Antioxidant Polyphenois

Are you always tired? Do you run out of energy before you run out of day? Do you work long hours? If your answers are in the affirmative then what you need is antioxidant polyphenois.

In order for our body to function normally, it needs oxygen for metabolism and oxidation. During the oxidation process, your body converts fats and glucose into heat and energy for its own use. But as useful oxidation can be, that doesn't discount the fact that it also results in the production of harmful byproducts called free radicals. These compounds are actually oxygen molecules which contain an odd number of electrons, a condition which forces them to react with other molecules. The result is a chain reaction of free radicals that eventually leads to cell damage.

Free radicals are the reason why you feel tired easily, why your muscles ache after exerting yourself. Although lactic acid is often the culprit when it comes to muscle pain, free radicals also play a contributing factor.

The one substance that can counteract the action of free radicals is antioxidant polyphenois. Antioxidant polyphenois are chemical compounds that are naturally found in plants. Their function is to hunt down free radicals and neutralize them. In so doing, they not only prevent free radicals from causing damage but repair any damages that might have been incurred already.

There are a number of plants that contain antioxidant polyphenois but none contain quite as much as camellia sinensis. This plant is the same plant where you get your favorite brewed drink - tea. Oolong tea, black tea, and green tea all come from camellia sinensis. The three tea types are rich sources of antioxidant polyphenois but the richest is green tea. Scientists say that it has something to do with how green tea is prepared. While in oolong and black tea, the leaves are allowed to completely oxidize, in green tea, the leaves are only half-oxidized, thus leaving many of the beneficial antioxidant polyphenois intact and potent.

Besides antioxidant polyphenois, green tea also contains xanthines which also have antioxidant properties. These xanthines include theobromine and theophylline which act as natural stimulants and have analgesic enhancing and lipolytic (fat-burning) properties. In addition, green tea is also rich in catechins and of course the antioxidant polyphenois.

Besides camellia sinensis, there are several other plants that contain a good concentration of antioxidant polyphenois. These are malva silvestris, elettaria cardamomum, and hibiscus sabdariffa. For malva silvestris, dried leaves are used in order for the antioxidant polyphenois to exhibit its potency.