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
no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
Many low carb dieters fall victim to "carb creep," which... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat could be... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
If you are like most people, you've tried dieting before.... Read More
Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
We've heard it not only once or twice or even... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
We all need fat in our diet on a daily... Read More
Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683.... Read More
For some people it is really hard to give up... Read More
Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More
It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
Every person on earth has experienced pain at one time... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
Although many realize that the liver has its own cleansing... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Lake Forest ..Herbal teas have long been known to have medicinal benefits... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
AgingHow did aging appeared?If mechanism of Death was chosen by... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words:... Read More
You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you?You... Read More
If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the healthiest of them... Read More
For a natural and tasty way to improve your health... Read More
In order to eat fewer calories than you need, you... Read More
Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin... Read More
One must always keep in mind that copper is not... Read More
You may have heard of the "Portfolio Diet" wherein it... Read More
This is such a busy time of year, isn't it?... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
Liquid vitamin mineralThe liquid vitamin mineral dietary supplement is a... Read More
We've heard it not only once or twice or even... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the... Read More
Media coverage of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has incited... Read More
The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in... Read More
Strict "no carb" phases of low carb diets have developed... Read More
Nutrition |