ANTIOXIDANTS and = your HEALTH

ANTIOXIDANTS = and your=20 HEALTH

Antioxidants are substances or = nutrients in our=20 foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. = When our body cells use = oxygen, they=20 naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can potentially damage millions of healthy, = functioning cells=20 in our body. Health problems such as heart disease, macular = degeneration,=20 diabetes, cancer, etc. are all contributed by oxidative damage. Antioxidants act as = "free radical=20 scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free=20 radicals. Antioxidants = may also=20 enhance our immune system and therefore lower the risk of cancer and=20 infection.

Free radicals are = molecules produced when = your body=20 breaks down food or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke, stress, lack of=20 sleep, pollution and excessive amounts of sunlight. In excess, free radicals = produce harmful=20 oxidation that can damage cell membranes, accelerate the aging process, = and lead=20 to certain ailments.

While our = bodies are=20 equipped with antioxidant defenses, our bodies can certainly use natural = products that provide highly useful antioxidant support. Experts = have=20 stated that obtaining a variety of antioxidants through diet and/or=20 supplementation is essential to maintaining good health. = Antioxidants=20 are found in many foods. These include fruits and vegetables = (primarily=20 bright-colored), = nuts,=20 grains, and some meats, poultry and fish.

Most Commonly Known=20 Antioxidants:

Vitamin=20 A =20 Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, acai berry, cantaloupe,

&n= bsp; =20 peaches=20 and apricots

Vitamin=20 C =20 Citrus=20 fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy=20

&n= bsp; =20 vegetables, strawberries and = tomatoes

Vitamin=20 E =20 Nuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable = oil and=20 liver oil

Flavonoids = Soy, red=20 wine, purple grapes, pomegranate, cranberries and = tea

Lignan &nbs= p;=20 Flax seed, oatmeal, barley and rye

Lutein &nbs= p; =20 Dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, kiwi, brussels = sprout and=20 spinach

Lycopene =20 Tomato, tomato products, pink grapefruit and=20 watermelon

Selenium =20 Fish & shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and=20 garlic

For more = information=20 about Antioxidants for you health, go HERE.=

Reference=20 Sources:

Bottom Line = Personal, April=20 2006

Antioxidants 101, = Gloria Tsang,=20 RD, August 2007

Created and formatted = by:

Edward R. Cefalu, NCTMB

http://www.edcefalu.com/=