Antioxidants don't have to be mystifying. We hear a lot of about their power, especially when it comes to anti-aging. They are said to attach free radicals which are thought to case cellular degeneration in the body, thus enabling these cells to live longer, and us to age more slowly.

Some antioxidants are said to help reduce the percentage of fat in our body by increasing our metabolism and helping to burn fat, while others will help to protect us against cancer and various other diseases.

The various different types of antioxidants all have varying degrees of health benefits for the specific areas that they help, but tests have shown one of the best sources of antioxidants is from grape seed extract. It's been shown to deliver better results than other sources and therefore is one of the prominent antioxidants used in the cosmetic industry. Grape seed extract helps to strengthen blood vessels and there by stops them from becoming weakened and damaged.

With twenty times more strength than Vitamin C and fifty times more than Vitamin A, hospitals and doctors have even begun using it for the treatment of people to help them recover from heart disease.There is no doubt a lot more research that will be going into the properties of grape seed extract and its benefits for anti aging!

The acai berry was voted the number one superfood on Oprah - and when things hit Oprah, that usually means they're in for a quick rise to fame. But the acai berry has been around for thousands of years, and has already gained popularity in Central and South America. It recently hit health food store shelves in the US and is receiving acclaim for a good reason.

The antioxidant content is 10 times more potent than that of red grapes. We hear a lot about antioxidants, because they're known for fighting the free radicals that accumulate thanks to a number of things - from the body's natural processes to environmental pollution, to smoking and the synthetic chemicals in our food and water. These "contaminants" in our body can reduce cell function, sometimes causing the cell to actually die - and are thought to be the primary cause of aging. The acai berry antioxidants are among the most powerful of anti-aging supplements, as it contains the life-giving nutrients that help prevent degeneration.

Other notable anti-aging antioxidants include the goji berry, bee pollen, blue/green algae, chlorella, and spirulina.

Vitamin supplements currently contain in excess of the Recommended Daily Allowance for the two most common antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin E. But, how much higher should the levels be set, in order to fight off free radicals.

Current antioxidant research is focusing on two key issues. The amount of antioxidants needed to benefit the body and the best source of these antioxidants. Researchers have already determined that food sources are the most absorbable, but which foods are best and how much should be consumed?

Antioxidants and RDA's

In studying the amount of antioxidants needed to optimally fight off free radical damage, the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA, of antioxidant vitamins are the levels under consideration. Scientists are trying to determine whether levels above the current RDA's are more or less affective against free radical damage.

Antioxidant research is specific, in that, each antioxidant vitamin is being examined separately. Vitamins C and E are the most common antioxidant vitamins consumed in supplement forms. These antioxidants have always been deemed beneficial as vitamins, but, as antioxidants have yet to require an RDA specific to free radical prevention and treatment.

Inquiry Into Rates of Antioxidant Absorption

Antioxidant research does not stop there. Scientists are carefully looking at the levels of antioxidants in foods and the rate at which these antioxidants are absorbed by the body. While some foods may offer a 100% absorption rate of a vitamin, others may only absorb 10% into the body. These are the facts scientists need to learn in order to recommend the best foods from which antioxidants can be supplemented.

Vitamin E, as an antioxidant, carries more attention than many of the other antioxidant vitamins. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, which means in order for the body to absorb and use the antioxidants, fat needs to be present. Antioxidant research is set to determine how much fat is the right amount of fat to ensure the positive components of vitamin E are absorbed.

The times of the RDA are about to change. Thank to science and antioxidant research, vitamins are being looked at through an entirely different light. Yesterday, supplements helped the body to stay healthy. Tomorrow, vitamins may just be the key to curing some free radical conditions.