TL;DR Red ginseng's benefit of "may help with antioxidant activity" is a functionality officially recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Ginsenosides in red ginseng can help with processes related to the body's antioxidant defense system and have been studied for managing oxidative stress. The daily intake standard for ginsenosides to recognize this functionality is 2.4 mg to 80 mg.

💡 You can get answers to these questions!

• "Everyone says 'antioxidants' are good, but what exactly does it mean?"

• "Why are free radicals bad?"

• "What is the mechanism behind red ginseng's antioxidant activity?"

• "I heard vitamins C and E are also antioxidants, how are they different from red ginseng?"

What does antioxidant mean?

Antioxidant literally means the action of protecting the body from oxidation.
As our body produces energy and performs activities, free radicals are generated, and if these accumulate excessively, they can put a strain on cells.

Free radicals are substances that naturally form in the body, but they can be generated in larger amounts due to factors such as stress, overwork, smoking, drinking, and UV rays. Therefore, antioxidant activity is closer to properly managing excessive oxidative stress rather than completely eliminating free radicals.

Why are free radicals a problem?

Too many free radicals can strain components such as cell membranes, proteins, and DNA. The damage that occurs at this time is called oxidative stress. When oxidative stress accumulates, it can lead to the body tiring easily or recovering more slowly.

However, free radicals are not unconditionally bad. Since they are also involved in the body's immune response and signal transduction, the key is balance. It is correct to understand the antioxidant functionality of red ginseng as a way to support this balance.

Our body already has an antioxidant system

Before taking external antioxidants such as vitamin C or red ginseng, our body has its own antioxidant enzyme system. The following two are representative. 

• SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) An enzyme that breaks down superoxide radicals, which are the first free radicals to be produced. It is the body's first line of defense for processing free radicals.

• CAT (Catalase) Breaks down hydrogen peroxide, which is produced in the process of SOD breaking down free radicals, into water and oxygen. It acts as the second line of defense.

The problem is that as we age, or if oxidative stress becomes excessive, the efficiency of this self-antioxidant system declines.

How does red ginseng work?

The antioxidant activity of red ginseng is usually explained in two ways.
One is that it can help with enzyme activities related to the body's antioxidant defense system, and the other is that there are studies related to managing indicators of oxidative stress.

What is important here is that it does not mean red ginseng directly captures and eliminates free radicals like vitamins do. It is more accurate to explain red ginseng as helping the body's own system respond to oxidative stress to work properly.

How is it different from Vitamin C and E?

Antioxidants differ in how they work.
There are those that react directly with free radicals to neutralize them, like vitamins C and E, and there are substances like red ginseng that work in a way related to the body's defense system.

In other words, vitamins C/E and red ginseng are not in competition, but rather are different approaches to antioxidant activity. Rather than one being better than the other, they should be understood as having different characteristics.

Expressions Approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

The approved expression for antioxidant activity in red ginseng by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is as follows.

“May help with antioxidant activity”

Functional Expression
Daily ginsenoside standard value

If the ginsenoside content is 3 mg or higher, it meets the standards for fatigue improvement and immunity enhancement as well as antioxidant activity, memory, and blood flow improvement. Therefore, when looking at red ginseng products, it is important to check both the functional claims and the ginsenoside content.

What to check when choosing a product

For red ginseng products, make sure to check these three things.

• Check if there is a Health Functional Food mark. Only with this mark can functional claims approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety be stated.

• Check if there is the expression “May help with antioxidant activity”. The functional phrasing on the label is key.

• Check if the ginsenoside content meets the standard. The daily standard for antioxidant functionality is 2.4 mg or more.

Even if red ginseng products look similar on the outside, their functional approvals and content can differ in reality. Therefore, it is important to develop a habit of looking at the label before the brand name when buying red ginseng.

The antioxidant functionality of red ginseng does not mean "stopping aging."
It is most accurate to understand it as meaning that it can help manage the oxidative burden accumulated in daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. There are so many foods that claim to be good for antioxidant activity. Is there a reason to choose red ginseng? 

A. Different types of antioxidants work in different ways. Vitamins C and E react directly with free radicals, while red ginseng enhances the body's own antioxidant enzyme system. Rather than one being superior, the differentiating factor of red ginseng is that in addition to antioxidant activity, it is a raw material recognized for other functionalities such as immunity, blood circulation, and fatigue improvement.

Q. Is it better to completely eliminate free radicals? 

A. No. Free radicals are substances that are also needed for the body's immune response and cellular signaling. If they are completely removed, immune function may decline. The proper goal of antioxidant therapy is to regulate excessively generated free radicals to an appropriate level.

Q. Is it better to consume more antioxidant foods?

 A. In principle, health functional foods should be consumed within the daily intake range set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In the case of red ginseng, the upper limit for ginsenosides is 80 mg/day. Follow the intake instructions on the product packaging.

Q. Can red ginseng's antioxidant functionality be seen as preventing aging? 

A. Aging is a process in which various factors act in combination. Red ginseng's antioxidant functionality means it can help reduce oxidative damage, not that it prevents or treats aging itself. It must be understood within the scope of acceptance by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Wrapping Up

Antioxidant activity is ultimately a defense system for keeping the body healthy for a long time.
It is good to understand red ginseng's antioxidant functionality not as simply eliminating free radicals, but as supporting the body's own power to cope with oxidative stress.

When choosing a product, make sure to check these three: Health Functional Food mark, "May help with antioxidant activity" text, and 2.4 mg or more of ginsenosides.
Knowing these standards will help you select red ginseng much more wisely.

Check out other parts of this series

→ ① Immunity Edition: The Relationship Between NK Cells and Red Ginseng
→ ② Blood Circulation Improvement Edition: How Red Ginseng Works If Your Hands and Feet Are Cold
→ ③ Fatigue Improvement Edition: How Fatigue Recovery and Fatigue Improvement Differ

References

• Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Food & Drug Code (Standards and Specifications for Red Ginseng Functional Raw Materials)

• The Korea Journal of Exercise Physiology, 「The Effect of Red Ginseng Administration on Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxide Changes During Exercise」, Exercise Science Vol. 8, No. 3, 1999

• Korea Policy Briefing, 「5 Things You Must Check When Eating Red Ginseng」