Notice Antioxidants With An Overview Of Super Foods
Food provides us with organically occurring antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that defend the body and the immune system from destructive molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are variable molecules that come about as a effect of oxidative processes such as the burning of sugars for energy, the release of digestive enzymes to break down food and the dispensation 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 especially reactive to other atoms or groups of atoms and therefore extreme free radicals can obstruct with the cells capacity to function normally. At high levels, free radicals can also cause cell damage which is a issue in many health woes, including age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s and the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other conditions.
An antioxidant will connect to the unpaired electrons and alleviate the free radical. Antioxidants can also prevent the oxidation process in the first place but in the course of neutralizing the free radicals the antioxidant will turn out to be oxidized itself. That is why we need a continual source of antioxidants in our diets. Oxidation is a innate process of living and it cannot be avoided but the it can cause can be minimized with a wholesome intake of antioxidants.
Common foods that we eat everyday offer 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. Different 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 in addition 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.
Antioxidants are crucial to our bodies and our health. In the past few years many antioxidants have become accessible in the form of supplements. While some antioxidant supplements have proven to be quite safe, for example vitamin C tablets, other antioxidants have proven to be dangerous. No single antioxidant can protect the body and it is the synergy of nutrients that provides the value rather than the individual antioxidant.
The safest and by far the best way to get your antioxidants is through the intake of a healthy diet, consisting of a variety 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 uncertainties of gaining excess weight and eating fruits and vegetables to get your antioxidants poses no hazard 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 selection every day for the highest antioxidant intake.
