Unearth Antioxidants And The Health Benefits Of Super Foods
October 9, 2009 by Ricardo Lawrence
Filed under Acai Berry
Food provides us with organically occurring antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that defend the body and the immune system from dangerous molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are variable molecules that take place as a outcome of oxidative processes such as the burning of sugars for energy, the release of digestive enzymes to break down food and the processing of environmental pollutants.
A “free radical” is an atom or a molecule that has at least one unpaired electron. This unpaired electron is exceedingly unstable and it is especially reactive to other atoms and groups of atoms, which leads to an impediment of the cells ability to function routinely. Free radicals can also cause cell damage, which is thought to be a dominant cause in the progress of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other conditions, along with age-related ailments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Antioxidants go to work by matching up with the unpaired electron thereby neutralizing the free radical. Antioxidants can also put off the oxidation in the first place. In this progression of neutralization the antioxidant will become oxidized itself so therefore antioxidants need to be continuously replaced. Preventing destruction from oxidation is crucial, however, preventing oxidation entirely is not possible because oxidation is a normal process of living and it cannot be avoided.
Common foods that we have everyday supply us with antioxidants. Vitamin C comes from citrus fruits and strawberries. Vitamin A and carotenoids are found in pumpkin, butternut squash and other deep orange foods. Vitamin is found in nuts, seed and whole grains. Selenium comes from eggs, chicken, red meat, fish and shellfish. A mixture of phytochemicals including flavonoids and polyphenols can be found in soy, red wine, grapes, cranberries and green tea. Lycopene is from tomatoes and watermelon and Lutein comes from deep green vegetables similar to spinach and kale. Lignan can be found in whole grains like oats and barley and also in flaxseeds.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Glutathione are antioxidants that are comparable to vitamins and the body also makes enzymes with antioxidant qualities called superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase.
Because of the extensive evidence from the past few years about the benefits of antioxidants, many antioxidants are now available in supplement form. These supplements span from fairly safe, such as vitamin C tablets to out-and-out dangerous. No single antioxidant is beneficial to the body as the value comes from the synergy between the nutrients.
The safest and by far the best way to get your antioxidants is through the intake of a healthy diet, consisting of a diversity of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats and fish. The USDA recommends 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day and even more may be better. Most fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense and low calorie so there are no worries of gaining excess weight and eating fruits and vegetables to get your antioxidants poses no hazard to your body as opposed to some supplements.
You can often convey the antioxidant level of a fruit based upon its color. The deep colors of nature present the highest levels of antioxidants. So have deep purple blueberries, bright red tomatoes, deep green kale and spinach, orange oranges and pumpkins. The more colors you eat the higher your antioxidant intake will be.
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Unearth Antioxidants And The Health Benefits Of Super Foods
