Antioxidants

 

Antioxidant Fruit And Vegetables Fight Free Radicals

Researchers have determined that a certain amount of antioxidants are necessary for the prevention of many diseases as well as aging. As free radicals, a product of extra oxygen in the blood stream, roam the blood vessels, they attach themselves to cells and cell membranes and can cause serious illnesses, such as cancer. To supplement your body’s level of an antioxidant fruits and vegetables can work.

To help people understand the health benefits of certain antioxidant fruits and vegetables, all you need to remember is the color, smell and taste to determine how they can be of benefit. This is part of the plant chemicals known as phytocemicals and different substances have different characteristics. For example, a group of antioxidants known as flavonoids have a very distinct taste and smell. Onions, garlic and shallots contain allyl sulfides, which are credited for producing an enzyme, which inhibits carcinogens.

Other antioxidant fruits and vegetables can be identified by their color such as deep red, blue and purple found in raspberries, blueberries along with eggplant and red cabbage, and others, contain anthocyanins that work as antioxidants. All fruits and vegetables contain healthy substances and there are many resources that can identify which substance will benefit different segments of your health.

Orange A Day Keeps Cancer At Bay

Although there are many factors involved in a person’s susceptibility to cancer, citrus is one of the antioxidant fruits and vegetables containing D-Limonene promoted for its detoxifying effects in cancer patients.

Lycopene, present in pink grapefruit is part of the carotenoid class and protects against prostate and possibly other cancers.

While eating antioxidant fruits and vegetables is known to be beneficial in a variety of ways, a steady and exclusive diet is not usually necessary. Physicians and dietary experts have recommended eating five servings of antioxidant fruits and vegetables every day and add that a person could go as high as nine servings of antioxidant fruits and vegetables every day to achieve maximum benefits.

Because antioxidant fruits and vegetables contain a variety of beneficial nutrients, it is advised these phytocemicals, vitamins, minerals and the fiber they contain be eaten as antioxidant fruits and vegetables as opposed to trying to receive their usefulness in pill form. In their original edible form, they all work together with the perfect, natural balance of each and can supply more of the antioxidant fruits and vegetables contain.