Hydrophobic Antioxidants

To many people, antioxidants are an important part of overall health, as they are widely believed to help combat and protect your cells against damage from free radicals, harmful byproducts of the oxidation process that can cause cell damage and illness. There are two types of antioxidants, hydrophilic and hydrophobic antioxidants. Both are equally important in the fight against free radicals, but each works very differently against them.

Hydrophobic antioxidants are fat (or lipid) soluble. Rather than fight against free radicals the way their water-soluble cousins do, hydrophobic antioxidants work within the membrane of the cell to help protect against free radical damage. These antioxidants include:

Like most antioxidants, hydrophobic antioxidants occur naturally within the body and are obtained through a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants are also believed to be especially important in skin health.

If you feel you are not getting enough hydrophobic antioxidants due to food allergies or poor diet, speak with your health care provider about how you can make changes in your diet or supplementation plan to achieve healthy levels of these, as well as other important antioxidants and nutrients that are needed to maintain optimum health.