ANTIOXIDANT QUICK FACTS
* Antioxidants help prevent damage to your body and skin caused by free
radicals, which are unstable molecules that steal the substances they need from healthy
body cells.
* Antioxidant vitamins play a key role in maintaining mental dexterity.
* Antioxidant nutrients may help significantly prevent or delay development of cataracts
and macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
Sources: The Journal of Neuroscience.
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Looking for the Fountain of Youth? Look no further. And while you're at it, thank your
mother -- it turns out she had the right idea when she reminded you to eat your
vegetables. According to recent studies, the antioxidant vitamins found in vegetables (and
fruits, too) may reduce the risk of some
forms of cancer, heart disease, stroke and eye disorders, as well as slow the aging
process.
Antioxidants are natural compounds that protect against the cellular damage (oxidation)
caused by "free radicals," those nasty little molecules you encounter every day
that damage cells in your body.
How do free radicals develop? These highly destructive, free-roaming molecules are created
from the foods we eat to the air we breathe. Exposure to second-hand smoke and other air
pollution, toxic chemicals, radiation and ultraviolet rays all boost production of free
radicals. (Smokers, take note:
Each drag off a cigarette creates over a billion free radicals.)
Making sure your body is properly equipped with antioxidants can significantly improve
your chances of feeling better, looking better and staying healthy. The most powerful
antioxidants -- vitamins A, C and E -- help preserve your health in a number of different
ways. Vitamin A works to
maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes and helps destroy carcinogens. Vitamin C
promotes a strong immune system. And, vitamin E blocks the oxidation of lipids (part of
cell composition) while improving the body's use of oxygen.
No single antioxidant can ward off free radical attack by itself, however, so make sure
your diet is rich in these free-radical fighters. So where do you start? Fruits and
vegetables that are the most vibrant in color generally have the highest antioxidant
power. Choose vegetables that are dark green and leafy (broccoli, spinach, kale) or dark
orange (carrots, yams, squash). Looking for a snack? Try a handful of raisins or
blueberries, both excellent sources of antioxidants, or have some prunes, which have more
than twice the level of antioxidants as blueberries and raisins.
Unfortunately, most of us don't eat the recommended five-a-day minimum of fruits and
vegetables. In fact, according to government reports, the average American eats fewer than
two servings of vegetables and fewer than one serving of fruit each day. Whatever your
fruit and vegetable consumption, you can benefit your body by taking a daily dietary
supplement that's packed
with antioxidant vitamins A, C and E.
Adding an antioxidant supplement to your diet gives your body the cellular protection it
needs every day, and while that's no Fountain of Youth, it comes very close.