There is a lot of hype surrounding a group of compounds called antioxidants that are contained in food. They are said to do everything, ranging from being memory protectors to disease fighters as well as being an antidote to aging. Antioxidants happen to be natural ways of eliminating molecules in the body that are potentially dangerous. Such molecules appear in the form of synthetic chemicals like plastics, pesticides and chlorine byproducts. Here is a look at the importance of an antioxidant diet.
Antioxidants assist in fighting a normal chemical process known as oxidation that takes place every day in the body. It can be accelerated by stress, alcohol and cigarette smoking. In case a disruption in the natural process of oxidation occurs, molecules known as free radicals that are potentially damaging and highly unstable are created. The formation of such destructive little chemicals is triggered by oxygen, and is capable of causing damage to body cells if left uncontrolled.
Should the production of free radicals exceed the protective defenses of the body, oxidative stress can take place. When combined with cell damage resulting from free radicals, such oxidative stress can trigger the initial cancer and heart disease stages. They can also trigger the development of other diseases the likes of cataracts, kidney disease, Alzheimers disease and diabetes.
For protection against such damage, the human body has defenses. It generates antioxidants for eliminating the free radicals and to protect cells from oxygen attack. Safe interaction with the radicals results in the chain of damage being slowed down before it can move on to the cells. To gain such helpful molecules, all one has to do is include them in a diet.
Certain vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin E as well as minerals such as selenium and manganese are antioxidants. Some plant compounds also act as antioxidants, such as carotene and lycopene. Many types of foods capable of being included in a diet are ideal sources of antioxidants. While selenium and manganese can be found in small amounts in meats and seafood, the main source of antioxidants is plant foods.
There may be a wide range of antioxidant systems out there. However, scientists are yet to figure out how the different systems in a human body work together to protect it against damage from free radicals. There is no one antioxidant that can provide the protection offered by several of them working together. Therefore, diets must be inclusive of as many of them as possible.
Eating foods that represent all the colors found in a rainbow is a recommended way of getting antioxidants in a diet. Every one of the colors has its own effects of the molecules. Vegetables and fruits that are either bright orange or deep yellow, such as carrots and sweet potatoes have one antioxidant type while red ones like tomatoes have others. Cabbage, broccoli and other green vegetables have packages of antioxidants, together with purple or blue ones like eggplants and blueberries.
Decreasing the risks of various diseases like the heart disease and cancer forms a basis of the importance of an antioxidant diet. The ideal such diets are inclusive of whole grains, vegetables and fruits. By coming up with a diet that is rich in all the above mentioned food, a person can be assured of protection from some diseases together with a lesser chance of contracting others.
Antioxidants assist in fighting a normal chemical process known as oxidation that takes place every day in the body. It can be accelerated by stress, alcohol and cigarette smoking. In case a disruption in the natural process of oxidation occurs, molecules known as free radicals that are potentially damaging and highly unstable are created. The formation of such destructive little chemicals is triggered by oxygen, and is capable of causing damage to body cells if left uncontrolled.
Should the production of free radicals exceed the protective defenses of the body, oxidative stress can take place. When combined with cell damage resulting from free radicals, such oxidative stress can trigger the initial cancer and heart disease stages. They can also trigger the development of other diseases the likes of cataracts, kidney disease, Alzheimers disease and diabetes.
For protection against such damage, the human body has defenses. It generates antioxidants for eliminating the free radicals and to protect cells from oxygen attack. Safe interaction with the radicals results in the chain of damage being slowed down before it can move on to the cells. To gain such helpful molecules, all one has to do is include them in a diet.
Certain vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin E as well as minerals such as selenium and manganese are antioxidants. Some plant compounds also act as antioxidants, such as carotene and lycopene. Many types of foods capable of being included in a diet are ideal sources of antioxidants. While selenium and manganese can be found in small amounts in meats and seafood, the main source of antioxidants is plant foods.
There may be a wide range of antioxidant systems out there. However, scientists are yet to figure out how the different systems in a human body work together to protect it against damage from free radicals. There is no one antioxidant that can provide the protection offered by several of them working together. Therefore, diets must be inclusive of as many of them as possible.
Eating foods that represent all the colors found in a rainbow is a recommended way of getting antioxidants in a diet. Every one of the colors has its own effects of the molecules. Vegetables and fruits that are either bright orange or deep yellow, such as carrots and sweet potatoes have one antioxidant type while red ones like tomatoes have others. Cabbage, broccoli and other green vegetables have packages of antioxidants, together with purple or blue ones like eggplants and blueberries.
Decreasing the risks of various diseases like the heart disease and cancer forms a basis of the importance of an antioxidant diet. The ideal such diets are inclusive of whole grains, vegetables and fruits. By coming up with a diet that is rich in all the above mentioned food, a person can be assured of protection from some diseases together with a lesser chance of contracting others.
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