Antioxidants are nutrients which are found in food products and have anti-aging properties through which they can prevent or slow down the degenerative processes. On consumption of oxygen, the body produces free radicals in the form of by-products which damage the cells and tissues in the body. Antioxidants can effectively prevent and repair the damage caused by these free radicals. They can also decrease the risks due to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Studies have shown that five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in a day can reduce the risk of stroke by 25 %. They are also known to enhance the immunity level of the body.

However these are natural sources of antioxidants which are consumed in a proportionate manner. When the very same antioxidants are consumed in the form of supplements, the effects are very different. Most of the people do not even pause to think if these antioxidant pills may have an adverse effect on their health. It’s a misconception that these supplements are natural food products. Some people assume that these supplement pills are as healthy as the natural food products and consuming them means that they can refrain from having them in the form of fruits and vegetables. It’s important to understand that these supplements do not compensate for natural products. The manufacturer’s successfully camouflage this fact by marketing them as “made from all natural and all organic products.”

Nevertheless, researchers have discovered that overdose of antioxidants can have severe effects on the health of the user. They found that high doses of certain vitamins such as C and E prove to be harmful in the long run.

In all probability, high dose of these supplements can lead to development of cancer, which was an accidental discovery. The researchers came across it when they were studying cardiac stem cells in the presence of 20 % oxygen. The clinical trail was unsuccessful as it was found that more that 9 % of cells were rejected as the oxidation process was too high. Under normal circumstances, human cells have only 3 to 5 % of oxygen while researchers found that high level of antioxidants can lead to genetic abnormality which can lead to development of high levels of cancer cells.

The basic purpose of this study was to reveal that overdoing of antioxidants can have dire consequences. Overdosing can occur if the intake of these antioxidants is 10 to 100 times as that of the normal requirement of the body. Moreover, this discovery was strictly related to consumption of antioxidants in terms of food supplements and did not refer to natural sources such as milk, oranges, apples, blueberries and peanuts which are consumed as a part of the daily diet.

This finding has made doctors question the use of antioxidant consumption through pills. There are clinical trials under progress to further study the effects of overdosing.

Conclusion- Though antioxidant supplements can effectively fight off diseases, its best to stick to natural sources of supplements

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