Getting Proper Amounts Of Antioxidants
In Your Diet Is Essential
Antioxidants are natural
compounds that help protect the body
from harmful free radicals. these are
atoms or groups of atoms that can cause
damage to cells, impairing the immune
system and leading to infections and
various degenerative diseases such as
heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants
therefore play a beneficial role in
the prevention of disease.
The following is a list of antioxidants
with a brief description of each.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
ALA is a powerful antioxidant, both
on its own and as a recycler of vitamin
E and vitamin C. ALA also stimulates
the body's production of glutathione
and aids in the absorption of coenzyme
Q10.
Bilberry
The herb billberry, a European relative
of the American blueberry contains natural
antioxidants that keep capillary walls
strong and flexible.
Burdock
The herb burdock was tested by researches
at the Chia Nan College of Pharmacy
and Science in Taiwan for its antioxidant
properties. They found that burdock
is a powerful one, capable of scavenging
hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals.
Coenzyme Q10
This is an antioxidant that is structurally
similar to vitamin E. It plays a very
important role in the generation of
cellular energy, increases circulation,
has anti aging effecgs, and is beneficial
to the cardiovascular system.
Curcumin
Found in teh spice turmeric, the phytochemical
currumin has antioxidant properties
that prevent the formatino of and neutralize
existing free radicals. It stops precancerous
changes within DNA.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are especially potent antioxidants
and metal chelators. They are chemical
compounds that plants produce to protect
themselves from parasites, bacteria,
and cell injury.
Garlic
This versatile healing herb also has
antioxidant properties. The sulfhydryl
compounds in garlic are potent chelators
of toxid heavy metals, binding with
them so that they can be excreted.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is an herb with powerful
antioxidant effects in the brain, retina,
and cardiovascular system. It is well
known for its ability to enhance circulation,
and a study reported in the Journal
of the American Medical Association
showed that it has a measurable effect
on dementia in people with Alzheimer's
disease and peole recovering from strokes.
Glutathione
Glutathione is a prtein that is produced
in teh liver form the amino acids cysteine,
glutamic acid, and glycine. It is a
powerful antioxidant that inhibits the
formation of, and protects against cellular
damage from free radicals.
Green Tea
Green tea contains compounds known
as polyphenols, including phytochemicals
that have antioxidant, antibacterial,
antiviral, and health-enhancing properties.
Melatonin
The hormone melatonin is an efficient
free radical scavenger and singlet oxygen
quencher. Singlet oxygen is an "excited"
oxygen molecule whose excessive discharge
of energy causes damage to other body
molecules.
Methionine
A unique amino acid, methionine neutralizes
hydroxyl radicals, one of the most dangerous
types of free radicals.
Selenium
Selenium is an essential trace mineral
that functions as an antioxidant in
partnership with vitamin E to protect
tissues and cell membranes.
Silymarin
Extracted from the seeds of the herb
milk thistle, silymarin has been used
for centuries to treat liver disease.
The active ingredients in milk thistle
are several types of flavonoids, known
colectively as silymarin.
Vitamin
A
A class of phytochemicals, carotenoids
are fat soluble pigments found in yellow,
red, green, and orange vegetables and
fruits. They are a potent family of
antioxidants that include alpha carotene,
beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, and
zeaxanthin.
Vitamin
C
Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant
that also recharges other antioxidants,
such as vitamin E, to keep them potent.
Its water solubility makes it an efficient
free radical scavenger in body fluids.
Vitamin
E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant
that prevents the oxidation of lipids.
Fat oxidatin has been implicated in
the process that leads to atherosclerosis.
Zinc
Zinc's main antioxidant function is
in the prevention of fat oxydation.
In additiona, it is a constituent of
the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.
Summary
No single antioxidant protects all
body systems, rather, each one has protective
properties for particular body parts
or functions. Products that combine
two or more of these vital nutrients
are available. You can easily find formulas
that give you a balance of multiple
antioxidants.
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