Why You Need Antioxidants
September 28th, 2006Fight the Aging Process
Q. Why are Antioxidants so important?
A. Studies have shown that the intake of antioxidants may offer the best protection your body has against the damaging effect of free radicals.
Q. What is a free radical?
A. A free radical is an unstable molecule that takes an electron from a stable molecule to repair itself. By doing this, the free radical destabilizes the stable molecule and creates another free radical. This process starts a chain reaction cause one cell after another to break down. Just one free radical has the potential to cause damage to millions of other cells in your body. This destructive process is constantly occurring within your body and in turn, this prevents all or parts of your body from functioning properly.
Q. Where do free radicals come from?
A. Free radicals infiltrate our body every day through the environment we live in. Some common sources are: prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco, smoked and barbecued food and pollutants in the air we breathe. Even sun bathing can cause a build up of free radicals in our system. Free radicals can cause major damage to your cells, large enzyme complexes within your body, severely deplete your vitamin C supply and harm your DNA. After age 28, the major source of aging is due to the body’s production of free radicals. Scientists have concluded that significant amounts of free radicals accumulated in your body, may shorten your life span and lower your quality of life.
Q. How do antioxidants help?
A. Studies have proved that a particular group of nutrients called antioxidants have a profound ability to fight off the harmful effect of free radicals and can help protect the body from certain diseases caused by these free radicals. Antioxidants have the effect of destroying free radicals. Oxidization of the blood is caused by free radicals. Once oxidization occurs, disease may result. Antioxidants keep free radicals from causing oxidization in the blood, therefore neutralizing disease. As we age, environmental and chemical pollution, along with stress puts added demands on our immune systems and increases the need for antioxidant assistance.
Q. What is a good source of antioxidants?
A. Vitamin E: A fat soluble vitamin found in nuts, seeds, fish and vegetable oils, whole grains, fortified cereals and apricots.
Vitamin C: Absorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries.
Beta-Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, meaning it is converted to vitamin A by the body, and is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato, cantaloupe, peaches and grains.
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