Resveratrol, an Antioxidant: What does that mean?

If you are like me you are familiar with hearing the term "Antioxidant" being used rather frequently. Health gurus all over the world are telling us we need antioxidants to help repair the normal every day stresses are body endures.

The term antioxidant starts with "anti", meaning opposed to or against. Let's find out what we are opposed to, the oxidant.

An oxidant causes oxidation, or oxidative stress on our cells.  This stress is caused by the over abundance of molecules called free radicals.  These free radicals are imbalanced in the number of electrons they carry causing them to scavenge (give or steal) from other molecules in our body.  By doing this they damage other cells and DNA.

Common every day examples of oxidative stress are apples turning brown or new copper turning green, or what is known as "patina."  Perhaps the most well known example of oxidation can be seen on The Statue of Liberty.  As you can see, once copper in color the Statue is now commonly known as patina green in color.

While oxidation is a normal physiological process that is good for us, too much of it causes the imbalance explained above. This stress then causes irreparable damage to our cells. This is where "Antioxidants" such as resveratrol come into play.