So newly, I am curious about these substances.
Among the antioxidant family members I've found:
vitamin c
bioflavanoids (which I assume are just citrus related)
OPC's
COQ-10
The majority of articles that I find, and am capable of pushing through with my attention in its state, comment on the potency effect at opposing free radical damage. So for example, opcs (oligoproanthocyanins) are 20x more potent than vitamin e. Now under a somewhat Mies van der Rohe philosophy of less is more, or that more is counter-productive, I am wondering what antioxidants would be optimal for restoring and preventing free radical damage. I assume in part it also relates to the different types of free radical damage...and the different reaction processes within the body.
At the moment, though, I haven't been able to narrow much down. So:
What would be opinions as to how to distinguish their functions and effects?
Also, how is it that pycogenol (pine bark) has a sort of dilating effect? Is this true of certain benefits of some antioxidants--the enhanced cerebral blood flow?
I'm looking to mitigate the damage of free radical produced by unchecked glutamate...what reactions are involved in this?
