Antioxidants Essay

The subject of Chemistry is one that deals heavily with a comprehension of the natural world and the individual details that make up an entire system. I was introduced to this course my sophomore year as I took on Honors Chemistry. As a student who grasps material best with hands on projects, this class fueled my excitement to be able to understand a complex subject using planned out lab procedures. From titrations to calculating the amount of copper in a solution, Chemistry gave me an opportunity to bring my own speculations into a class rather than being told directly what is occurring in a scientific process. The fascination of this class is what directed me to take AP Chemistry my senior year of high school. Even with the difficulty of

Vitamin A and D have showed unexpected and crucial effects on immune system. Vitamin A includes innate immune towards microbial infection, absence of vitamin A can increase the chance of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infection. Also excessive intake of vitamin A Is associated with toxicity, including blocked hematopoiesis, mitogen-induced T-cell spread, antigen-specific antibody production, and an increased susceptibility to infectious organisms. Vitamin A is also given by Retinoid supplement to treat the skin effects of T-cell lymphoma. Vitamin C also known as Ascorbic Acid also contribute in innate immunity system, Vitamin C works during infection to prevent oxidative damage. Lower concentration of vitamin C in leukocyte is related to reduce immune response in humans. It has been proven that Vitamin C concentrations in the plasma and leukocytes rapidly decline during infections and stress. Iron chelators such as desferrioxamine inhibit the activity of phagocyte oxidase and reduce reactive oxygen intermediate-dependent killing of bacterial pathogens, both in vitro and in vivo. Lastly, Zinc is a dietary trace mineral that is responsible for growth and development, and it is essential for the function of cells of the immune system. It increased susceptibility to

Vitamin B12 forms red blood cells, breaks down protein and fat, and helps form antibodies to fight off infection. Vitamin C supports healing, strengthens blood vessels, and assists the body to absorb iron. Zinc helps produce proteins, improves immunity, and assists in wound healing. Vitamin D helps the body absorb and use calcium, thus assisting in the formation of tooth and bone. Fats provides and stores energy. It also nourishes skin and hair. Magnesium assists in the formation of bone, protein metabolism, and nerve function. Iron helps the red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Vitamin A is good for vision and helps the body develop normally. Copper helps the iron get absorbed into the body. Vitamin B6 supports healthy skin, nerves, and the digestive system. Niacin

Beta –carotene toxicity cases are rampant among smokers. Physicians advise active smokers to avoid these supplements as their intake results in increase risk of lung cancer. Scientists have asserted that metabolites elements present in the Beta-carotene substances destroy retinoic acids that repress cancer growth in the lungs (Gutiérrez, & Gonzalez, 2010). In addition, metabolites catalyze proteins responsible for cell division hence activates the growth of cancerous cells. It is for this reason that smokers are prohibited from taking Beta-carotene substances. Thus, Beta-carotene supplements are best suited for diabetic patients and vitamin A deficient individuals.

The heart pumps blood vigorously through the vessels to all parts of the body, nourishing the organs

Glutathione manages to act as a scavenger, neutralizing free radicals as they peruse the body. This counterbalance leads to the protection of our individual cells and thus our skin, eyes (lens, cornea, and retina), brain, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines as well as other tissues and organs from oxidative damages to ensure a better functioning,

Did you know that diets rich in anti-oxidants have been shown to prevent disease, inflammation and improve immune systems in studies dating back to the 1960’s!

Selenium is an essential trace element found in the body that works in conjunction with other vitamins to support the powerful detoxification process. When combined with Vitamin E, Selenium can help prevent oxidative stress from occurring in the body which is crucial in the prevention of many diseases such as heart disease and cancer. According to Dr. Mandal (2015), "Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants." Selenium goes to work in the body as a powerful antioxidant, and it is required for the production of Glutathione, which is a key antioxidant in our bodies. Antioxidants are important in keeping the body healthy by fighting off the free radicals that our cells are exposed to on a daily basis.

Your body is in a constant battle against infection, diseases and the formation of free radicals. However, there's a secret weapon that can help you fight against these things: antioxidants! Antioxidants are elements such as vitamins A, C and E that counteract the damage caused by free radicals and help protect your healthy cells. Free radicals are the molecules that contain unpaired electrons, which make them highly reactive. In this form, they can cause damage by attacking healthy cells, and when these cells grow weakened, you become more vulnerable to disease.

Everyone has been told to look at the nutrition facts on the back of foods items. People should make sure they receive proper amounts of daily vitamins and minerals. Most people even know to increase their vitamin C intake when sick by increasing fruit consumption; however, there are several reasons to take multivitamins regularly.

While reading the case of cancer free meat eaters I found myself agreeing with several things but also disagreeing. I agree on grass being high in cancer fighting but not the the part about why grass is being fed to beef. I also agree with the Vitamin B17 theory. In addition I admit Vitamin D and Salmon can prevent heart attacks and kill cancer cells but I don't think it's going to cure someone from cancer in a few months or even years. For this process to work you may need a specific type of salmon and you would of have to of started this at a young age or even do this for many many years. Come to terms this is just a theory not even scientifically proven.

One study that was conducted was one of the first to shed light on how selenium wasn’t adequate to prevent cancer. That study was called (SELECT) or the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, which was conducted through October 2008 and primarily funded through the National Cancer Institute. This particular study was focused on trying to find the long term effect of a combination of vitamin E and selenium and its correlation on the possibility of prostate cancer in somewhat healthy men of various backgrounds. In the end of the study it was found that there was no decrease in the possibility of prostate cancer from selenium, but did conclude that dietary supplementation of vitamin E well increased the prospect of prostate cancer development within somewhat healthy men (Dunn & Taylor, 2011). Another study that was conducted was called the Effects of Selenium Supplementation for Cancer Prevention in Patients with Carcinoma of the Skin and was conducted in seven dermatology clinics around the Eastern United States and occurred over the course of 4.5 years and then had a follow up of around 6.4 years. This study was meant to try and determine if taking a selenium supplement would reduce the prevalence of skin cancer. In the end the results of the study did bare resemblance to the previous study mentioned

Describe 5 properties or functions that a number B vitamins have in common and identify any exceptions to these (5 marks)

A single service of orange juice has more than 200% of the vitamin C requirement of the body. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, functions as a primary antioxidant in the body, and it destroys or neutralizes free radicals before they can do damage to the body’s systems. Our bodies need vitamin C to stimulate other aspects of our immune system as well. Furthermore, ascorbic acid is one of the fundamental components of collagen, which is necessary to repair cells and for the growth of new tissues in the

Chocolate has two groups of antioxidants called flavonoids and polyphenols. Antioxidants fight against free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unbalanced compounds created by the natural cellular processes in the body and from environmental toxins. Antioxidants are compounds including vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that neutralize free radicals and protect the body from their damage. The substances in antioxidants counteract with the damaging normal effects of the body’s process of oxidization. Research shows that antioxidants help in preventing the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and cataracts.