Antioxidants are molecules made by the body or found in some foods and supplements. Antioxidants protect the body by neutralizing other, unstable molecules, called free radicals, that are produced during normal cell functioning. Long-term infections such as HIV can upset this balance by causing the body to produce more free radicals than usual. In turn, this can lead to a condition known as oxidative stress, in which the body cannot deal with all the free radicals it produces. Oxidative stress can cause a lot of damage to cells. Two ways to lessen the effects of oxidative stressare to increase antioxidant intake and to decrease exposure to things that increase oxidative stress, such as pollution and cigarette smoke.
Boosting antioxidants
- Eat lots of colourful fruits and vegetables to get the antioxidants found in the pigments and the phytochemicals contained in the whole food. Try to include blue, purple, green, orange, red and yellow foods to get the full complement of beneficial substances.
- Black and green tea, mushrooms, red wine and dark chocolate are also thought to be good sources of antioxidants. Keep in mind that alcohol might not always be a good choice for some people.
- Antioxidant supplements include vitamins C and E, the minerals zinc and selenium, as well as coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine.
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