Chapters authored
Antioxidants from Plant Sources and Free Radicals
Today, many factors such as advancing technology, environmental pollution, radiation, contaminated water, pesticides, heavy metals, stress and oxygen metabolism in living cells inevitably cause the formation of free radicals in the human body. Free radicals are very reactive forms of oxygen that destroy the cells of the organism. This calls for cardiovascular disease, cancer, cataracts, diabetes and many more diseases. To provide solutions to these diseases, firstly, we can eliminate the negative effects of free radicals and prevent the formation of diseases. While there is an antioxidant defense system in the human body that can prevent this, the environmental factors encountered break down this defense resistance and sometimes make it inadequate. We can strengthen our weakened antioxidant defense systems by eating a natural and balanced diet and consuming fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants, thus preventing illness. Research shows that free radicals have a significant effect on aging, free radical damage can be controlled with adequate antioxidant defense, and optimal antioxidant nutrient intake can contribute to improved quality of life. This review is intended to highlight once again the importance of alternative antioxidants in the body to eliminate free radicals and their harmful effects.
Part of the book: Reactive Oxygen Species