogens.

Benefits Of  Antioxidant Supplements

Besides meeting the nutrient requirements, dietary supplements also have other benefits. Here are some of the benefits of the supplement. 

1. Improved immune function:

Certain antioxidant supplements such as Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and others help strengthen immunity by protecting immune cells from getting damaged by free radicals.

 As a result, they can help reduce the risks of nutrient deficiencies, leading to various health issues. This way, consuming antioxidants over regular intervals and in prescribed amounts can be a game changer in maintaining your overall health. 

2. Important for your heart:

Whether antioxidants can reduce a person’s risk of developing heart disease is a highly debatable topic. On the one hand, studies indicate that those who consume more fruits and vegetables have decreased odds of developing heart disease and stroke. 

Nevertheless, there is no such proof that antioxidant supplements prevent heart disorders. According to some experts, this is related to the greater antioxidant content in supplements. The key may be getting antioxidants from food, but additional investigation is required to see whether there is a true correlation.

3. Improve age-related macular degeneration:

Adults over 60 commonly have AMD, one of the most frequent causes of irreversible visual loss. It occurs when the macula, a crucial area located deep in the back of the eye, deteriorates. It may eventually cause you to lose your core visual field.

However, if you regularly consume antioxidants, things are different, as they reduce your risk of AMD by as much as 25%. Besides, antioxidants can assist you in maintaining more of your eyesight if you already have AMD.

What’s more? Antioxidants like vitamins C and E help reduce the risk of cataracts. These protein accumulations obstruct the front lens of the eye, leading to hazy vision. Moreover, antioxidants may halt the growth of cataracts, preserving superior eyesight for longer.

4. Slows down signs of aging:

Antioxidant supplements like Vitamin C and E help fight the free radicals our body produces in response to stress, pressure, and the environment. These supplements have high concentrations of antioxidants, which stabilize these free radicals. The best antioxidant supplements prevent certain cancers as well.

Additionally, consuming antioxidants protect our skin from the damage caused by the UV rays from the sun and other pollutants. It helps improve skin texture and promotes healthy skin. 

5. Supports cognitive function:

Antioxidants reduce the risks of cognitive decline by protecting the brain from damage caused by free radicals. What’s more? Daily supplements are easy to take and convenient to ensure you get all the necessary nutrients. 

Therefore, they act as a form of a balanced diet of nutrients to ensure that you don’t miss out on necessary vitamins and minerals in your everyday hustle. 

In What Quantity Should Antioxidant Supplements Be Consumed?

There are terms that are written on vitamin tablets that help to understand how much you should take. 

Here are some guidelines:

1. RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) and AI(Adequate Intake): These are the amount a vitamin or mineral must be taken to stay nourished and healthy. 

2. UL(Tolerable Upper Intake Level): The maximum amount of vitamins and minerals you can take daily without risking overdose or serious side effects. There might be complications if you go higher than UL for certain nutrients. 

3. DV (Daily Value): This measurement is found on food and supplement labels. It denotes the number of vitamins or nutrients you need for top health from a diet of 2000 calories per day. 

How Much Is Too Much?

Here are some things you must keep in mind regarding high doses of antioxidant supplements:

1. Some supplements are riskier than others: RDA and UL levels differ for various vitamins and minerals. The upper limit is pretty close to the RDA for some vitamins, so it’s easy to get too much. On the other hand, with some vitamins, you can safely take a dose much higher than the RDA or DV without coming close to the UL. 

High doses of fat-soluble vitamins like E and K and Vitamin A can build up in the body and become toxic. Minerals like iron and selenium are some other examples of risky supplements. 

2. Supplements are an addition to your diet: They are supplements that help in filling the gaps. So, popping the pills is not equivalent to having good health. 

3. Often UL is the limit for all nutrient sources: This includes the number of vitamins or minerals you get from food and supplements. So once you have figured out that you have reached the UL of a nutrient, you can take it into consideration while making food choices. 

Now You Know!

This brings us to the end of our blogs on the different antioxidants, how they’re good for your body, and how it becomes effective in the long run. So now that you have an idea of the good and the bad, we hope you have sound knowledge of antioxidants and how to use them. 

However, while you’re at it, remember the market is filled with options and numerous antioxidant brands. Therefore, ensure that you don’t end up purchasing any random brand. Instead, always go for the one designed to meet your physical well-being.