All antioxidants are created equal

All antioxidants are created equal

Any molecule that protects your cells against
oxidation is technically an antioxidant, says
Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at
the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania.
“They’re anti-oxidation.” This includes familiar
nutrients, like vitamins, as well as more unfamiliar
types of antioxidants, like fl avonoids
and polyphenols—about 8,000 varieties in all.
But don’t assume that all antioxidants
operate the same way, Blumberg warns. “You
can’t say, ‘Well, I’m not going to worry about
taking in enough vitamin E, because I take
lots of vitamin C.’ All the vitamin C in the
world won’t substitute for vitamin E,” says
Blumberg. Some antioxidants excel at fi ghting
certain types of free radicals (yep, there are
diff erent varieties of those, too) while others
are eff ective only in specifi c parts of a cell.
Still others can battle free radicals only under
the right conditions.
“Think of antioxidants as an army,” he says.
“You need generals, lieutenants, corporals,
privates, and others with specifi c duties. You
can’t fi ght an enemy with only generals.” So
how do you create an eff ective defense system
The Truth about Antioxidants
in the battle for your life? By building a multipronged
counteroff ensive—er, diet.
Do this Branch out and try something new in
the produce aisle. In a 2006 study, researchers
at Colorado State University found that people
who ate the widest variety of fruits and vegetables
had the most DNA protection.