When free radicals attack it forces your body to replace the damaged cells. Each time this happens the cells are slightly different; the cells are photocopies of the original – this is aging at the cellular level.
molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols or polyphenols.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants can be conceptualized in a number of different ways: as insurance against some of the more visible effects of aging; as a weapon in our fight to make our average life expectancy more closely resemble our ultimate lifespan; and as a line of defense against the risk of developing certain illnesses and diseases.
What are antioxidants? Essentially, they are substances that reduce, neutralize, and prevent the damage done to the body by free radicals. Free radicals are simply electrons that are no longer attached to atoms. Instead of circling the nucleus of an atom (much like the earth circles the sun), free radicals are both free and radical enough to go careening through our cells, inflicting damage as they go.
What causes free radicals to be formed? A process called oxidation creates free radicals and this process happens in the context of normal metabolic processes and our everyday exposure to our environment. In other words, eating, breathing, and going out in the sun all contribute to the the process of oxidation, free radical formation, and the resulting damage that is caused to the cells of our bodies.
What kind of damage are we talking about? Pretty much every kind you can think of: the deterioration of bone, joints and connective tissue; the wearing out of organs; the decline of the immune system; the irritating advance of the visible effects of aging; and even, possibly, to some extent, the aging process itelf.
Because free radicals are implicated in all these processes, minimizing and neutralizing their activity with antioxidants may allow us to live longer and healthier lives, look and feel better, and reduce or eliminate the risk of certain illnesses.
The menu to the right lists most of the known antioxidants and each antioxidant page contains a discussion of the antioxidant's characteristics as well as the nutrient category into which it is classified. For, example the antioxidant selenium is a mineral, while the antioxidant methionine is an amino acid and the antioxidant melatonin is a hormone.
Be sure to check this section occasionally, as new antioxidant information will be periodically added.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) exists naturally in all living organisms. In the body, it is found in greater concentrations in the synovial fluid of joints for lubrication, the vitreous humor (fluid) of the eye and most abundantly in the skin.
As we age, the body produces less and less hyaluronic acid. This has an adverse effect on normal, smooth, comfortable joint movement and normal softness and smoothness of the skin. You can maintain normal mobility, proper skin condition, the skin's self-smoothing ability when wounded, and clear healthy eyes
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) moisturizes skin from the inside out, smoothing out wrinkles in the process. HA acts as an internal cosmetic to hydrate the skin.
- Hyaluronic acid is for people who need to ease the flexing of their joints, especially their knees, by restoring cushioning to their joints.
- Hyaluronic acid is for men and women in their 30s and 40s who are beginning to see the first signs of aging.
- Hyaluronic acid is for seniors who have established joint conditions.
- Studies show oral hylaronic acid supplementation provides these benefits to most people after administration for only 2 to 4 months.
Basic Functions of Hyaluronic Acid
As Hyaluronic Acid is present in every tissue of the body; hyaluronic acid’s importance cannot be underestimated. Retention of water is one of the most important biological functions of hyaluronic acid, 1 second only to providing nutrients and removing waste from cells that do not have a direct blood supply, such as cartilage cells. With a lower than adequate amount of hyaluronic acid, nutrients cannot be moved into these cells and waste cannot be eliminated from cells. Hyaluronic acid is sometimes abbreviated as HA. | 
