The danger of too many antioxidants

Antioxidants help the body remove free radicals, highly reactive waste and byproducts that can potentially damage cells. But with antioxidants it's possible to have too much of a good thing. 

Antioxidants stabilize free radicals, rendering them less harmful and preparing them for excretion. Many common antioxidants are found in foods and supplements.

• Vitamin C is probably the most well known antioxidant of all. A water-soluble vitamin, found in most fruits and vegetables, vitamin C is vital in maintaining skin health. Sources include red peppers, chilies, oranges and potatoes.
• Vitamin E is an extremely potent, fat-soluble antioxidant, found in oils, nuts and in green, leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin A is another fat-soluble vitamin. Essential for eye health, vitamin A is found in cod liver oil, liver, sweet potatoes and milk.
• Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds found in tea and red wine.
• Flavonoids are also found in tea and wine, as well as chocolate and the flesh of many fruits and vegetables.
• Carotenoids are related to vitamin A and are found mainly in red and orange fruits and vegetables.

• Most of these antioxidants are water-soluble, meaning that any excess consumed can be quickly and easily excreted by the body. Two of these, vitamins A and E, are fat-soluble, meaning that excess intake is harder to excrete and will be stored within fat cells. This can lead to an overdose condition that is extremely dangerous, but don't panic yet. It's not necessary to cut milk and nuts from your diet! It's virtually impossible to overdose on these nutrients from food alone. It's when they are added in the form of supplements that this becomes a real threat.
• While you technically cannot overdose on antioxidants such as vitamin C, continuous high intake can lead to a saturation effect that is detrimental to your health. This is because the human body requires a level of oxidant activity for normal, healthy function, including hormonal activity, such as the production of testosterone and cellular respiration, or the production of energy. Saturation with antioxidants hinders these systems.

• Most people only need to eat nutritious foods in order to obtain ample antioxidants. Simply ensure that every meal has some form of antioxidant rich ingredient, and consider adding a cup of green tea into your diet, particularly if you are a smoker.
• Generally, the only people who require elevated antioxidant levels are sportsmen and women. If this is you, just add more fruit and vegetables into your diet, and if you insist on using supplements, add minimal doses immediately following bouts of exercise.