What are Antioxidants? Benefits of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. 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. Indeed, a recent study conducted by researchers from London found that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection.

Most Commonly Known Antioxidants

Vitamin A and Carotenoids   Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!)         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, chicken and garlic

Other Common Antioxidants

Some common phytochemicals Flavonoids / polyphenols soy red wine purple grapes or Concord grapes pomegranate cranberries tea Lycopene Tomato and tomato products pink grapefruit watermelon Lutein dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, kiwi, brussels sprout and spinach Lignan flax seed oatmeal barley rye Vitamin-like Antioxidants: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) Glutathione Antioxidant enzymes made by the body: superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase glutathione peroxidase

I do have an absolute favorite supplement I like to recommend. I keep it in my family's kitchen at all times. It's from a brazilian berry with a dark purple skin. It can be bought in juice form or taken as a gelcap form. For more info, feel free to email me.

Till next time, may good health be yours.

Posted by drkmorgan at 6:34 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 6 February 2008 6:37 PM EST

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