You already know the value of antioxidants in promoting cardiovascular health, boosting the immune system, fighting cancer, managing diabetes, and preventing Alzheimer’s and other diseases of aging. And, as the following examples illustrate, scientists are continually finding new ways in which antioxidants are important for good health.

• Acrylamide, a chemical formed when frying, baking or grilling carbohydrate-rich foods at high temperatures, is a carcinogen that has been linked to breast cancer in humans. In recent Danish studies, researchers found that adding various antioxidants during preparation significantly reduced the acrylamide content of certain foods.

• In an study published in the January issue of The Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers observed that higher intakes of vitamin E and lutein—both powerful antioxidants—were associated with lower incidence of cataracts in 35,000 women.

• According to a report published in the journal Ophthalmology, antioxidant and carotenoid supplements may actually improve retinal function in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous studies have suggested that antioxidants may help to prevent AMD, the leading cause of legal blindness in people over 55 years of age. Now, while researchers caution that further studies involving larger populations are required to confirm the results of this small study, it appears the role of antioxidants in fighting AMD may reach beyond prevention.

Getting the quantity and variety of antioxidants you need from the foods you eat is almost impossible, even if you eat a healthy, balanced diet. And given the mounting evidence of antioxidants’ benefits, supplementing your diet just makes sense. Try Pomology pomegranate-based formulas today—they’ll help you fill the gap.

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Children exposed to cigarette smoke have lower levels of antioxidants, which help the body defend itself against many biological stresses.

A University of Rochester Medical Center study looked at the levels of antioxidants versus the amount of smoke exposure in more than 2,000 6 and 18 years old in the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study, which was presented at the Pediatric Academic Society Meeting in Baltimore, shows that secondhand smoke exposure is associated with lower levels of antioxidants in children.

“We don’t know enough yet to say that this group of children need supplements to make up for the antioxidants they’re losing, but it’s always wise to feed children an abundance of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants and other healthy nutrients,” said Karen Wilson, M.D., M.P.H., a senior instructor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the study’s author.

Antioxidants are believed to play an important role in protecting the body’s cells against free radicals, which can damage cells. Free radicals are produced during many body processes including when we use oxygen and respond to infections. It is not completely understood how antioxidants work together to neutralize free radicals, but scientists continue to discover more antioxidant compounds, including those examined in the study – vitamins E and C, folate and beta-carotene.

Children’s exposure to tobacco smoke was determined by the level of cotinine in their blood (cotinine is a byproduct of metabolizing tobacco smoke). The higher the level of cotinine in a child’s blood, the lower the antioxidant level, after controlling for diet and supplements. The study also looked at vitamins that were not antioxidants and found that these compounds did not seem to be reduced with smoke exposure.

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The back of the eye, called the retina, contains light-sensitive tissue that transmits images to the brain via the optic nerve. The macula is the region of the retina that is responsible for detailed central vision. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States.

The precise cause of AMD is not yet known, but it’s thought to involve oxidative damage. There are a number of medical interventions that can slow its process, but there is no cure. Research studies have focused on the identification of risk factors, and the possible role of dietary antioxidants to reduce the risk or slow the progression.

AMD risk factors include smoking, obesity and genetic history. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are risk factors, and it’s slightly more common in women than men.

The supplements being looked at include zinc, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and bilberry. Other studies have looked at lutein and zeaxanthin, relatives of beta-carotene that are often referred to as macular pigments because they are concentrated in the macula. DHA, a long-chain omega-3 fat found in the retina, is also being studied.

It makes sense to pay attention to antioxidant nutrients in general, and to lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich foods.

Good sources, in decreasing concentration, include kale, collard greens, spinach, cress leaf, Swiss chard, chicory leaf, mustard greens, beet greens, red pepper, okra, endive, celery, romaine lettuce, leek, broccoli, leaf lettuce, green peas, pumpkin, iceberg lettuce, brussels sprouts and yellow corn.

There’s always the Pomology Antioxidant Health Formula featuring Lutein as a great way to help support your long term vision health.

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