How Free Radicals And Antioxidants Affect Your Health

Much publicity has been connected with free radicals and antioxidants, but do you know what they are and how they affect your commitment to remain healthy?

Free radicals are unstable oxygen atoms. As you will be aware, from your days at high school, an atom has a nucleus consisting of protons and neutrons, outside which electrons flow. This is fine if the electrons are in pairs, but difficulties are present when an electron is not paired, as with unstable oxygen atoms. Then the free radicals take electrons from normal, or stable body cells and create a sequence known as oxidation.

Antioxidants are substances that limit the effect of oxidation in the body due to free radicals, or to put it more succinctly, antioxidants defend you from free radical damage. It is unquestionable that antioxidants protect you from many of the most severe ailments, such as heart disease, cancer, strokes, arthritis, and many other conditions. Some people actually suggest that an ample supply of antioxidants in their diets can defer the aging process!

You might understandably ask where these dreadful free radicals come from, but to be honest they might not be as bad as you think. Free radicals can also help our bodies to fight germs, so it is a surplus of free radicals that creates health disorders, and not the whole amount.

The Importance of Fruit and Vegetables

It is good to know that antioxidants are readily available to restore the balance, and deal with any excess of free radicals. It 's as easy as ABC. Just think of Apples, Berries, and Cabbage, because natural antioxidants are found inside the 5 - 9 fruit and vegetables, that you are continually being asked to include in your food.

Look upon 5 fruits and vegetables as the lowest common denonimator, because all things being equal, you will get better antioxidant defense against free radicals from 6 - 9 portions than just 5! Although many fruits and vegetables have an abundance of antioxidants, there are other foods that don't measure up.

Fruit and Veg As Rust Inhibitors!

It's alarming, to consider that people should need to be consistently reminded how to remain healthy? Although many people are inclined to do almost anything to protect their cars from oxidation, or rusting, they appear to be less willing to protect themselves, from free radical damage. For sure the car will quickly deteriorate if rust is permitted to progress, but our bodies will become "rusty" if free radicals are not stopped in their tracks. Of course you should take care of your car, but make your foremost priority looking after yourself. A great place to begin is eating 5 - 9 fruit and vegetables per day, and the antioxidants they include.

Watch Out For Fat

A high fat diet may significantly add to free radical production, and it is widely agreed that saturated fat is responsible for free radical damage. But, the situation is complicated as not all fats are loaded with free radicals. A good place to begin could be to try to shun saturated fats, that include animal meat, and any sort of fried food. There are other fats, such as fish oils, which recent studies suggest are actually helpful, but trans fats, frequently used in shop bought biscuits, cakes, etc. are best left alone.

Environmental Factors

Unfortunately, our intake of free radicals is not solely from our diets, but also from environmental contaminants, such as industrial emmissions, tobacco smoke, and suchlike. It is impossible to steer clear of them all, but an excellent way to guard yourself, is through an applied knowledge of antioxidants. There are scrumptious fruits and vegetables, in abundance, to help your cause, but you should be certain that you are getting enough, by erring towards the top of the recommended consumption, of 9 helpings per day.

Essential Vitamins In Your Diet

Food containing antioxidants is crucial to your good health, but if you require further safeguards you might consider extra vitamins. You should get enough Vitamin C from your fruit and vegetable consumption, but you should endeavour to include Vitamin E as well. You will find Vitamin E in peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and green leafy vegetables. Of course the vitamins are particularly good if they are contained within the your healthy diet. Supplements are available, in different forms, but it is wise to seek professional advice about these.

You will have learned from this brief article, that antioxidants will help you to keep healthy, by reducing the effect of free radicals. What you require is the common sense to be sure there are plenty of antioxidants included in your diet. Should you not pay proper attention to your eating habits, you will suffer the consequences. On the other hand, you are now aware, that if free radicals are managed with antioxidants, the probability of becoming severely ill is much less.

Richard Wise writes articles on natural health, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, antioxidants, allergies and vegetarianism. If you require to know about antioxidants please visit his web site http://www.antioxidantsadvice.com which includes information concerning Antioxidant Foods, and related antioxidant subjects.

Disclaimer

The content of the article is only for advisory purposes and is not intended for use as a medical source of information. Please use your personal judgement to decide whether antioxidant foods and preparations are suitable for you. Those who are uncertain about taking a particular food or preparation, be they antioxidant or otherwise, should seek the advice of their doctor, or other qualified professional person.

The author cannot accept any liability whatsoever, for any consequences arising from or thought to be arising from using this article.