Antioxidants has been very beneficial in everything from preventing heart disease to slowing the degeneration of the eyes and brain. Antioxidants work in a fairly straightforward way. What makes them so effective is their ability to neutralize a group of highly reactive, highly destructive compounds known as free radicals.
Free radicals production in our body is a normal bodily process, and it is part of the process of breathing and living. Free radicals are normally neutralized by the body’s natural defense system, rendering them harmless. However, anything that weakens the body’s natural defenses weakens its ability to fight off these free radicals. Those destructive known agents include environmental pollution, excess UV radiation and even excessive consumption of alcohol.
When free radicals are not neutralized adequately, the body is left open to damage. They can be a huge damaging effect on structure and function of cells in the body, and recent evidence suggest that free radicals contribute to the aging process and may play a role in a great many illnesses, including cancer and heart disease.
Let’s take a thorough look into some of the dietary sources for the major antioxidant vitamins.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most well known of all the antioxidant vitamins. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found in all bodily fluids, and it is thought to be one of body’s first lines of defense against infection and disease. Since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it is not stored and must be consumed in adequate quantities every day. Good dietary sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits, green peppers, broccoli and other green leafy vegetables, strawberries, cabbage and potatoes.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is fat soluble and the vitamin that is stored in the liver and other tissues. Vitamin E has been studied for its effects on everything from delaying the aging process to healing a sunburn. You have to understand that Vitamin E is no miracle worker, it is an important antioxidant, and it is important that the diet contain sufficient amounts of vitamin E. Good dietary sources of this important nutrient include wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetable oil, fish liver oil and green leafy veggies.
Selenium
Selenium being one of the most important minerals in a healthy diet, and it has been studied for its ability to prevent cell damage. Many scientists see this ability to protect cells from damage as possibly important in the prevention of cancer, and selenium is being studied for possible cancer preventative properties. It is important to get the selenium you need from your diet, since large doses of selenium supplements can be toxic. Fortunately, selenium is easily found in a healthy diet. Good sources of dietary selenium include fish and shellfish, red meat, whole grains, poultry and eggs, and garlic. Those vegetables grown in selenium rich soils are also good sources of dietary selenium.
Discover more about weight loss solutions and fat burner. You will find a whole lot of up-to-date resources and tips on lose weight solutions
Access valuable points of view in the sphere of how to loose weight quickly – your own knowledge pack.
Copyright © 2008 Free Weight Loss Expert
RSS FEED