Antioxidants

Question 1

What occurs when molecules lose electrons?

Answer 1

Oxidation

Question 2

What sometimes happens when oxygen oxidizes a molecule?

Answer 2

The molecule becomes a free radical

Question 3

What is an atom or molecule containing an unpaired electron?

Answer 3

Free radical

Question 4

What is the common oxidizing agent that can become a free radical?

Answer 4

Oxygen

Question 5

What occurs when molecules gain electrons ?

Answer 5

Reduction

Question 6

Are free radicals always bad?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

Which cells use free radicals as a chemical defense?

Answer 7

Immune cells

Question 8

What are the 2 reasons why the overproduction of free radicals is problematic?

Answer 8

1. It causes a chain reaction of free radical formation

2. It can damage cellular structures

Question 9

Which cellular structure is the most damaged by free radicals?

Answer 9

The cell membrane

Question 10

What is the free radical theory of aging?

Answer 10

The more free radicals you have the faster you are going to age

Question 11

What 6 other diseases are thought to be causes, in part, by free radicals?

Answer 11

1. Macular degeneration
2. Cardiovascular disease
3. Cancer
4. Alzheimer’s disease
5. Parkinson’s disease
6. All inflammatory diseases (arthritis and lupus)

Question 12

How does the body control the production of free radicals?

Answer 12

It uses defenses

Question 13

What 2 things does the body use to keep free radicals under control?

Answer 13

Enzymes and Antioxidants

Question 14

What are chemicals derived from food?

Answer 14

Antioxidants

Question 15

Are the most antioxidant vitamins found in plants or animals?

Answer 15

Plants

Question 16

Why is vitamin E found at high levels in certain plant foods?

Answer 16

Plants deal with a lot of UV light

Question 17

Which tissues in the body have high levels of vitamin E?

Answer 17

Red blood cells and lung tissue

Question 18

Why do red blood cells and lung tissue have high levels of vitamin e?

Answer 18

They are exposed to a lot of light

Question 19

What are the main dietary sources of vitamin E?

Answer 19

Plant seed oils (canola, corn, soybean), olive oil, spinach, eggs yolks, nuts, avocado

Question 20

What are the 2 roles of vitamin C in the body?

Answer 20

1. Readily accepts and donates vitamin E

2. Aids in the reactivation of vitamin E

Question 21

What are the main dietary sources of vitamin C?

Answer 21

Citrus fruits, strawberries, green peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, whale skin and other organ meats

Question 22

What deficiency results from inadequate vitamin C intake?

Answer 22

Scurvy

Question 23

What are the symptoms of scurvy?

Answer 23

Pinpoint hemorrhages under the skin, fatigue, bleeding gums, joint pain, wounds that would not heal

Question 24

Which people were the first to get scurvy?

Answer 24

Sailors

Question 25

How was scurvy cured?

Answer 25

Citrus fruits (lemons)

Question 26

What are phytochemicals with health-promoting properties?

Answer 26

Carotenoids

Question 27

Which carotenoid can be converted into vitamin A in the body?

Answer 27

Beta-carotene

Question 28

What contains carotenoids?

Answer 28

Plants

Question 29

What are some problem with getting vitamin A solely from this carotenoid?

Answer 29

Low rates of absorption and conversion

Question 30

What are 3 other carotenoids that have health benefits?

Answer 30

Lycopene, Zeaxanthin, and Lutein

Question 31

What are foods that carotenoids are found in?

Answer 31

Tomatoes, kale, spinach, peas, broccoli, roman lettuce, brussels sprouts, zucchini

Question 32

How does selenium function as an antioxidant?

Answer 32

It spares vitamin E and helps maintain cell membrane integrity

Question 33

What does selenium work in place of?

Answer 33

Vitamin E

Question 34

What are the dietary sources of selenium?

Answer 34

Fish, meat (esp. organ meats), shellfish, eggs, Brazil nuts

Question 35

What environmental factor affects the food levels of selenium?

Answer 35

The soil contents

Question 36

What are 5 toxicity symptoms associated with selenium?

Answer 36

Hair loss, weakness, nausea, vomiting and cirrhosis

Question 37

Which geographical location has low selenium in the soil?

Answer 37

North America

Question 38

Is excess supplementation of selenium toxic?

Answer 38

Yes