The essential role of antioxidants in daily life | Jean-Yves Dionne

In every one of our cells, energy factories are running at full capacity. These factories, the mitochondria, use nutrients (carbohydrates, lipids) to produce energy (ATP). During this process, free radicals are released — oxidizing molecules that are somewhat like the sparks from a wood fire. These "sparks" are generally well managed by cells. But with aging, or when states of stress and/or an inadequate diet arise, our ability to counter free radicals can be overwhelmed. This is where antioxidants from our diet come into play.


Are all antioxidants equal?

The structure of different antioxidants is very varied, and their effects are numerous. They are sometimes compared to WD-40 for rust, but we shouldn't think they are all alike. Each one has its own mechanism and, above all, specific places where it operates. Some are soluble in fats (lipophilic), so they more easily enter cells; others are soluble in water (hydrophilic) and act more in the extracellular environment (between cells).

Among antioxidants, you surely know vitamin C (hydrophilic) and vitamin E (lipophilic), but are you familiar with polyphenols?


Polyphenols: colorful antioxidants

Small fruits are the foods most concentrated in polyphenols.

Polyphenols are the colors of fruits and vegetables, from dark blue to red. These molecules are responsible for the beneficial effects attributed to small fruits such as blueberry or cranberry.

Polyphenols give plants their astringent flavors. They are compounds produced for their defense against stress factors: damage caused by sunlight / ultraviolet radiation, herbivores, and microbial infections.

 

Impressive effects

In us, human beings, these same molecules help fight several effects of internal "rust" (free radicals), from drops in immunity to morning stiffness.

We know, for example, the effectiveness of cranberry for urinary tract infections.¹ But did you know that dark blue berries such as elderberry, blueberry, or aronia have shown numerous positive effects on cardiovascular system health?²

Consuming small fruits helps the brain produce neurotrophins (such as BDNF) that promote the repair of neurons and contribute to maintaining neuroplasticity — that is, the ability to keep a young brain.³

Blue pigments, the anthocyanins, have surprising effects in preserving our cells and reversing certain diseases associated with aging. The regular consumption of anthocyanins can prevent and improve heart diseases, metabolic syndrome, and declines of the nervous system.⁴

Polyphenols can be compared to an elixir of long life in good health. The richer a person's diet is in diverse polyphenols, the longer they will be able to live in good health.⁵


A matter of concentration

Regardless of the fruit and its effects, the quantity of polyphenols consumed matters. A single blueberry a day cannot keep the doctor away forever. 😉 When looking for therapeutic effects, the concentration of polyphenols must be there.

But consuming a lot of berries also means consuming quite a bit of sugar (naturally present in fruits), which is not ideal in the context of a healthy, low-carbohydrate diet.

This is where Fruitomed comes in: concentrates of polyphenols and flavor, with minimal sugar. Taste and daily benefits, with no compromise.

 

References