Research-Based

Best Antioxidant Supplements

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By Leslie Waterson

Reviewed by Juliana Tamayo, MS, RDN - Last Updated

Best Antioxidant Supplements

If you have spent time reading or learning even the very basics of health and fitness, you have probably encountered the word “antioxidants.” Antioxidants are one of the most common words you will hear in the world of health and wellness – alongside terms such as vitamins, nutrients, anti-inflammation, minerals, etc. This is because antioxidants are one of the key components in maintaining a healthy body and even a sound mind.

Antioxidants are commonly found in the foods we eat, such as fruits and vegetables. So, the right question to ask is: Are antioxidant supplements even worth it? The short answer is yes, and this article will explain why.

More importantly, we will discuss the basics of antioxidant supplements, such as:

  • What are antioxidant supplements?
  • Benefits of using antioxidant supplements
  • How to take antioxidant supplements?
  • Do antioxidant supplements really work?
  • Are antioxidant supplements right for you?
Antioxidant Supplements

What Are Antioxidant Supplements?

Antioxidant supplements are just what they are named – supplements that contain antioxidant properties. Since antioxidants come from foods, many antioxidant supplements are made from foods, like fruits and vegetables. They contain necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to give the antioxidant properties that they are promising.

As a supplement, just like with all supplements in the market, antioxidant supplements are used for supplementation purposes, not as the primary source of the vitamin or nutrient they contain. This serves as an important reminder that taking antioxidant supplements is great for your body, but you should be taking them along with eating a nutritious diet.

Best Antioxidant Supplements on fruits

Benefits Of Using Antioxidant Supplements

The benefits of antioxidant supplements come from antioxidants themselves. There are a variety of benefits, but one of the most noticeable is their ability to protect our bodies and fight against major diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants are also great in combating oxidative stress – one of the major factors of cellular damage, which is dangerous for the skin and other organs such as the heart. Antioxidants can combat this by fighting off free radicals, one component of oxidative stress.

Also, free radicals play a large role in aging – due to oxidative stress, which destroys our cells, including that of our skin. Because antioxidants fight free radicals off, they can also contribute to preventing our body’s natural aging process, allowing us to look younger.

Lastly, some of the most common antioxidants have their specific benefits to our health as well. Here are some of the most common antioxidants around:

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • Lycopene
  • Lutein
  • Beta-carotene
  • Selenium

For instance, Vitamin C is great in improving our immune system; Vitamin E is excellent at promoting skin health, and lutein works best for our eye health.

Simply put, antioxidants are an indispensable part of our overall health and fitness because they have a plethora of health benefits to offer.

Best Antioxidant Supplements on citrus fruits

How To Take Antioxidant Supplements

Antioxidant supplements are extremely versatile and diverse. They can come in the form of capsules, liquids, powders, gummies, or pills. If you don’t like to take pills, you can easily take antioxidants in the form of liquids, powders, or even gummies!

Needless to say, it is important when taking antioxidant supplements to be mindful and take only the dosage that is proper for you and never go beyond that.

Do Antioxidant Supplements Really Work?

The short answer to this is: yes, antioxidant supplements do work!

However, since they are supplements, and as with most supplements being sold in the market, it is important to do a little research when you are buying a particular antioxidant supplement product. This is because the supplements industry, in general, is less regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, unlike their medicinal and prescription drug counterparts.

Because of such, fraudulent companies and sellers begin selling supplement products that either have little to no effect or can even be outright dangerous to you. They can even lie about reviews, such as purchasing fake reviews to be posted on online shops including Amazon, so be wary when you are looking for reviews and recommendations.

Always check the label of the particular antioxidant supplement product that you intend to buy, and if possible, seek reviews and recommendations only from your trusted sources – such as a friend, family member, or blogs (and other media) that you think are reputable and trustworthy.

Put simply, antioxidant supplements do work, but it may take some time before you can find the product that truly works.

Are Antioxidant Supplements Right for You?

Antioxidants are great for your body, and the good thing is that they are hard to have too large of a dose of. However, there are some things to consider if you plan to take antioxidant supplements.

Just like with most everything in life, having things in excess is typically bad, and the same holds true for antioxidants. Too many antioxidants can be harmful to your body, so watch out how many antioxidants are you receiving – if you get plenty of antioxidants from your diet, maybe you should just stay away from antioxidant supplements.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should probably stay away from antioxidant supplements as well. This is because too many antioxidants (especially Vitamin A) can actually harm the baby that the woman is carrying in her womb. Too much Vitamin A can lead to birth defects, so if you are pregnant, keep track of your antioxidant levels, and maybe, it’s best to stay away from antioxidant supplements.

If you have certain health conditions or are taking prescriptive medicine, supplements (in general) can negatively affect your health performance. Unless you are under these situations, antioxidant supplements typically work well for most people. If you are in doubt, never take such supplements; it is best to seek the professional advice of your doctor or healthcare practitioner.

Are Antioxidant Supplements Worth It?

This is the question we have raised during the introduction of this article.

Since antioxidants are commonly abundant in foods we eat, such as fruits and vegetables, one can question the validity of taking antioxidants at all.

The short answer, as mentioned above, is: yes, it is still worth it! This is because of the simple reason why these supplements exist in the first place.

Supplements never meant to replace food sources. However, if our diet does not make the offered vitamins and nutrients available, supplements will act to supplement the vitamins and nutrients needed by our body – hence the word “supplements”!

In some cases, our body may not be able to fully absorb the nutrients contained in the diet we take. Supplements will act as a “leverage” to better help your body absorb the same nutrients you would get from your diet.

So, antioxidant supplements (as with many other supplements) are worth it – but again, just never take them in excess!

Best Antioxidant Supplements

DACHA Nutrition Natural Liposomal Vitamin C ($15)

DACHA Nutrition Natural Liposomal Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the most popular and common antioxidants, and for a good reason. This powerful vitamin c supplement, DACHA Nutrition Natural Liposomal Vitamin C, is made with phospholipid Sunflower Lecithin to create liposomes, which helps your body absorb the maximum amount of vitamin C.

Vitamin E Oil by Nature’s Bounty ($7)

Vitamin E Oil by Nature's Bounty

This antioxidant supplement is on the lower side of the pricing spectrum, for sale at under $10. This oil is a very easy way to get in a large dose of Vitamin E, which is excellent for your immune system. You can take it plain, or add it to your tea, making it extremely easy to consume.

Elder-Mune Sambucus Elderberry Gummies ($12)

Elder-Mune Sambucus Elderberry Gummies

This antioxidant supplement is great for just about anyone! If you do not like to swallow pills, nor do you like oils, then these elderberry gummies are a great choice.

Amazing Grass Green Superfood Antioxidant: Super Greens Powder ($22)

Amazing Grass Green Superfood Antioxidant Super Greens Powder

Amazing Green Grass has many products, including Amazing Green Grass Superfood and this antioxidant. This powerful combination of fresh greens and fruits plus an antioxidant blend creates a delicious and nutritious antioxidant mix for anyone to enjoy! The mix is created with seven alkalizing farm fresh greens that help nourish and strengthen your immune system.

Alternatives to Antioxidant Supplements 

While there are many different antioxidant supplements on the market, there is always the alternative to take vitamin specific supplements. As mentioned above, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E are all great sources of antioxidants. You can take these supplements by themselves, or search for a product that includes all three!

If you are thinking about adding an antioxidant supplement to your diet, now is a great time to give it a try. Antioxidant supplements are easy and safe supplements to test that carries a variety of benefits with it. If you start taking an antioxidant supplement, and experience any negative symptoms, contact a medical professional for help.

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Leslie Waterson

Leslie has been passionately involved in the health and fitness industries for over a decade. She is constantly reviewing the latest scientific research and studies in order to take a research-backed approach to lifestyle optimization. Her main areas of interest include nutrition and supplementation. Leslie shares her findings on Fitness Clone to help other health enthusiasts choose the products and routines that will help them achieve their goals.