The Influence Of Antioxidants And Your Health

by Kimberly V Lee on March 9, 2010

Our bodies require oxygen to live yet the use of oxygen in our bodies causes oxidative harm. When our bodies use oxygen, free radicals are produced. A free radical is a molecule that is missing one or more electrons. These molecules are very unstable and can cause a great amount of destruction. Antioxidants are a group of nutrients found in food that are identified to thwart or slow down the effects of oxidative impairment in our bodies.

An antioxidant will stabilize a free radical and put off further mutilation by donating the absent electron. Many of the foods found in nature are very excessive in antioxidants and including these foods can help us prevent diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancers and many of the tribulations typically coupled with aging by enhancing our own immune systems.

Berries are some of the maximum antioxidant foods in the world. Blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and grapes and cherries are all tremendously high in antioxidants. Food is measured for antioxidant ability by what is called the ORAC or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity scale. All of the berries have a very high ORAC level but the actual food that has the highest ORAC level is the acai berry. There are a few items that rank above the acai berry on the ORAC scale such as ground cloves and ground cinnamon but none are in reality foods but instead spices and such. The acai berry surpasses every other concrete food.

Other fruits that boast high ORAC levels are the citrus fruits, like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes and the tropical fruits such as kiwi, mango and papaya. Pears, peaches, plums, apricots and apples are also superb sources.

Many of the everyday vegetables are enormously elevated in antioxidants. Spinach, Kale, Swiss chard, dandelion greens and other greens are outstanding, along with the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

Pumpkins are very high in beta-carotene, which is a material that converts to vitamin A in our bodies. Beta-carotene is a very essential nutrient but it can be risky, specially for smokers, to take beta-carotene in supplement form. The best way to get this fundamental nutrient is through the diet. Most orange foods, like pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash provide an ample total.

A multi-colored diet is the top way to receive an profuse supply of antioxidants. The deep and vibrantly colored foods from nature provide the premier concentration of antioxidants. Oranges from pumpkins, carrots and sweet potatoes, deep purples and red from the berries and greens from spinach and cruciferous vegetables and red tomatoes and watermelon are all clues to high antioxidant matter.

Research being conducted on antioxidants is proving a advantage for many of the things that trouble us. Improved immune function can help stave off disease such as cardiovascular disease and cancers and even many conditions generally linked with aging such as macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.

Acai berries offer fundamental nutrients our bodies require to lose fat. For more information about natural acai stop by my blog at http://acaiwow.com

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