Why are antioxidants important?

 

Why are antioxidants important?

What are antioxidants?

A chemical compound or substance that inhibits oxidation or reduces the oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
 
 
Why are antioxidants important?

Damaging the gate and/or having the presence of free radicals in the cell, can damage the cell's ability to generate energy, damage the cell's nucleus and/or damage the cell's DNA.
Through this process the use and movement of nutrients, oxygen, water, waste products and toxins can also be hindered. We stop the activities or impacts of free
radicals? By increasing our antioxidant intake. Numerous scientific studies have concluded that by consuming foods and supplements which are rich in antioxidant properties, the
incidence of diseases associated with the consequences of Free Radical oxidization can be reduced.
 
What are free radicals and oxidation?

Free radicals are unstable atoms or molecules with at least one unpaired electron. These atoms with unpaired electrons go looking for another electron to pair up with. If they find an
electron, they take it. That makes them stable now, but it makes the atoms or molecules that they took the electron from, unstable. This makes for a new, Free Radical.
The serious damage from Free Radicals seems to come in the act of searching for, piercing into and taking electrons from cells. This "oxidization" activity damages cell structures,
particularly the cellular plasma membranes which are natural gate keepers for cells, deciding what comes and goes within the cell.
 
Feel the Power of 5
The world’s top 5
antioxidants in ONE bottle

Le Vive
• Mangosteen-known for losing weight and lowering risk of diseases
• Acai Berry-control stress and curb appetite and fights acid reflux
• Goji-improve sexual function & fights cardiovascular and vision diseases
• Pomegranate-prevents and slows the growth of prostate cancer helps with coronary diseases
• Noni-improve immune function, increase energy & lower blood sugar
 
What you need to now for your health?
 
Now let's talk about other antioxidants. Fruits and Vegetables are loaded with antioxidants. Here is what you need to know for your health and why.
Normal metabolism of everyone living being produces oxidant by-products that scientific studies suggest are responsible for aging and age related diseases. This is a concept known as oxidative stress. These by-products cause extensive damage to DNA, protein, and lipids which resemble damage done by radiation; this damage is a prime contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases of aging such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction, and cataracts.
 So what does that have to do with fruits and vegetables?
 Dietary fruits and vegetables are the principal source of micronutrients like folate and many antioxidants like ascorbate (vitamin C), carotenoids and tocopherol (vitamin E). These antioxidants help combat the damages produced by these oxidants made during metabolism. A low calorie diet has been proven to reduce the amount of oxidants produced by your metabolism, which means a reduction in oxidative stress, which has been linked to longer lifespans. Similarly diets high in antioxidants (like fruits and vegetables) promote health and reduce the effects of ageing. These are particularly valuable because relatively large levels may be consumed without any adverse effects.
But my body can fight off or repair oxidant damage
Although we have many inborn oxidant defenses, dietary antioxidants have unquestionable value. In fact, a large percentage of the overall population with low dietary intake of fruits and vegetables have been shown to have double the cancer rate (for most types of cancer) and have shown higher rates of cardiovascular disease. European countries that display low consumption of fruits and vegetables are generally in poorer health and have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer as compared to other countries with high fruit and vegetable intake. As individuals get older their immune systems become severely weakened and unfortunately oxidants can cause your immune system to become even weaker. But, the good news is that many tragedies of ageing have been shown to be counteracted in elderly people who consume greater portions of fruits and vegetables or take dietary antioxidant supplementation.
 So how do these antioxidants work?
 Antioxidants are able to neutralize the damaging effects of metabolic oxidant by-products. A good example is Lycopene, which is a proven antioxidant found commonly in Tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, pink guava, papaya, gac, and rosehip. Most impressively, early research has linked lycopene to a reduced risk of muscular degenerative disease and cancers of the lung, bladder and skin. Lycopene can trap singlet oxygen (a harmful component of oxidative stress) and reduce the mutation rate in cells, helping to suppress cancers (most notably prostate cancer). The really good news is that many antioxidants like lycopene becomes even easier for your body to absorb when they are processed. So not all processed foods are bad. And for any of you heavy drinkers out there, antioxidants (like lycopene) have been found to stop cell death in alcoholics.
What you need to remember
 “Eat your fruits and vegetables." It’s pretty cliché by this point, but there is scientific evidence for it. Fruits and vegetables can help prevent heart disease, cancer, control blood pressure, vision loss and intestinal problems.  You should be consuming between 3-5 cups per day (potatoes don’t count) and so there is no confusion 1 cup is roughly the equivalent of a measuring cup. If the fruits and vegetables are dried, then ½ a cup is roughly equal to one cup. Keep fruit and veggies within eyesight. This will encourage you to eat them, this will also help you incorporate them into every meal. Try new fruits and vegetable that you may not have had before. You just might find something new that you really like. Happy health.
Samantha Mason
http://www.ardysslife.com/samantha104
http://www.dietbeautymusic.com
http://www.ardyss.com