We all need antioxidants. We get plenty of them from fruits and vegetables, but sometimes we forget to eat the right ones. What are antioxidants? They are naturally occurring substances that protect our cells from damage caused by oxygen free radicals (free-radicals) produced inside of the cell. Oxidative stress is believed to be one of the leading causes of heart disease and cancer. So how can you get more antioxidants? Eat a diet rich in antioxidants.5HTP, found in black berries and turmeric, is an important supplement for fighting free radicals. Green tea is also a popular source of antioxidants. Some other foods that are high in antioxidants include: leafy green veggies, whole grains, fish, nuts, soybeans, flaxseeds, and many other kinds of herbs and vegetables. To boost your immune system, you need antioxidants too. Antioxidants boost your bodyҳ natural defense against free radicals. It lowers the amount of those free radicals that attack healthy tissue. One way that antioxidants fight oxidative stress is that they neutralize the free radical form of a molecules called өndoleԠwith a hydroxyl molecule. This molecule then becomes unstable and can bond with another free radical, causing more damage. An antioxidant will thus neutralize the molecule that bonds with it, protecting the healthy tissue. The role of 5HTP in anti aging is perhaps not known quite yet. That said, it is likely that 5HTP will play a significant role in the ongoing anti aging process. For example, it has been shown that this powerful antioxidant can help slow or even reverse the process of cell death (cell suicide) in some age related illnesses including cancer and heart disease. In fact, many of these illnesses can be treated successfully with antioxidants alone. 5HTP has been shown to help with several different types of disease as well. For example, it has been shown to help in rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and allergies. It is one of the strongest anti aging substances known. Anti-oxidants are also being studied for their potential use in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimerҳ disease, Parkinsonҳ disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammation, obesity, stress, depression, and other mental health disorders. Some of these diseases often exhibit signs of oxidative stress, which 5HTP has been shown to alleviate. This powerful antioxidant may be useful in preventing heart disease, and in treating some forms of cancer, but it has not yet been proven in clinical trials. There are, however, a number of natural products on the market that contain it. It has not, unfortunately, been proven to be effective in combating any of the more common end-stage diseases that people suffer from. The one exception to that is the use of Vitamin C, H2O, and proanthocyanidins in Eastern medicine. Although they do not work quite as effectively in this capacity, they are still believed to slow down the progression of many serious diseases, such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. 5HTP is well-known for its positive effects in reducing anxiety levels, which is something that everyone in his or her life needs help with. Anxiety is the #1 killer in the United States. It is believed that reducing anxiety levels can prevent strokes and other illnesses associated with increased blood pressure. Another of the many benefits of this powerful antioxidant is its effect in reducing stress. When you are stressed out, your body produces cortisol, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Cortisol increases your appetite as well, which leads to overeating, which in turn leads to weight gain. The effects of stress on your body lead to a host of other medical problems, such as high cholesterol and Type II diabetes. It stands to reason that reducing stress would be one of the best antiaging benefits of this powerful compound.