Research of Antioxidants for Better Health

By: Tara Smith...


Many people these days take antioxidants to counter the detrimental effect of free radicals. Although there is no conclusive proof that antioxidants keep skin from aging, experts do agree they have the ability to 'capture' free radicals and may protect us from certain diseases.

Free radicals are created as by-products in our use of oxygen during metabolism such as the burning of food for energy. They are essentially oxidant molecules that are missing an electron and seek to restore themselves by targeting nearby cells in an attempt to recover this electron, potentially harming enzymes, DNA, proteins and cell membranes in the process.

The truth is, there are many common foods high in antioxidants and you should not just restrict yourself to one particular food source. Why? Well, have you ever heard the expression, "eat your colors?" That refers to the fact that foods are in different color "families" containing different types of antioxidants which have different benefits.

Many of the best tasting fruits are high in antioxidants. Watermelon, for instance, has one of the best ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) ratings of any fruit out there. Berries in general are among the foods which are the most antioxidant-dense.

A healthy level of free radicals is needed by the body in order to get rid of bacteria. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have at least one unpaired electron, which makes them highly reactive. Free radicals promote beneficial oxidation that produces energy and kills bacterial invaders. In excess, however, they produce harmful oxidation that can damage cell membranes and cell contents.

Health and nutrition experts have increasingly come to recognize the value of taking a synergistic blend of potent antioxidants, the cancer-fighting, health-promoting nutrients that help boost the immune system naturally. Free radicals do serve a purpose they are produced in your body in small numbers. Not all of them are dangerous in normal circumstances. They are produced by the immune system to destroy bacteria and viruses.

As we age, free radical levels rise and yet the body falls short in producing necessary amounts of antioxidants to meet this challenge. Today, a great deal of experimental evidence supports the premise that length of life is determined by the crucial balance of antioxidants with free radicals in the body. If you find it difficult to consume an abundance of antioxidants from the recommended food groups, then taking daily supplements should solve the problem.

Staying clear of situations that cause a surge of free radicals to surge is one way of prevention and taking antioxidants as a supplementation is another. There are many situations that will increase free radical activities such as sun burn, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, pollution, exercise workout amongst others.

Without a doubt antioxidants are a vital tool in our fight against diseases, we all agree that sometimes eating the right thing is difficult but when compared with pain and suffering that we can bring to ourselves by cancer, arthritis or arteriosclerosis, a bowl of salad and an orange seems like a very tasty choice.

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