ANTIOXIDANTS AND OXIDANTS: SIMPLE STUDY WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL WITH BROADER KNOWLEDGE OF AYURVEDA IN DEALING WITH DISEASES OF PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, ALSO IN BUILDING BODY RESISTANCE TO DISEASES :
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals, thereby leading to chain reactions that may damage the cells of organisms. It has been explained how oxidants are reactive molecules that are produced both inside your body and the environment that can react with other cellular molecules in your body such as protein, DNA and lipids. When it does that, it damages molecules and causes disease and inflammation. Antioxidants such as thiols or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) terminate these chain reactions. Antioxidant helps neutralize cell-damaging molecules or free radicals. Oxidation can damage vital molecules in our cells, including DNA and proteins, which are responsible for many body processes. Molecules such as DNA are needed for cells to function properly, so if too many are damaged, the cell can malfunction or die. In Ancient Ayurveda, balance of Doshas is said to be normal ...