Free Radicals And Antioxidants

What Is A Free Radical?

A free radical is  a cellular killer that causes
damage by corroding cell membranes, damaging DNA,
altering biochemical compounds, and killing
cells. Technically, a free radical is a molecule
that has lost one of its electrons and become
extremely unbalanced. It attempts to restore its
balance by stealing a vital electron from another
cell.

Scientists have now proven that free radicals
play a major role in the aging process as well as
cancer, heart disease and strokes,
arthritis,cataracts,Parkinson's Disease,
allergies as well as many other diseases. A
single free radical can destroy an enzyme, a
protein molecule, a DNA strand or an entire cell.
What's worse is that in a fraction of a second it
can cause a chain reaction that produces millions
of additional free radicals.

What Causes Free Radicals?

Some of the leading causes of free radicals are:
air pollution, cigarette smoke, automobile
exhaust,stress, alcohol, charred food,pesticides,
UV light and drugs,both legal and non legal.

Your body is constantly replacing and repairing
free-radical damaged cells, but with the way the
majority of people abuse their bodies, free
radicals are out of control and cause premature
aging and disease.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free
radicals and stop the chain reaction of the
formation of new free radicals. Our bodies
produce metabolic enzymes that are extremely
effective antioxidants, however the body's
ability to produce these enzymes drops
dramatically in our late twenties. One example is
that the size of a 25 year old's liver is often
twice the size of a person of 70.

The CHAOS trial examined 2002 men and women with
known coronary artery disease. In this trial,
treatment with vitamin E (antioxidant) reduced
the incidence of heart attacks by 77% with no
significant effect on overall mortality.

Another example is that the Japanese, who are
among the world's heaviest smokers, have a very
low incidence of lung cancer thanks to drinking
green tea (green tea has a high antioxidant
count).

How Do Antioxidants Protect Against Cancer?

Antioxidants protect against cancer in at least
three ways: by destroying cancer-causing free
radicals, by boosting the body's immune system so
it can destroy mutated cells, and by reducing the
tendency of cancer cells to adhere to other
organs and glands. By reducing their activity,
antioxidants may protect against diseases and
disorders in yet undiscovered ways. It may be
that all degenerative disease is linked in some
way to the activity of free radicals. According
to Lester Packer, PhD., of the U. of California
at Berkeley, a leading researcher in the field of
antioxidants, "the prospects for life extension
and life enhancement with antioxidants have never
looked better."

Which Foods Are Rich In Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are abundant in most fruits and
vegetables as well as many nuts and grains. The
following list describes food sources of common
antioxidants:

 • Beta-carotene is found in many foods that are
orange in color, including sweet potatoes,
carrots, cantaloupe, squash, apricots, pumpkin,
and mangos. Some green leafy vegetables including
collard greens, spinach, and kale are also rich
in beta-carotene.

 • Lutein, best known for its association with
healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy
vegetables such as collard greens,spinach, and
kale.

 • Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in
tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots,
pink grapefruit, blood oranges, and other foods.
Estimates suggest 85 percent of American dietary
intake of lycopene comes from tomatoes and tomato
products.

 • Selenium is a mineral, not an antioxidant
nutrient. However, it is a component of
antioxidant enzymes. Plant foods like rice and
wheat are the major dietary sources of selenium
in most countries. The amount of selenium in
soil, which varies by region, determines the
amount of selenium in the foods grown in that
soil.Brazil nuts and garlic also contain large
quantities of selenium.

 • Vitamin A is found in three main forms:
retinol (Vitamin A1), 3,4-didehydroretinol
(Vitamin A2), and 3-hydroxy-retinol (Vitamin A3).
Foods rich in vitamin A include sweet potatoes
and carrots.

 • Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid, and
can be found in abundance in many cereals and
fruits including: apples, oranges, mangoes,
pineapples, raspberries, strawberries,
blueberries, pears, grapefruits and cranberries.

 • Vitamin E, also known as alpha-tocopherol, is
found in many oils including wheat germ,
safflower, corn and soybean oils,also in green
leafy vegetables, whole grains, avocados,
almonds, olives, mangos, nuts, broccoli and other
foods.

These foods are also rich in antioxidants: green
tea, rooibos, turmeric, gingko biloba, pecans,
artichokes, beans and cocoa.

There are also many supplements available on the
market. It's important to know that Antioxidants
are specialists, not generalists. No one
antioxidant works on all free radicals in every
area of the body. Each antioxidant protects
specific areas of the body.

Many researchers claim that elderly people,
especially those who have reduced their food
intake, frequent aspirin users, heavy drinkers,
smokers, and people with impaired immune systems
may benefit from taking antioxidant supplements
daily. In terms of heart disease and stroke, it
is possible that higher levels of antioxidants
slow or prevent the development of arterial
blockages, a complicated process involving the
oxidation of cholesterol. Moreover, antioxidants
may deter the collection of plaque on arterial
walls.

For supplements, it's best to use only natural
isolates and avoid synthetics. For maximum
protection you can get an antioxidant that
provides full-spectrum defense, and you can take
advantage of the synergistic effect of having a
number of different antioxidants working
together.

Conclusion

For the vast majority of people, increasing your
antioxidant intake can slow down the aging
proces, boost your immune system and reduce the
risk of cancer, heart disease, arthritis and many
other diseases. Also, being aware of the causes
of free radicals and limiting your exposure to
them, can make a big difference in your overall
health and lifespan.

source
www.benbest.com/nutrceut/AntiOxidants.html