Consumption of supplements has become a new normal for people of all age groups (not children). We, humans, want to access shortcut methods for absorbing nutrients into our body from sources apart from food and other eatables necessary.
Amidst this accessibility, the most important alternative to eatables- dietary supplements has been a constant source of antioxidants in delivering the crucial vitamins and nutrients.
These antioxidants maintain a balance in our bodies to be able to successfully absorb only the necessary resources inside the collection rather than other unwanted particles. But what if these antioxidants which we are consuming so confidently do more harm than good to our body?
Recent research has suggested something similar to the claim, as mentioned earlier, stating that ‘Antioxidants are causing more damage and is a big reason for the rapid increase in cancer.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are those molecules that defend the body against the free radicals which develop and reside inside a human body.
Free radicals usually are linked to diseases where it destroys the DNA in our body and become the reason behind the sickness, cancer.
Free radicals, when an increase in levels in a body could cause severe damage and to control the same antioxidants are necessary so that there remains a balance in both the elements.
Generally, the food we consume as much of the natural antioxidants required, and the rest of them are already prevailing in a human body. But what’s important here is to know that antioxidants, if increase from their reasonable measure in a human body, could be the reason for so many diseases altogether.
Our immune system uses these free radicals to fight infectious diseases. Hence there would always be the need to have a well-balanced level of both antioxidant and free radicals.
As mentioned above that free radicals, when increase it damages the DNA and, at times, become the reason for cell death. This condition is known as Prolonged Oxidative Stress. In the very same way, the inflation of antioxidants in our body seems to cause unexplainable and incurred conditions.
The Antioxidant Paradox: How is it causing cancer?
‘Antioxidant Paradox’ was a term developed when researches put out that excess of isolated or unnecessary antioxidants could rather than decreasing increased levels of free radicals would cause harm.
A study led by in 2014 by Martin Bergö, the Sahlgrenska cell biologist at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Cancer Center in Sweden tested the theory of increase in antioxidant, leading to cancer on the models of two mice.
After much observation and analysis, the researchers had concluded an increase in the size of a primary tumor that was undiagnosed previously. The tumor increased in size due to the consumption of an antioxidant is commonly known as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or Vitamin E.
The increase in Vitamin E antioxidant in the body also led to a discovery that there was DNA damage in cancer cells. This analysis reaches a conclusive idea that shows signs of high spread of malignant melanoma in the body, which is a severe kind of skin cancer.
The discovery and findings do not remain confined to only one kind of antioxidant supplement. Still, experts also found that male who is chain smokers and ingest Beta Carotene as an Antioxidant supplement are likely to have severe signs of lung cancer.
The whole research and studies have developed dilemmas and confusion among experts who, until now, believed that antioxidants reduce cell damage in the body, reducing the chances of cancer from exceeded free radicals.
According to an article published in Scientific America, the research was done by Dr. Bergö further proceeded into deeply analyzing the melanoma through the mice model, and he claimed that Antioxidants support the protection of the dangerous cells.
Glutathione, which is a body made antioxidant, was found in the metastatic tumor in already curred mice. There was a formation of more lymph nodes in the mice.
How many antioxidants to consume?
Most of the time, there are chances that free radicals increase excessively due to the kind of lifestyle we practice. Such as:
- Alcohol Intake
- Air pollution
- High blood pressure
- deficiency in antioxidants
- high blood sugar. Etc.
Humans have a sufficient amount of natural antioxidants produced by their bodies. The conditions, as mentioned above, are curable with a proper diet and healthy lifestyle and consuming any more of the other isolated antioxidants, natural eateries such as Vegetables, whole grains, other plants, and animal-based food items. Etc., are excellent and valuable.
To be able to consume supplementary medicines in case of deficiencies, it is advisable to consult a physician before taking any further steps. An overdosage of antioxidants could be the next reason for cancer detection in your body. The best way is the organic way, always.
