We do know, however, that higher fruit and veggie consumption is linked with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease per a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association , lower mortality per a study in Circulation and breast cancer per a study in the British Journal of Cancer , to name a few of their health benefits.

Although antioxidant supplements aren't shown to be beneficial to health, they may be helpful if you have a deficiency. For example, if you are deficient in vitamin C, a vitamin C supplement may help normalize your vitamin C levels and prevent unwanted side effects of a deficiency.

According to the NIH , these could include delayed wound healing and gum inflammation. That's not to say that you'll reap added antioxidant benefits; you'll ensure your body has enough of the nutrient to meet its basic needs for optimal functioning.

The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial SELECT was a large clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute that concluded in Researchers determined this difference to be statistically significant and not just related to chance. In the same study, participants taking selenium with or without vitamin E also had a higher incidence of prostate cancer; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

Beta carotene supplementation has been found to increase the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke. Before starting any supplement, it's best to talk with a health care provider to be sure it won't interact with any medications you're taking. Here are some examples of how antioxidant supplements can potentially interact with medications:.

To boost your antioxidant intake, we recommend leaning on food sources. The best sources of antioxidants are fruits and veggies, but dark chocolate , green tea and nuts are other good sources.

Here are some ideas to give your meals and snacks an antioxidant boost:. In general, antioxidant supplements are unnecessary for healthy people without a nutrient deficiency. They are not shown to have the same health benefits as consuming antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. So, it's best to focus on eating more plant foods rich in naturally occurring antioxidants.

Since antioxidant supplements don't have the same research-backed benefits as antioxidant-rich foods, you probably don't need to take an antioxidant supplement at all, let alone every day. That being said, if you are deficient in an antioxidant like vitamin C or E, daily supplementation is usually recommended to replenish your levels of the nutrient and reverse or prevent side effects from a deficiency.

The most powerful antioxidant supplement is the one you are deficient in. If you don't have a deficiency in a specific antioxidant nutrient, then you probably won't benefit from taking a supplement. And you'd be better off focusing on incorporating more antioxidant-rich foods in your diet.

Antioxidant-rich foods, like fruits and veggies, are associated with loads of health benefits and no safety concerns, whereas supplements may lead to harm when overdone or taken with certain medications.

Antioxidant supplements are linked with health issues in certain populations. Since they contain highly concentrated doses of nutrients, they may increase the risk of toxicity.

They can also interact with medications, potentially decreasing the medication's effectiveness or exacerbating its effects. Antioxidant supplements are also expensive, so they can put an unnecessary dent in your wallet.

Despite how alluring antioxidant supplements may be, research shows that they don't really benefit health unless you're deficient in the given nutrient. That being said, adding more antioxidant-rich foods to your diet can benefit your health in numerous ways since antioxidant-rich foods are also rich in nutrients like fiber, which have a plethora of health benefits.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content.

Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Healthy Lifestyle.

By Isabel Vasquez is a bilingual registered dietitian practicing from an intuitive eating, culturally sensitive framework. Isabel Vasquez, RD, LDN. Some antioxidants supplements such as Vitamin A may even increase the risk of birth defects if taken in high doses.

If you are pregnant, always check with your doctor before you start taking any regular supplements. Boost your immunity with food: How to always eat healthy and feel great. Basically, eating a wide variety of foods from each of the food groups daily.

We have a wide range of easy-to-prepare recipe ideas on our website, using nutritious, healthy ingredients, that can help you meet Australian Dietary Guidelines. You can also learn more about the link between good nutrition and health via our website.

You can find BHA, or antioxidant , as an additive in margarine and spreads, salad dressings, potato chips, peanut butter, instant mashed potato, chewing gum and processed snack foods. The World Health Organisation has classified antioxidant as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" although it considered safe at low levels.

Some people may choose to simply swap foods with BHA added for safer alternatives. Like BHA, TBHQ or antioxidant is a synthetic food additive which helps preserve food products. Similar to BHA, you might find this ingredient if you check out the labels on some common processed snack foods. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand classifies both antioxidants and as additives most likely to be a problem for people with food allergies or intolerances.

Read more about foods that can help reduce stress: The three best healthy stress foods. Many skincare brands boast the properties of antioxidants in their serums, creams or lotions. This is because of the benefits antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-glucans and polyphenols can have for our skin.

Whether the antioxidants make it into our bloodstream is dependant on their molecule type, size and what other ingredients are included to aid in absorption.

Each serum, cream or lotion formulation will differ. Antioxidants — Better Health Channel. All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.

You Belong to More with CBHS Hospital cover :. Live your healthiest, happiest life with CBHS Extras cover :. See all our programs and support.

Antioxidant supplements — do you need them? What are antioxidants? Should you get antioxidants from food or take supplements? What are the best antioxidant foods? You can get the following antioxidants from these food sources: Vitamin A — liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk and egg yolks Vitamin C — broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower Vitamin E — almonds, avocado, leafy greens Carotenoids — apricots, asparagus, broccoli Zinc — beef, oysters, pumpkin seeds Selenium — Brazil nuts, fish, shellfish Beta-carotene — carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach Lycopene — tomato, watermelon, grapefruit.

Are there any benefits to taking antioxidant supplements? Antioxidant foods for healthy glowing skin: Eat your way to better looking skin I have been advised to take antioxidant supplements. Which ones are best? What happens if you take too many antioxidant supplements? If you take antioxidant supplements in high doses, you could damage your body.

Some antioxidant supplements may: 1. Reduce your exercise performance Taking too many antioxidant supplements, especially vitamins C and E can interfere with how your body adapts to exercise and even reduce some of the health benefits of exercise. Cause birth defects Some antioxidants supplements such as Vitamin A may even increase the risk of birth defects if taken in high doses.

Boost your immunity with food: How to always eat healthy and feel great How can I increase my intake of antioxidant foods?

Are there antioxidant foods I should avoid?

Home Prevention and Wellness Food and Nutrition Nutrients and Nutritional Info Antioxidants: What You Need to Know. Path to improved health Free radicals are natural or man-made elements. They can be: Chemicals your body produces by turning food into energy. Environmental toxins, like tobacco, alcohol, and pollution.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds. Substances found in processed food. Common antioxidants include: Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin E Beta-carotene Lycopene Lutein Selenium You can get most of these antioxidants by eating a healthy diet.

Vitamin A is in milk, butter, eggs, and liver. Vitamin C is in most fruits and vegetables. Fruits such as berries, oranges, kiwis, cantaloupes, and papayas provide essential antioxidants.

Vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale are also great choices. Vitamin E is in some nuts and seeds.

For example, almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, and peanuts contain vitamin E. It can also be found in green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale, as well as soybean, sunflower, corn, and canola oils. Beta-carotene is in brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

Eat fruits such as peaches, apricots, papayas, mangoes, and cantaloupes. Eat vegetables such as carrots, peas, broccoli, squash, and sweet potatoes. It also is in some green leafy vegetables, such as beet greens, spinach, and kale.

Lycopene is in many pink and red fruits and vegetables. This includes pink grapefruits, watermelon, apricots, and tomatoes. Lutein is in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, and kale. You also can find it in broccoli, corn, peas, papayas, and oranges. Selenium is in pasta, bread, and grains, including corn, wheat, and rice.

You can find it in animal products, like beef, fish, turkey, and chicken. You also can find it in many nuts, legumes, eggs, and cheeses.

Things to consider Doctors recommend eating a balanced diet that include fresh fruits and vegetables. Questions to ask your doctor What other antioxidants can I find in food?

How many antioxidants should I try to consume every day? How do I know what types of antioxidants are good for me? Should I take antioxidant supplements if I already have cancer?

Resources National Cancer Institute: Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Antioxidants.

Last Updated: June 8, This article was contributed by familydoctor. org editorial staff. Categories: Food and Nutrition , Nutrients and Nutritional Info , Prevention and Wellness.

Vitamin E. Products and services. Vitamin E By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry.

Show references Vitamin E oral. Accessed Aug. Micromedex 2. Natural Medicines. Accessed Sept. Rochester, Minn. Press D, et al. Prevention of dementia. Sexton DJ, et al. The common cold in adults: Treatment and prevention. Treatment of dementia. Vitamin and mineral supplements. American Heart Association.

Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Incontinence The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press The Essential Diabetes Book Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book.

ART Home Vitamin E. Show the heart some love! Give Today. Help us advance cardiovascular medicine. Find a doctor. Explore careers. Sign up for free e-newsletters. About Mayo Clinic. About this Site. Contact Us. Health Information Policy. Antioxidants are incredibly important, but most people don't really understand what they are.

This article explains it all in human terms. Coffee is incredibly high in antioxidants. Several studies have shown that people get more antioxidants from coffee than any other food group. Some experts have suggested that substances in milk can inactive antioxidants in foods and beverages.

This article explores whether this is true or…. Vitamins and other nutrients from whole foods have many health benefits. The same may not apply to synthetic nutrients from supplements.

Want a cup of vitamin coffee? Instead of turning to coffee pods, learn how to make it yourself by adding one of these six healthy ingredients.

Selenium is an essential mineral that's vital to your health. Here are 7 health benefits of selenium, all backed by science. MindBodyGreen provides third-party-tested supplements made with high quality ingredients. Our testers and dietitians discuss whether MindBodyGreen….

A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based Should You Take Antioxidant Supplements? By Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD — Updated on November 13, What They Are Risks Vitamin C Food Sources Bottom Line Antioxidant supplements are popular and commonly considered healthy.

Share on Pinterest. What Are Antioxidant Supplements? Taking High Doses Can Be Harmful. Vitamin C May Benefit Some People. Get Your Antioxidants From Food. The Bottom Line.