The Different Types Of Antioxidants:

Most people have heard of the term "antioxidant", but the likelihood is that a vast majority of these people don't actually know what the term truly refers to - nor the fact that there are two different types of them. In a scientific sense, the difference between the two types of antioxidants is actually quite significant - however to the average person, the difference may not be that impressive.

Assuming that you want to know about the fundamental difference between the two major types of antioxidants, continue reading. If not, this article probably won't be interesting to you. 

Activity of the Water Soluble Antioxidants

Water soluble antioxidants are referred to as hydrophilic antioxidants. Basically, they are able to assist the body in the process of cell cytosol, and help out in the blood plasma. In other words, they take a hands on approach to ridding the body of harmful free radicals and pollutants. Following is a list of the most common water soluble antioxidants:

- Ascorbic Acid
- Gluathione
- Lipoic Acid
- Uric Acid

As you can see, most of these are acids. Their concentration in the human serum and liver vary to a large extend, and some of these antioxidants are certainly more powerful. As you would expect, any food which contains any 4 of the above antioxidants in large quantities is definitely beneficial to helping eradicate harmful oxidants from the human body.

Activity of the Lipid Soluble Antioxidants

Unlike water soluble antioxidants, the lipid soluble version do not actively go out seeking to destroy rogue cells in the human body. These are the antioxidants which in fact have a much more passive role in keeping the human body healthy. 

Basically, these antioxidants work by clinging on to damaged cells, and injecting valuable nutrients which support the replenishment and health of that particular individual cell. In this way, antioxidants are able to promote the health of cells on a cellular level, by working in sync with the cells themselves.

Here are a few examples of lipid soluble antioxidants:

- Carotenes
- Ubiquinol

Just like water soluble antioxidants, these can be found in a few foods - mainly fruits. Did you ever wonder why your parents kept telling you to eat blueberries or spinach? Well, here is your answer!