Finding a Natural Antioxidant Supplement: Finding a Better Life
Antioxidants are saviors for the body. They protect against free radicals, one of the largest contributors to aging. Free radicals break down cells, organs and the body as a whole, and open the door for numerous diseases including cancer. The average person's diet, however, does not always include enough of these vitamins, and a natural antioxidant supplement may be necessary to keep up the body's defenses.
The Antioxidants
Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants. Their health-promoting properties are innumerable, and most people are aware of them. Still, in a world characterized by the drive-thru and the dine-in, it is not always possible to get the right balance of antioxidants. It is estimated that upward of 30 percent of Americans take antioxidant supplements to fill the voids in their diets. However, like with most vitamins, antioxidant supplements are not enough. Consumers must be educated and knowledgeable about what they are taking, otherwise the positive effects and benefits of the natural antioxidant supplement will be lost, and may even become counterproductive.
The Supplements
A natural antioxidant supplement is as simple as that: it is naturally-occurring. This means the sources of the vitamins included within were not created in a scientific laboratory. This is an important distinction for consumers to make, since synthetic vitamins are often not as beneficial as the natural variety. The body, designed to break down the vitamins as found in fruits, vegetables and meat, is not as efficient at breaking down the mass-produced imposters.
People should take small doses of more than one natural antioxidant supplement. This is far more productive than taking large doses of one vitamin. Some bodies are better at absorbing vitamin A while others have trouble processing vitamin E. With mono-vitamin supplements, there is always the risk that the individual is not really making a difference at all, unless his or her body is efficient with antioxidants in general.
A natural antioxidant supplement is not meant to be a cure-all. It does not create a specialized defense system out of vitamins impenetrable by sickness, disease or death. An antioxidant boosts the existing immune system in the body. For some people, these supplements may not be enough. The body's existing antioxidants are much more successful when it comes to defending the body than any ingested vitamins or supplements. For these individuals, a natural antioxidant supplement will not be able to make up for the deficiency apparent in the body, and they will more than likely need to seek medical attention to solve the problem.
In the end, good health is all about balance. Too much of a good thing can be as equally harmful as too little. A natural antioxidant supplement is only as good as the body it enters; people still need to take care of themselves. These supplements cannot make up completely for bad diets and poor exercise, but they can help.
