Antioxidants

What are antioxidants and what do they do?

Have you been hearing about antioxidants lately and wondered if they might be something you can benefit from? The fact of the matter is that pretty much everyone can benefit from consuming foods high in antioxidants. For those of you who are unfamiliar with these amazing little substances, allow us to explain.

What are they?

Antioxidants are substances found in many foods that help to combat the damage that can be caused by oxidative stress. As the cells in our bodies use oxygen, they naturally create byproducts referred to as “free radicals.” These byproducts are what produce oxidative stress, which in turn can contribute to problems such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and macular degeneration. Natural antioxidants help to combat the oxidative stress that causes these problems. They have also been known to help with many other medical conditions, and many people lately have been talking about the anti aging values of antioxidants.

Where can you get them?

The great news about these amazing little substances is that they are extremely easy to implement into your diet. In fact, a lot of the foods that we already eat contain antioxidants; it is just a matter of consuming more of them. Luckily, over the last few years there has been a real explosion of these substances and organic foods in the natural health industry, which has made it even easier for people to get access to information about these foods and even purchase these foods themselves.

Here is a list of foods that you can implement into your diet to increase your intake of antioxidants:

• Vitamin A – carrots, squash, collards, brightly colored fruits and vegetables, peaches, sweet potatoes, apricots, broccoli, kale, cantaloupe and tomatoes
• Vitamin C – citrus fruits such as limes, lemons, and oranges; strawberries; tomatoes; and green, leafy vegetables
• Vitamin E – seeds and nuts, vegetable oil or liver oil and whole grains
• Selenium – fish and shellfish, grains, garlic, eggs, chicken and red meat

If you are interested in learning more about antioxidants, you should consult your doctor or medical health professional for their medical opinion. It may also be a good idea to enlist the help of a professional nutritionist, who will be able to guide you through the process of creating a meal plan that is rich in these substances.