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There is growing evidence that antioxidants may
有越來越多的證據表明，抗氧化劑能夠
protect the body's cells from cell damage that can
保護身體細胞不被損害，身體細胞的損傷
lead to cancer. An antioxidant can be a vitamin,
會導致癌癥，抗氧化劑可以是維生素
mineral, or phytochemical. Antioxidants neutralize
礦物質和植物化學物質，抗氧化劑可以
damage to the body's cells and are naturally found
中和身體細胞損傷，它們存在于蔬菜
in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and nuts.
水果，天然谷物，豆類和堅果中
Over the past two decades, scientists have studied
在過去的二十年間，科學家研究了
antioxidants like Vitamins C and E. Beta carotene,
維生素C和E，同時對胡蘿卜素
lycopene, lutein, resveratrol, and selenium are other
番茄紅素，葉黃素，白藜蘆醇
antioxidants that are also being investigated.
和硒等抗氧化劑也進行了研究
Antioxidants defend the body's cells against
抗氧化劑保護身體細胞不受
molecules called "free radicals". Cellular activities
自由基的侵蝕，細胞運動一方面保證機體的
that keep us alive also produce destructive oxygen
正常運轉，另一方面卻也產生具有破壞性的
molecules in the highly reactive, unstable form of
氧分子，這種分子以自由基的形式存在
free radicals. Free radicals posses an unpaired or
并且極其不穩定，自由基擁有自由電子
"free" electron. Pairing this lone electron with
將一個電子與另一個電子組合起來
another gives the molecule stability. To achieve
就能夠使分子保持穩定，為了達到穩定
stability, a free radical scavenges electrons from
自由基會從其他分子那里搶奪電子
other molecules which disrupts their stability
從而使其他分子的穩定性遭到破壞
in turn. Too many free radicals can inflict damage
過多的自由基會對健康細胞造成損傷
on healthy cells and research now implicates excess
有研究表明，自由基數量過多
free radicals in a number of diseases including cancer
會導致很多疾病，比如癌癥
Antioxidants can help offset damage caused by free
抗氧化劑能夠減緩自由基帶來的損傷
radicals and function in a variety of ways. They can
并且在眾多方面對身體有益
limit free radical formation, destroy free radicals,
它們能夠限制自由基的形成，將它們摧毀
and stimulate antioxidant enzyme activity.
并且刺激自由基酶活動
Many scientists believe that a plentiful supply of
很多科學家相信，足量的抗氧化劑攝入
antioxidants carrying out different protective roles
能夠在眾多方面保護人體
may help defend against a cell's
能夠阻止人體細胞的變化
changes and can lead to cancer.
從而有效預防癌癥
There is currently much controversy surrounding the
目前關于服用抗氧化劑
pros and cons of taking antioxidants. It is not fully
各方觀點不一，目前我們還不能完全肯定
understood at this time if large doses of antioxidants
大量攝入抗氧化劑是否會
may protect cancer cells from the intended effects
反過來保護癌細胞不受化療
of chemo or radiation therapy, act to enhance the
和放療的影響，也就是說起到
effects, or act as pro-oxidants causing more damage
氧化劑的作用，反過來增強對身體的損傷
than protection of our healthy cells.
而不是保護健康的細胞
It is highly likely to be very individualistic.
這是因人而異的
A number of studies point to an association between
一些研究表明，抗氧化劑能夠
antioxidants and reduced cancer risk. However,
降低罹患癌癥的風險，但是
researchers are becoming more convinced that
相關研究人員越來越相信
cancer protection does not come from any single
預防癌癥不是由某種單一的氧化劑能夠
antioxidant. It will take more studies to draw
做到的，還需要更多的研究，才能確定
firm conclusions about specific antioxidants.
每種氧化劑的特殊作用
