Antioxidants Protect Against Chronic Diseases

Oxygen is the key to various processes in the human body

. Unfortunately, these processes produce oxidants, also know as free radicals. The body can also absorb oxidants from outside sources such as exposure to sunlight, eating unhealthy foods, smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, and pollution. Stress can also produce free radicals. What happens in the body is very similar to the rusting of iron. The free radicals damage the cells by breaking them down.

Oxidative stress has been tied to the cause of different forms of cancer, heart disease, muscular degeneration, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and cataracts.

When you have been diagnosed with cancer, you not only have the natural metabolic reactions, there is all the debilitating processes that happen with the disease. We have to educate ourselves on how to achieve optimal health, no matter what our body is bombarded with.

The best way to keep your body strong, ready to destroy the free radicals, is to have antioxidants present in your system. Your body naturally produces some antioxidant enzymes like Catalase. External consumption is achieved by eating a diet that is well balanced with healthy food choices from all food groups. The more colorful the better and eaten in the raw state or lightly steamed is best.

Exactly what are antioxidants? They are vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that nurture the human cells by reducing the harmful effects of the oxidants by neutralizing them, and repairing the damage they have done to the cells.

These molecules that are so beneficial to our good health are food rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, phytochemical and bata-carotene. This can usually be achieved by shopping down the produce aisles for fresh fruits and vegetables. Zinc and selenium, found in red meats, seafood, whole grains, dairy products, are two other antioxidants that may help boost immunity.

There are times that fresh fruits and vegetables may not be available in abundance or too costly. This is when we have to bridge the gaps in our diet with supplementation.

Dr Richard Cutler, former director of the National Institute of Aging in Washington, very appropriately said "the amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live."

by: emsavard

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