Studies support the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. This is due to their high antioxidant value. Why are antioxidants so important? Because they have a proven track record of fighting free radicals.
Your body is being constantly attacked by very harmful substances known as free radicals or oxygen radicals. Free radicals can destroy your cells, tissues and organs.
Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are naturally formed inside our bodies by the process of oxidation. They are normal by products of everyday functions like digestion and physical activity. Free radicals also come from outside sources, such as smoking, environmental pollution, and synthetic chemicals that are added to our water and food.
We are also all exposed daily to polluted air, ingest oxidized or partially rancid foods, and oxidizing radiations from the sun and various electrical appliances.
Free radicals lack one electron making them chemically unstable. To stabilize themselves, they attack any other substance within reach and steel an electron from it. This process creates a new free radical, which repeats the process, producing a "domino effect." When this reaction is uncontrolled, it can generate millions of free radicals within seconds.
Fortunately our bodies come equipped with a free radical fighting mechanism. It consists of specialized enzymes that have a "spare" electron that they can give away without turning into free radicals. In order to protect us, the enzymes need help from certain substances known as antioxidants.
The antioxidant value of any food or supplement can be determined by it's ORAC rating. ORAC means Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. According to the University of Michigan, Comprehensive Cancer Center, the measurement of ORAC is a way to measure how many oxygen radicals a specific food can absorb. The more oxygen radicals a food can absorb, the higher its ORAC score. The higher its score... the more that food or supplement will help you fight diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Most experts agree that we should consume 5,000 ORAC units per day to effectively fight free radicals in the body. Sadly, most of us average around 1,200 units per day. Not nearly enough to protect us from the common ciseases of aging.
One of the best sources of antioxidants are berries and fruits. Most of us would have a very hard time eating the large amounts necessary to reach 5,000 ORAC units per day. For this reason, high ORAC supplements have been created. They contain berry and fruit extracts with a known ORAC rating. These supplements are inexpensive and provide many health benefits to your entire body and brain. Many people use these supplements as part of an anti-aging program. Keeping your cells from being destroyed goes a long way to staying healthy and young.
About the author: Brad Bahr is the author of many health related articles and websites. He has been testing and reviewing health supplements for many years. You can find more interesting health related articles at his website: http://www.findustuff.com
affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in... Read More
Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than... Read More
When you actually sit down and think about it, bottled... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More
Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More
A green and lush oasis in the middle of a... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
Almost every woman suffers with premenstrual syndrome at one time... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
If you're suffering from constipation, you are no doubt looking... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
Nutrition usually only comes up when people are finally deciding... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you... Read More
To many people, this may seem a simplistic answer to... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
The above foods contain high antioxidant capacity. These foods were... Read More
Many of us, probably even you, want this thing called... Read More
I know you've heard this many times - "Drink more... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat when you... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
As you've probably heard before, your post-workout meal may very... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More
While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More
They're not only good for you, but they taste good,... Read More
I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More
It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important... Read More
There seems to be fairly poor tracking by any formal... Read More
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
What is the best protein powder to buy? I get... Read More
Nutrition |