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Free Radicals Damaging our Bodies from Within
Even young people can be victims of unsuccessful aging if
they are not providing their bodies with the necessary
balance of having enough dietary antioxidants to fight off
the free radicals. To understand the value and importance
of antioxidants, you must first understand the destructive
results of free radicals.
What are free radicals? Scientists have found that the body
forms unstable oxygen molecules, called free radicals;
every cell produces tens of thousands of them each day.
Free radicals are produced within the body every single day
from the different chemical reactions which happen in each
individual part of our bodies. Free radicals are produced
outside of the body as well, reaching us through sunrays,
toxic chemicals in our drinking water, second-hand as well
as first-hand smoke, unhealthy foods, bacteria, viruses,
radiation, and pollution in general.
The cells of our bodies are now increasingly subject to
damage from free radicals due to the high levels of
environmental toxins in our diet and the reduced levels of
antioxidants in our food to combat free radical damage.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are nutrients that help to lower the amounts
of free radicals in your body by providing them with the
oxygen molecule that they are missing and making them
stable. Quite simply put, at the molecular and cellular
levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate these free
radicals.
In order to bolster the body's defense mechanism, and to
counter this activity by free radicals, a lot of research
is being done to study how the quantity of antioxidants can
be included in the diet or added through a dietary
supplement.
In light of the role free radicals play in the onset of
aging and disease, it is important to ensure our diets
include a rich and diverse supply of antioxidants to
improve the health of our cells throughout our bodies and
to protect our cells from the ravages of oxidation. But
what are some of the best natural sources of antioxidants?
Great Sources of Antioxidants
Blueberries - Some of the healthiest fruits are berries,
and blueberries are one of the top quality berries
containing plenty of antioxidants while maintaining lower
sugar content then most other fruits.
D, Chief of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on
Aging in Boston is working with blueberries to examine
their potential to help improve motor skills and reverse
the short-term memory loss that comes with aging.
Other fruits - Delicious fruits that are at the top of the
antioxidant chart include strawberries, blackberries and
grapes, besides blueberries.
Garlic - Garlic is a terrific source of antioxidants.
Eating more garlic (in raw or cooked forms) is associated
with a lower incidence of heart disease because of its
antioxidant properties.
Extra virgin olive oil This oil is another source of
antioxidants. There is also significant data to indicate it
may also lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart
disease and aid in the fight against colon cancer.
Conclusion
Recent studies have indicated that the antioxidants in
fruit provide a whole host of health benefits: the
anti-aging power of blueberries and the joint pain
relieving properties found in cherries to name two.
This world is full of good, wholesome foods that are high
in antioxidants. We just need to eat them.
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Carol Stack has written numerous articles. She lives in the
United States with her husband, three children, and various
dogs and cats. Carol and her sister Barbara have combined
forces to produce a website that focuses on healthy and
nutritious foods and recipes. You can visit it at:
http://www.healthyrecipesandmore.com
