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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Discover Antioxidants With An Overview Of Superfoods

By Beverly Y Brooks

Antioxidants are organically occurring nutrients that protect the body and the immune system from free radicals. A free radical is a destructive and volatile molecule that is created in our bodies during oxidative processes such as the burning of sugars for energy, the release of digestive enzymes to process food and the break down and release of environmental pollutants.

The term "free radical" actually refers to an atom or molecule that has at least one unpaired electron. This unpaired electron is unusually reactive to other atoms or groups of atoms and therefore disproportionate free radicals can obstruct with the cells ability to function typically. At high levels, free radicals can also cause cell damage which is a cause in many health woes, including age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's and the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other conditions.

Antioxidants work by matching up with the unpaired electron thereby neutralizing the free radical. Antioxidants can also nip in the bud the oxidation in the first place. In this process of neutralization the antioxidant will become oxidized itself so therefore antioxidants need to be continuously replaced. Preventing harm from oxidation is crucial, however, preventing oxidation totally is not achievable because oxidation is a innate process of living and it cannot be avoided.

Common foods that we consume everyday give 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. An assortment 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 additionally in flaxseeds.

There are also vitamin like antioxidants including Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Glutathione and antioxidant enzymes made by the body including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase.

Because of the widespread evidence from the past few years about the benefits of antioxidants, many antioxidants are now accessible in supplement form. These supplements span from relatively safe, such as vitamin C tablets to out-and-out risky. No single antioxidant is advantageous to the body as the usefulness 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 array 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 fears of gaining excess weight and eating fruits and vegetables to get your antioxidants poses no danger to your body as opposed to some supplements.

The more colorful the food the higher antioxidant qualities it has, so eat colorful foods, like red tomatoes, green spinach, orange oranges and pumpkins and deep purple blueberries. Consume a colorful range every day for the highest antioxidant intake. - 17268

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