Antioxidant supplement pills - how to use them wisely and safely
 Benefits of Antioxidant supplement: How much should one take? Are they Anti-Aging products? Can you take too much?

Information on natural antioxidant supplements

Just about everybody has heard the word “antioxidant.” Over the past few years, articles touting the benefits of natural antioxidant supplements — such as vitamins C and E and antioxidants in green tea — have been mentioned in countless magazine and newspaper articles. Yet, even with all this press, most people don’t have a good understanding of the concept of oxidation and anti-oxidation. There are people who ingest dozens of antioxidant pills a day with the belief that the more they take, the healthier they will be. However, if an excess of pills makes your heart beat faster or causes insomnia, then you are not getting benefits but rather causing your body to be less healthy. Be reasonable in your use of antioxidant pills and alternate the use of several rather than taking them all the same day.
Antioxidant supplement antiaging benefit
   There is no proof at this time that taking antioxidant supplements will help you live longer, nor is there good evidence that they will shorten lifespan. In order for us to know how antioxidant supplements influence longevity, several well controlled studies have to be done on individual antioxidant supplements in varying dosages for at least a 20 to 30 year period while keeping dietary intake similar in all the study participants. This is not practical and not likely to be done. For the time being if you do plan to take antioxidant supplements, take products that have a wide range of nutrients in low amounts as opposed to just 2 or 3 antioxidant supplements in high dosages.

Natural Antioxidant supplement dosages:
The following is an antioxidant supplement dosage recommendation for the average person who has no major medical problems. Please discuss with your health care practitioner the appropriateness of these dosages for your particular condition. Each person is unique and each doctor has a different set of guidelines since it is almost impossible to know for sure the ideal dosage for each person.

Vitamin E  — 20 to 200 units a few times a week of the mixed natural tocopherols and tocotrienols. It is not necessary to take vitamin E daily since it is stored in fat tissue. Doses higher than 200 units a day are not necessary. Avoid synthetic vitamin E. We suggest you avoid synthetic vitamin E and avoid supplements that only provide d alpha tocopherol. It is preferable to obtain the whole range of tocopherols, not just one type.

Vitamin C  — 100 to 500 mg a day unless your diet includes a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, then you would not need to take any additional vitamin C.

R- Alpha Lipoic acid antioxidant supplement — 20 to 50 mg a few times a week, in the morning with breakfast. R- alpha lipoic acid is quite a powerful antioxidant. Very high dosages of this antioxidant supplement could cause heart rhythm problems in some individuals.

Acetyl-l-carnitine --- 100 to 300 mg 2 or 3 times a week in the morning a few minutes before breakfast if you wish to also notice mind boosting effects.

Herbal antioxidant supplements gaining popularity
Ashwagandha has relaxing properties
Bacopa enhances mental function
Carnosine is quite an interesting nutrient
Curcumin or Turmeric has powerful antioxidants
Green tea extract has much research to back its beneficial properties
Milk Thistle is particularly helpful in liver health

 Eyesight Rx for visual acuity

 Supplement Facts:
Vitamin C - Ascorbic acid
Citrus bioflavonoids
(eriocitrin, hesperidin, flavonols, flavones, flavonoids, naringenin, and quercetin)
Mixed carotenoids
(astaxanthin, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, Lutein for eye, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin)
Bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Eyebright extract (Euphrasia officianales)
Jujube extract (Zizyphus jujube)
Ginkgo biloba
Alpha Lipoic Acid antioxidant

Additional Antioxidant vitamins and antioxidant supplements
Selenium — 20 to 100 mcg a few days a week.

Alpha lipoic acid is a potent supplement and most people can take a 250 mg or a 500 mg pill a few times a week. There is no need to take this pill daily.

Carotenoids may be obtained through fruits and vegetables, however supplements are sometimes helpful if you don't eat enough vegetables. Use a combination of carotenoids as opposed to just one.

Flavonoids may be obtained through fruits and vegetables, however supplements are sometimes helpful if you don't eat enough vegetables.
        
 Benefit of Antioxidant supplement
When excessive oxidation occurs for prolonged periods, it can take a toll on the system. Changes occur in cells which include damage to fatty acids, inactivation of enzymes, deterioration of cell membranes, breakdown of proteins, and damage to the DNA. For instance, if oxidants damage DNA, the eventual consequence could be a higher likelihood of cancer. If the damage occurs in arteries that supply blood to the heart, it could lead to hardening of the arteries and a heart attack. All these changes lead to disease and premature aging. Over the past few years, scientific evidence has slowly accumulated indicating that taking antioxidant supplements could potentially reduce the risk of certain illnesses and maintain brain health. There is, as of now, no proof that ingesting antioxidant supplements prolongs life span in humans, but enough evidence has accumulated on the benefits of antioxidants that one should not casually dismiss their potential in improving quality of life and slowing the progression of certain chronic degenerative disorders.

Benefit of Antioxidant supplements - What Can Antioxidants Do for You?
As a rule, you are not likely to notice any immediate cognitive benefits from taking the antioxidants discussed in this chapter, except perhaps alpha lipoic acid which can help with eyesight or vision. Therefore, do not expect any dramatic changes in mood, energy, alertness, and memory. Antioxidants can be compared to health insurance. You pay your monthly fee but don’t often get the benefits until years later when you need a hospital bill paid. Antioxidants serve to protect your brain cells, proteins, and DNA from the gradual damage that occurs with the aging process.

What Conditions Do they benefit?
It’s quite likely that, over the long run, antioxidants could slow the progression of heart disease, cancer, age related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, and perhaps other conditions, though there is no definite proof yet.

It’s More than the ACES
For many years I heard doctors recommend the ACES — vitamins A (as beta-carotene), C, E, and the mineral selenium — as if they were the only important antioxidant supplements. We now know there are thousands of substances that can act as free radical scavengers. Dozens of antioxidant supplements are available over the counter. Please keep in mind that many foods, plants, herbal extracts, and other edible substances such as mushrooms, royal jelly, seaweed, and others, contain beneficial antioxidants and nutrients.

emails
Q. Can a person take too many antioxidant supplements? Is there a possibility that our bodies need some free radicals?
   A. Yes, it is possible to take too many antioxidant supplements. Free radicals may be needed for certain functions, such as fighting certain germs or infections.