What Are Antioxidants?Antioxidants seem to be mentioned quite frequently in nutrition articles as well as highlighted quite often in a health article or two. You may have heard about the health benefits, but do you know they are — and how they actually work? They are dietary substances including some nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium, which can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.
Oxidants, commonly known as "free radicals," are introduced through external sources such as exposure to the sun or pollution. Other mediums include stress, as well as things that people put into their bodies, such as alcoholic beverages, unhealthy foods, and cigarette smoke. Here's where the "good guys" come in - significantly slowing or preventing the oxidative — or damage from oxygen — process caused by free radicals that can lead to cell dysfunction and the onset of problems like heart disease and diabetes. They may also improve immune function and perhaps lower your risk for infection and cancer. In your body, the process is similar to stopping an apple from browning. Once you cut an apple, it begins to brown, but if you dip it in orange juice, which contains vitamin C, it stays white. In much the same way as oxidation creates rust, causing a breakdown on the surface of inanimate objects; oxidation inside the body causes a breakdown of cells. Free radicals produced by this breakdown attack healthy cells, usually DNA as well as proteins and fats. This chain of events weakens immunological functions as well as speeding up the aging process, and is also linked to several diseases such as cataracts, various forms of cancer, and heart disease. Some studies indicate possible links to arthritis and several other chronic conditions. Benefits Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer etc are all contributed by oxidative damage. They may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection. Most Commonly Known Antioxidants
Vitamin A and Carotenes Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots
Vitamin C Citrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes
Vitamin E Nuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil
Selenium Fish & shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chi
Click Here To Learn More About The Benefits of Acai
|
