| The Facts About |
Natural Antioxidants
Over the years man has depended on nature as
his main source of nutrients that are essential for
his well being and good health. Plants are the main
source of our food as well as our medicines and
we depend on them almost completely so that the
body can develop to its full potential while at the
same time also decreasing the incidences of
degenerative diseases.
Scientists have recently discovered the substance
that is responsible for some of the many health
benefits that man has been deriving from plants.
Vegetables as well as fruits appear to contain
certain chemical substances that react with
specific, harmful molecules that are present in our
bodies and stop them from causing any damage to
our cells. These substances have come to be
named natural oxidants because they mainly work
on free radicals, which are by-products of oxygen.
The body is protected against free radicals by natural oxidants. Of the many functions that natural
antioxidants perform, one of them is to prevent the occurrence of cellular damage that is brought about
by free radicals. The oxidation process that our body undergoes when we breathe produces chemical
substances that are highly reactive. These chemical substances are called free radicals.
When they are released, free radicals immediately get latched onto other molecules and steal their
electrons. This results in the molecules turning as unstable as the free radicals themselves. A rapid
chain reaction soon ensues and if left unattended this can lead to numerous other degenerative
diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, memory loss, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and
stroke.
The primary sources of natural antioxidants are plants. The human body is incapable of producing the
natural oxidants that it needs. That is the reason why we are solely dependant on our diet so that our
body gets the necessary amount of antioxidants.
Some of the more well-known natural antioxidant groups include carotenoids, indoles, coumarins and
catechins. All of these are complex compounds and are present in almost all plants. Carotenoids form
the biggest group of antioxidants that occur naturally, closely followed by coumarins and indoles.
Catechins are antioxidants that occur naturally in the plant Camellia sinensis, which gives us our black
tea, oolong tea as well as green tea.
The most commonly found and well-known natural antioxidant within the carotenoid group is Beta-
carotene. Another name for the antioxidant Beta –
carotene is Vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin
that plays an important role in preventing damage
to the eye. This natural antioxidant provides
support to the immune system, increases lung
capacity, supports healthy levels of cholesterol and
potentially reduces the risk of skin damage from
sun exposure. Some studies have been done that
prove beta-carotene is also good for a healthy
heart.
The natural antioxidants that are present in
catechins help promote health by giving the
immune system a boost thereby lowering the
chances of infection. Catechins are also great
inducers of weight loss.
Some of the most unexpected foods have been
found to have high levels of antioxidants. While everybody knows that blueberries are a powerhouse of
antioxidants, very few people know that the humble bean could also have equally high levels of
antioxidants.
New studies that are being done suggest that in the imminent future beans way well be on their way to
joining the family of foods that are rich in antioxidants. Some of the other foods in this group include
potatoes, spices and berries.
Very advanced analyses have been done recently on foods rich in antioxidants. These show that some
of the most unlikely vegetables and fruits contain the presence of high levels of disease-fighting
antioxidants. Some of these foods include Russet potato, artichokes and beans.
Over the years man has depended on nature as
his main source of nutrients that are essential for
his well being and good health. Plants are the main
source of our food as well as our medicines and
we depend on them almost completely so that the
body can develop to its full potential while at the
same time also decreasing the incidences of
degenerative diseases.
Scientists have recently discovered the substance
that is responsible for some of the many health
benefits that man has been deriving from plants.
Vegetables as well as fruits appear to contain
certain chemical substances that react with
specific, harmful molecules that are present in our
bodies and stop them from causing any damage to
our cells. These substances have come to be
named natural oxidants because they mainly work
on free radicals, which are by-products of oxygen.
The body is protected against free radicals by natural oxidants. Of the many functions that natural
antioxidants perform, one of them is to prevent the occurrence of cellular damage that is brought about
by free radicals. The oxidation process that our body undergoes when we breathe produces chemical
substances that are highly reactive. These chemical substances are called free radicals.
When they are released, free radicals immediately get latched onto other molecules and steal their
electrons. This results in the molecules turning as unstable as the free radicals themselves. A rapid
chain reaction soon ensues and if left unattended this can lead to numerous other degenerative
diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, memory loss, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and
stroke.
The primary sources of natural antioxidants are plants. The human body is incapable of producing the
natural oxidants that it needs. That is the reason why we are solely dependant on our diet so that our
body gets the necessary amount of antioxidants.
Some of the more well-known natural antioxidant groups include carotenoids, indoles, coumarins and
catechins. All of these are complex compounds and are present in almost all plants. Carotenoids form
the biggest group of antioxidants that occur naturally, closely followed by coumarins and indoles.
Catechins are antioxidants that occur naturally in the plant Camellia sinensis, which gives us our black
tea, oolong tea as well as green tea.
The most commonly found and well-known natural antioxidant within the carotenoid group is Beta-
carotene. Another name for the antioxidant Beta –
carotene is Vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin
that plays an important role in preventing damage
to the eye. This natural antioxidant provides
support to the immune system, increases lung
capacity, supports healthy levels of cholesterol and
potentially reduces the risk of skin damage from
sun exposure. Some studies have been done that
prove beta-carotene is also good for a healthy
heart.
The natural antioxidants that are present in
catechins help promote health by giving the
immune system a boost thereby lowering the
chances of infection. Catechins are also great
inducers of weight loss.
Some of the most unexpected foods have been
found to have high levels of antioxidants. While everybody knows that blueberries are a powerhouse of
antioxidants, very few people know that the humble bean could also have equally high levels of
antioxidants.
New studies that are being done suggest that in the imminent future beans way well be on their way to
joining the family of foods that are rich in antioxidants. Some of the other foods in this group include
potatoes, spices and berries.
Very advanced analyses have been done recently on foods rich in antioxidants. These show that some
of the most unlikely vegetables and fruits contain the presence of high levels of disease-fighting
antioxidants. Some of these foods include Russet potato, artichokes and beans.
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