Comparing Antioxidant Supplements

Estimates indicate that 30 percent of all Americans take antioxidants on a regular basis because of their health-promoting properties. Antioxidants can be naturally occurring chemicals or they can be synthetically produced in a laboratory.

When comparing antioxidant supplements, it is very important to prioritize your health concerns. The most current research supports the idea that antioxidants can affect many medical conditions including but not limited to: asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary stones and general cardiovascular health.

A comparison of antioxidant supplements involves the avoidance of all products that may have been pasteurized. This process, which is vital to the destruction of disease-causing organisms, unfortunately also eliminates naturally occurring vitamins and enzymes, many of which function as antioxidants. An educated consumer will always seek out those products, which contain certified organic ingredients. This is due to the fact that recent studies have indicated they contain more vitamins, nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants than non-organic ingredients.

Certified organic ingredients are those that have been grown and processed without synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). When examining labels, look for: raw cacao, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate strawberries and Acai berries.

You will also want to avoid any products that contain preservatives such as sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate. According to some researchers, sodium benzoate can react negatively with vitamin C and together they can form lethal cancer-causing benzene.

Last but not least, when comparing antioxidants always check for those products that have a high Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity score (ORAC). This standardized measure refers to the total antioxidant strength of a particular substance. Antioxidant power involves the ability to neutralize free radicals, which are believed to hasten aging and encourage the progression of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other medical conditions. Generally speaking, the more free radicals a substance can absorb, the higher its ORAC score.

More and more, antioxidants are finding their way to the marketplace. The more educated you are about what your body needs the easier it will be for you to select the right antioxidant for your needs. The range of selection is a positive thing but it can be overwhelming, making the need to know what is available and how good it is even more important than it ever was before.