2008 Woodie Awards
Enrich Your Diet with Disease Fighting Chemicals
Katrina Harwood
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Life
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The term 'antioxidant' has had increasing popularity on food labels, commercials and other advertisements which may provoke some confusion about them. While some companies may use the fact that their product is rich in antioxidants as a marketing tool, many foods that are high in antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables, do not get the advertisement of containing antioxidant.
So what are antioxidants? Antioxidant is a general term that includes hundreds of different chemicals found in a wide variety of foods. When consumed, antioxidants are able to donate an electron to a free radical which lacks an electron in its outer ring. When free radicals are not eliminated from the body by the action of antioxidants, they are capable of causing damage the body.
Antioxidants are not the only way of eliminating free radicals. The body has enzymes which act to neutralize free radicals just as antioxidants do. It has been suggested in some studies that the presence of antioxidants can enhance the activity of the enzymes naturally found in the body. Antioxidants that are taken in through diet can help preserve the action of the enzymes as well.
There are many ways in which free radicals can enter the body and cause harm. Free radicals can be produced by the body in response to stress, overeating, smoking or injury. Free radicals are also present in the environment. Environmental free radicals increase with the amount of pollution is in the air. Some areas of the world have more pollution than others and can therefore have more free radicals in the environment.
Free radicals are associated with a number of diseases, most notably cancers, and are often associated with the aging process, both physical and mental. Vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A are all considered antioxidants because of their power to eliminate free radicals and also prevent the formation of free radicals.
Other antioxidants include: Alpha-Lipoic Acid, which is found naturally in such foods as spinach and broccoli, garlic, which not only has chemicals that act as antioxidants but also contains vitamin A, vitamin C and selenium (all of which are antioxidants) and flavonoids, found in wine, berries, tea and soy products. There are many more categories and types of antioxidants found in foods.
It is optimal to consume a variety of foods that contain a variety of antioxidants because many antioxidants act with one another as a support system against free radicals. The best way of getting a variety of antioxidants is to consume a variety of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Some companies have taken advantage of the emphasis on antioxidants and have formulated drinks that contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Although some companies have created drinks with high concentrations of antioxidants added, the easiest way to enjoy the power of antioxidants is to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts.
So what are antioxidants? Antioxidant is a general term that includes hundreds of different chemicals found in a wide variety of foods. When consumed, antioxidants are able to donate an electron to a free radical which lacks an electron in its outer ring. When free radicals are not eliminated from the body by the action of antioxidants, they are capable of causing damage the body.
Antioxidants are not the only way of eliminating free radicals. The body has enzymes which act to neutralize free radicals just as antioxidants do. It has been suggested in some studies that the presence of antioxidants can enhance the activity of the enzymes naturally found in the body. Antioxidants that are taken in through diet can help preserve the action of the enzymes as well.
There are many ways in which free radicals can enter the body and cause harm. Free radicals can be produced by the body in response to stress, overeating, smoking or injury. Free radicals are also present in the environment. Environmental free radicals increase with the amount of pollution is in the air. Some areas of the world have more pollution than others and can therefore have more free radicals in the environment.
Free radicals are associated with a number of diseases, most notably cancers, and are often associated with the aging process, both physical and mental. Vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A are all considered antioxidants because of their power to eliminate free radicals and also prevent the formation of free radicals.
Other antioxidants include: Alpha-Lipoic Acid, which is found naturally in such foods as spinach and broccoli, garlic, which not only has chemicals that act as antioxidants but also contains vitamin A, vitamin C and selenium (all of which are antioxidants) and flavonoids, found in wine, berries, tea and soy products. There are many more categories and types of antioxidants found in foods.
It is optimal to consume a variety of foods that contain a variety of antioxidants because many antioxidants act with one another as a support system against free radicals. The best way of getting a variety of antioxidants is to consume a variety of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Some companies have taken advantage of the emphasis on antioxidants and have formulated drinks that contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Although some companies have created drinks with high concentrations of antioxidants added, the easiest way to enjoy the power of antioxidants is to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts.
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