What You Need to Know About Antioxidants & Free Radicals
September 11 2013
What are Free Radicals and why should I care?
Free radicals are known for terrorizing our body’s immune system. They attack the nearest stable molecule, “stealing” its electron. When the “attacked” molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living cell. Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes the body’s immune system’s cells purposefully create them to neutralize viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals.
Generally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. Of particular importance is that free radical damage accumulates with age.
Enough about the science, all you need to know is that free radicals, when produced in excessive quantities can become a significant cause of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
This is where the Antioxidants come in. Antioxidants found in fresh, minimally processed foods are helpful to your health because they are able to provide the electrons that free radicals want. Once free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants, they become harmless, and are eventually eliminated from your body.
It has been proven that antioxidants keep LDL cholesterol, the “bad” stuff, from turning even worse. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables have been proven to fight some types of cancer, slow the aging process and prevent diabetes.
How do you get these “antioxidants”?
It’s easy, lay off the processed foods and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. Blueberries, kidney beans, cranberries, apples, broccoli and pecans are but a few of the many foods that are packed with antioxidants. Don’t go to the pharmacy to fight disease, visit the “farmacy” at your local grocery store or farmer’s market for some fresh “medicine”.
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