Antioxidants are a blanket term used for chemicals that can help protect your body from damage from free radicals. Antioxidants can be found in many different foods and supplements, and these molecules can undergo chemical changes over time, ultimately reducing the potency of the antioxidants. Storing antioxidant-rich foods and supplements in a cool, dry and dark place can help maintain their potency.
Antioxidant Function
Antioxidants are important for health because they help protect your body from reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species are molecules that are generated by a variety of processes, including cellular use of energy, radiation from the sun and certain toxins. Reactive oxygen species, also known as free radicals, can damage DNA, proteins and lipids in your body. Antioxidants are able to neutralize these molecules, preventing this sort of damage.
Antioxidant Expiration
Reactive oxygen species can oxidize antioxidants, which is the process by which antioxidants can neutralize these dangerous molecules. However, if the chemical structure of the antioxidants is changed due to gradual chemical degradation, they will lose their potency. Reactive oxygen species can also react with antioxidants outside of the body to further reduce the potency of the antioxidants.
How to Know if Antioxidants Are Expired
Generally speaking, there is no easy way to tell if the antioxidants in food or a supplement have lost their potency. If you are getting antioxidants from fruits or fruit juices, the antioxidants in the food will generally maintain their potency as long as the food item itself has not expired. For supplements, signs of a loss of potency include changes in the color of the supplement or breakdown of the pill or tablet.
Prevention
One of the simplest ways you can maintain the potency of antioxidants is to keep them cool because colder temperatures slow the chemical reactions that can degrade antioxidants. A 2006 article in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" found that keeping tomato juice cool increased the shelf life of some of the antioxidants in the juice. In addition, it is generally recommended that you store antioxidant supplements in cool, dry and dark areas to minimize chemical degradation.
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