Importance of Antioxidant
Daniel Andrade
January 16, 2008
WHO defines health positively as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease"
Foods high in antioxidants are reliably associated with human health and well being.
Energy essential for living is derived from foods by the action of digestive oxidants, which also simultaneously generate harmful free radicals, which can, in turn, be neutralized by antioxidants.
Antioxidants are substances that help the body to defend against cell damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules caused by mutations by exposure to environmental pollution, UV rays etc. and they tend to attach themselves to various cells in the body and change their cell composition. This can lead to many ailments like cardiovascular diseases.
Therefore, it is important to maintain the balance, either by reducing the body's exposure to unnecessary oxidative stress, or by increasing the antioxidant intake, or both. Normally, there are adequate amounts of antioxidants present in the foods we eat, but under adverse conditions like poor quality diet, limited food supply, environmental pollution and poor health the balance can be upset. Certain foods contain substantial quantities of potentially therapeutic antioxidants to help sustain human health and well-being.
Antioxidants are compounds of many different chemical forms, lumped together because they all have the property of neutralizing highly reactive, harmful free radicals formed as the result of essential oxidation reactions performed on food to release energy for our use. Natural antioxidants are synthesized by plants and present in the foods we eat, as opposed to those synthetic antioxidants that are either added to food to extend its shelf-life or prepared to be taken as supplements.
When vegetables and fruits are consumed in adequate amounts, antioxidants are formed in the blood stream that will quench the free radicals produced in the body. It is recommended to take diets rich in vitamin C, E and beta-carotene which will help to fight against diseases like cancer.
Tomatoes are a good source of carotenoid antioxidants such as lycopene (2.6 mg/100g) and beta carotene (0.45 mg/100g).Apart from this minerals like zinc and selenium are potent antioxidants.
Doctors strongly recommend that these antioxidants should be taken in the form of a diet rather than as supplements. Five to six portions of fruits and vegetables meet the daily requirements of vitamins and minerals.
Prevention is better than cure! Therefore junk foods can be replaced with vegetables and fruits for a healthy life style.
Foods high in antioxidants are reliably associated with human health and well being.
Energy essential for living is derived from foods by the action of digestive oxidants, which also simultaneously generate harmful free radicals, which can, in turn, be neutralized by antioxidants.
Antioxidants are substances that help the body to defend against cell damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules caused by mutations by exposure to environmental pollution, UV rays etc. and they tend to attach themselves to various cells in the body and change their cell composition. This can lead to many ailments like cardiovascular diseases.
Therefore, it is important to maintain the balance, either by reducing the body's exposure to unnecessary oxidative stress, or by increasing the antioxidant intake, or both. Normally, there are adequate amounts of antioxidants present in the foods we eat, but under adverse conditions like poor quality diet, limited food supply, environmental pollution and poor health the balance can be upset. Certain foods contain substantial quantities of potentially therapeutic antioxidants to help sustain human health and well-being.
Antioxidants are compounds of many different chemical forms, lumped together because they all have the property of neutralizing highly reactive, harmful free radicals formed as the result of essential oxidation reactions performed on food to release energy for our use. Natural antioxidants are synthesized by plants and present in the foods we eat, as opposed to those synthetic antioxidants that are either added to food to extend its shelf-life or prepared to be taken as supplements.
When vegetables and fruits are consumed in adequate amounts, antioxidants are formed in the blood stream that will quench the free radicals produced in the body. It is recommended to take diets rich in vitamin C, E and beta-carotene which will help to fight against diseases like cancer.
Tomatoes are a good source of carotenoid antioxidants such as lycopene (2.6 mg/100g) and beta carotene (0.45 mg/100g).Apart from this minerals like zinc and selenium are potent antioxidants.
Doctors strongly recommend that these antioxidants should be taken in the form of a diet rather than as supplements. Five to six portions of fruits and vegetables meet the daily requirements of vitamins and minerals.
Prevention is better than cure! Therefore junk foods can be replaced with vegetables and fruits for a healthy life style.
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