Anti oxidants ? Why Its a Must in Your Diet

While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is also responsible for maximum damage to the human body as 'free radicals'. Free radicals form when oxygen is metabolized or burned by the body for its functions. Free radicals are also produced through environmental pollution and cigarette smoke

Tens of thousands of them are formed everyday in the body. These free radicals travel through the body causing immense damage to the cell structures and causes chronic disease, anti aging as well as other health problems including DNA mutations leading to cancer.

Thankfully the answer to such destruction at the cellular level is anti oxidants. The body produces anti oxidants as well as they available through fruits and vegetables. Anti oxidants scavenge free radicals; convert them to harmless substance before they can cause damage to the cells and tissues of the body.

Vitamin C beta carotenes and vitamin E are rich sources of anti oxidants. While a balance diet rich in these vitamins are an ideal source of natural anti oxidants they are also available as nutritional supplements and have gained much popularity in the past decade.

The efficacy of such anti oxidants remains questionable. Studies have suggested that anti oxidants occurring naturally as in fruits and vegetables have a far more protective effect than the dietary supplements.

However what has been proven beyond doubt by research is that anti oxidant intake does stave off degenerative diseases and especially cancer. It also improves the overall health and boosts immunity.

The best bet for improving your health dramatically is a complex range of natural anti oxidants. Here is a list of anti oxidants found in foods.

Vitamin C: All types of citrus fruits, kiwi, papaya, strawberries and leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc.

Vitamin E: Hard to find sufficient quantities of vitamin E from diet alone. A good source is almonds. Take supplements derived from natural sources.

Carotenoids: Beta carotenes are found in oranges, and vegetables like carrots, apricots, beets, sweet potatoes are a good source. Most of the red and green leef vegetables would have beta carotenes.

Flavanoids: Found in whole lot of vegetables and fruits. Onions, beets, citrus fruits and berries contain flavanoids. Green tea is a good source.

Take 4 to 6 servings of these fruits and vegetables daily for getting the complete range of anti oxidants and you can be sure of keeping many of the degenerative diseases, cancer, blood pressure and heart problems at bay. The icing on the cake is you can look younger and beat the ageing of your skin and tissues.

R.G. Srinivasan is a Certified Trainer, Writer and Author with more than two decades of managerial experience. He is passionate about alternate therapies and holistic herbal medicine. Check out his site at http://globalhealthnetwork.tripod.com

---

Focus on Trans Fat

There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More

Fruits for Summer: Summer Skin Care

Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More

Substitutes for Butter

Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin... Read More

How Does Glucosamine Chondroitin Help Your Body?

Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More

Immunity and the Immune System

Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More

The 7 Best & The 7 Worst Food For A Long Life

The above foods contain high antioxidant capacity. These foods were... Read More

Grains That Cause Illness

Eating grain products - breads, cakes, cereals - have long... Read More

Autism and ADHD Linked to Child Vaccines

In a study review conducted by David A. Geier, B.A.... Read More

Wanna Look 10 Years Younger? Have More Fruits

Fruit calories are very healthy as compared to calories in... Read More

Understanding Vegetarianism

Like the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there are three kinds... Read More

You Dont Have to be Wealthy to Eat Well: The Truth about Your Grocery Budget

Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than... Read More

There is No Miracle Cure for Arthritis, but Improving Your Diet can Help

Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More

The Role of Nutrition in Martial Arts, Police, Military Personnel

For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More

Fibromyalgia: How Simple Sugars Turned Fatigue into Energy

Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More

Exposing the Best Source of Protein Myth

An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More

The Importance of Good Nutrition in Keeping Your Smile Beautiful and Your Mouth Healthy

A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from... Read More

Compulsive Eating Alternative: Learning to Eat With Pleasure

Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses throughly... Read More

Things You Should Know about Vitamin K?s Unique Power

How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More

Factors that Affect the Nutritional Requirements of an Individual.

The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More

Your bodys pH

So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More

Childhood Epidemic Rises 6,000% What Can Be Learned About Autism?

The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More

How Essential Fatty Acids Improve Your Brain Power and Mental Health

What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More

Capsulized Food: The Next Step in Food Evolution

Anyone who has spent a day fasting from food, or... Read More

4 Important Facts You Should Know About Whey Protein

Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More

The Importance of Protein

Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the... Read More

Healthy Eating for Executives on the Run

For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More

The Secrets of the Centenarians: How to Live to 100!

When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell... Read More

Is Vitamin E Beneficial Or Harmful? Cutting Through The Clutter Of Different Scientific Opinions

Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More

What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar?

Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More

Ginger 4 Spleen - A Love Story!

For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at... Read More

Ocular Nutrition and Eye Health Food

Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of... Read More

Eating ... Gaining Weight ... How to Control the Urge to Splurge

I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More

Essential Tips For Proper Food Combining:

As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More