The Top 5 Antioxidants You Should Be Taking

Check out our list of the top 5 antioxidants you should be taking to improve and maintain your health, below.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant compound. Though it exists in 8 chemical forms, only 1 form meets the requirements for human consumption: Alpha- (or α-) tocopherol.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that stops the production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) formed when fat undergoes oxidation. Scientists are investigating whether, by limiting free-radical production and possibly through other mechanisms, vitamin E might help prevent or delay the chronic diseases associated with free radicals.

The body creates ROS when converting food into energy. Antioxidants like Vitamin E may protect cells from any damage ROS causes.

4. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is the name of a group of fat-soluble retinoids, including retinol, retinal, and retinyl esters. Its antioxidant properties are well known. This vitamin supports

• immune function
• vision
• reproduction
• cell growth and communication
• heart health
• lung health
• kidney health
• maintenance of other organs

It’s especially important for vision, as it is an essential component of rhodopsin, which is a protein that absorbs light in the retinal receptors, supporting the functioning of the conjunctival membranes and cornea.

You can find it in a variety of foods, such as:

• Beef liver and other organ meats (but these foods are also high in cholesterol, so limit the amount you eat).
• Some types of fish, such as salmon.
• Green leafy vegetables and other green, orange, and yellow vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, and squash.
• Fruits, including cantaloupe, apricots, and mangos.
• Dairy products, which are among the major sources of vitamin A for Americans.
• Breakfast cereals.

3. Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a polyphenic bioflavonoid antioxidant made by certain plants and naturally found in food and drinks. It’s produced naturally by plants when they’re injured or being attacked by pathogens (i.e. bacteria or fungi). Its ability to fight off stressors like radiation and infections makes it a great antioxidant supplement. In fact, it’s said to be one of the most potent polyphenols and strongest protections against free radical damage and aging.

The benefits of resveratrol were first discovered when researchers found that yeast, other microbes, insects, and animals that consumed resveratrol experienced an increased life span.

Various studies continued to confirm its amazing anti-aging benefits, demonstrated in studies conducted on fruit flies, fish, mice and nematode worms, all of which lived longer compared to control groups that were not treated with this phytonutrient.

It’s typically found in superfoods like red wine. Did you know that Plato even talked about the benefits of resveratrol from drinking red wine in moderation?

“Nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the gods to man.” – Plato

You can typically find resveratrol in the following foods and drinks:

• red wine
• raw cocoa
• blueberries
• bilberries
• mulberries
• lingonberries
• red grapes

Dosage recommendations will vary depending on your age and current health. Usually, people take between 250 to 500 milligrams per day. It’s important to point out that this is generally lower than the amounts that have been shown to be beneficial in studies, but it’s not clear if taking very high doses is safe.

2) Lycopene

Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables. However, it is not found in cherries or strawberries. It’s actually registered as an official food coloring in the U.S.! Think about how spaghetti sauce stains your cookware — lycopene is usually responsible for that. It’s what gives tomatoes their bright red coloring.

Research studies suggest that taking lycopene may lower the risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease.

Recommended intake has not been officially established just yet. However, according to MayoClinic, most clinical studies have focused on the amount of lycopene-containing foods that participants ate instead of the quantities consumed. Livestrong suggests:

Eating a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables each day may be a more effective way to prevent chronic disease than taking lycopene in supplement form, the American Cancer Society notes.

The ACS suggests eating 5 servings of deeply colored fruits and vegetables per day to get the benefits of lycopene. Benefits include:

• cancer prevention
• helps fight against HPV
• promotes eye health
• lowers neuropathic pain
• improves brain health
• lowers blood pressure
• promotes heart health
• relieves bone stress

You can find lycopene in common food and drinks such as:

• tomatoes or canned tomato paste
• watermelon
• grapefruit
• guava
• apricots
• carrots
• red cabbage
• mangoes
• papaya

Research suggests that C60 has antioxidant properties and can even lengthen lifespan. In a recent study with lab rats, researchers found that C60 doubled the lifespan of rats. Over the course of 30 hours, the gastrointestinal tract absorbed the dissolved buckyballs and released it from the body with no harm. Other researchers say that even though it is excreted from the body quickly, some long-lasting changes in organs and cells must have been created such as strengthening DNA. In the end, the lifespan of the rats was doubled.

“Our results show that while olive oil treatment can lead to an increase of 18% of lifespan of treated rats, C60 olive oil can increase it up to 90%, as compared to controls. The effects of olive oil on health and ageing are well known, and its effect as a function of dose has been thoroughly discussed. But, what is noteworthy is that all C60 treated rats were still alive. Thus, based on previous investigations, C60 should be the most efficient ever material for extending lifespan.”

C60, as the researchers found out, is a very powerful antioxidant. It is very well armed to fight against the negative effects of free radicals. Even more interesting is the fact that during this study, the C60 dosing protected the liver.

They were able to confirm, through this study, that C60 is a “powerful liver-protective agent” that operates under a “free radical scavenging mechanism.”