Antioxidant Properties in Tea Antioxidant properties in teas come from their active ingredients. Examples of such active ingredients are flavonoids, polyphenols, theaflavins, catechins and several more others. One of most valuable antioxidant properties in tea is their function to fight against what are called free radicals.
Free radicals or FR are atoms or molecules with an unpaired case of electron – call it a lonesome electron if you will! For this reason, they are highly reactive as an unpaired electron would be ‘seeking’ one more electron to fulfil or complete a pair. Free radicals are biologically produced during metabolism of cells and from external origins like attacks by microorganisms, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, tobacco smoke, ozone, toxic substances and, seemingly, even intensive exercise.
Free radicals have detrimental effects on membranes of cells and internal build ups giving rise to health conditions such as impairment of the immune system, cancer and cardiovascular disease. FRs damage LDL (the ‘bad’ cholesterol), DNA and other molecules as well.
When a person’s system is in balance, his body’s own natural mechanisms are able to combat with free radicals via the utilization of antioxidants or by way of a process termed compartmentalization. Antioxidants in teas via the flavonoids and other elements facilitate such a process. For instance, one of the catechin compounds, EGCG, is an antioxidant more potent than the popular Vitamins of C and E. It is mainly the antioxidant property of EGCG & other polyphenols that provides it its medical value.
A few of the uses of antioxidant properties in tea are that: they scavenge superoxide and free radical; they thwart DNA damage; and they alter the actions of a number of oxidative bio-enzymes and also put off free radical formation, which is enhanced by metals.
It’s therefore well worth consuming if an individual desires to take the gain from the antioxidant benefits of teas. A person could accomplish this by regular consumption of teas in beverage or supplement form. The most ideal supplements are multi-compound products whose various ingredients would work synergistically together to optimize the effect.
The terrific thing about the teas is that they don’t only have antioxidant benefits. A tea’s whole range of natural ingredients bring about an assortment of other health advantages such as maintaining a good skin tone, protecting the vision and managing weight.
Now that you know more about teas and its health benefits, why don’t you start drinking or taking in supplements of this phenomenon.