Power of Antioxidants

Blueberries - A Powerful Antioxidant and The Latest Soldier To Join The Fight Against Obesity!

2012-01-20T06:49:00.001-08:00

Blueberry-flavored syrup, blueberry muffins, blueberry pies! We've all observed these tiny berries in our favored pastries and snacks but did you know that these exact same small berries have major health rewards?!

Blueberries are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants. As a matter of fact blueberries are nicely-recognized for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that safeguard our cells from harm brought on by absolutely free radicals. No cost radicals are unstable molecules that increase the threat of cancer and heart concerns and could accelerate aging. Blueberries, with their antioxidant properties have been shown to shrink cancerous tumors and avoid the development and growth of a great number of forms of cancer.

Investigation has shown that blueberries help enhance brain function thereby, enhancing motor capabilities and reversing memory loss. Blueberries also lower cholesterol levels and help avoid urinary tract infections.

Now most consumers would be sold on these point alone, correct? Nicely current study has indicated that blueberries can also assist fight obesity!!! Yes, we can slim down by filling up on blueberries!! Even though we don't advocate eating a whole blueberry pie for dinner, there are good rewards to such as them into your diet program.

Blueberries include high levels of polyphenols, which avoid the development of fat cells, according to study carried out by Shiwani Moghe, a graduate student at Texas Woman's University. (Moghe presented her study at the Experimental Biology 2011 meeting for the American Society for Nutrition.)

The research was performed in a lab on mice cells, so it is uncertain how that will translate into humans consuming blueberries. Yet, the results were promising. The highest dose of polyphenols tested lowered the quantity of fat cells by 73 percent. The lowest dose decreased them by 27 percent. Human scientific studies nevertheless need to have to be carried out to test their effectiveness and to make certain there are no adverse effects.

In spite of the lack of human trials, it would be safe to conclude that blueberries are far even more helpful than detrimental to our wellness. And with summer (and bikini season!) approaching, what could be far better than a tasty way to shed those additional winter pounds!

Or, a far better way to bring in the Spring/Summer with a great fit body when nonetheless enjoying amazing tasty Blueberries.

I wouldn't go overboard with the berries but comprehend they are quite wholesome.

So run to your neighborhood fruit vendor and grab a bag of blueberries! Don't forget to pay for them!

Why Kangen's Alkaline, Anti-Oxidant, Micro Clustered Water Is the Solution For Over-Acidification

2011-11-08T04:28:00.001-08:00

So, what causes over acidification of the body? For starters, the normal body functions are metabolic by products that are acid forming, therefore, without eating or drinking the body of acid waste builds. It is acidic waste that accumulates in our interstitial fluid in cells, tissues, organs and muscles to neutralize alkaline water. Without neutralization of acid waste and pushes it out of the body, the body can not reach optimal health at the cellular level. In order to be effective to neutralize the acid in the interstitial fluid from the cells, tissues, organs and muscles with greater efficiency, drinking Kangen water is the best choice.

There are habits that create too much acidity in the body as well. These habits include eating acidic foods, alcohol, fruit juices, energy drinks, coffee, tea, acidic water (distilled, reverse osmosis, and bottled water), consumption of food additives and colors, eating bad fats, breathing environmental pollutants, an emotional , mental, physical and mental stress, etc. The body is designed to maintain the acid / alkaline balance in the body. Decades, we used to wear a neutralizing cellular metabolic wastes from the body through good food and water. In today's world with the depletion of good water, bad habits, stress and environmental toxicity, we create overhaul acidification of the body and this has led to illness and disease.

What is the solution for more than acidification of the body? The first step is drinking Kangen water because it will help the body to neutralize the acidity of forest fires in the body more efficient at the cellular level than any other kind: "Water is water "but water is not created equal. You May Ask, which means water is not created equal? Kangen water ionizer device electrical device that filters your tap water and ionized water, giving it three properties: alkalinity, antioxidants, and micro-clustered water structure. In the following sections each of the three properties will be discussed in some detail, so that the reader can understand why the extra Kangen water is the best first step in regaining your health.

First having a Kangen water is its alkaline content. In order for our cells operate at 100% they should be slightly alkaline with a pH between 7.33 to 7.44. More alkaline water we drink, the greater the chances of the interior of the cell will remain at the optimum pH. Kangen water ionizer gets alkaline minerals directly from your tap water and these positively charged minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) that are attached to the negatively charged cathode in the device as alkaline vode.Kangen machine does not add anything to the water that some people who argue on the internet , the minerals in your tap water, which makes the water alkaline. There's nothing really special about alkaline water, but this is the following two properties of Kangen water, which enable greater efficiency in neutralizing acid in the body and cellular functions.

Other property Kangen water high anti-oxidant water level. We hear a lot about the role of anti-oxidants play in the fight against free radicals in the body that leads to early aging. Kangen water is 3-8 times more antioxidants than green tea at any. ORP (oxidation reduction potential) reading of Kangen water ranges from -200 to -800, while green tea has an ORP reading of -80. Oxidation stands for something positive reading in ORP meter. You can test all the taps, bottles, filtered, reverse osmosis, and distilled water, and they all have a positive ORP reading, therefore, not giving you any anti-oxidants to the body, and will have a pH that is acidic. Tap water will test the neutral state standards, but it is full of harmful chemicals. You May be wondering, why anti-oxidant properties of Kangen water regardless of when it comes to neutralizing acid wastes in the body?

Must remember that the body should be acid / alkaline balance and pH between 7.33 to 7.44 for optimal health and cellular function. It is our bad water, food and stressful lifestyle that creates excessively acidic environment in our bodies which leads to faster aging, illness and disease. This is a high anti-oxidant levels of water that help neutralize acids and free radicals in the body that will lead to a reduction of over acidification of the body and slow the aging process.

The third property of Kangen water of its micro-cluster property. What is micro-clusters and how will it help in neutralizing the acid from my interior cell walls? All other forms of water to drink are more clusters in the range between 15 to 20 molecules that do not allow for easier penetration into the cell walls of water called pentagonal (5 sided water works). Water has been reduced surface tension, and there are only 5-6 molecules for easier penetration into the cell walls of water called a hexagonal (six-sided structure). To illustrate the difference we can use pictures golf balls and golf balls bees a pentagonal water and bees are the bees Kangen water, which is hexagonal in shape. What images do you think it will penetrate into cells more easily? Bee because bees are smaller for easier entry into the cell.

Micro-cluster water with its alkaline and anti-oxidant properties will enter the cells without acid wastes inside out and allows our cells to optimum mild alkaline level of 7.3 to 7.44. If our cellular pH remains within this range, the disease can not survive within the body. How to reach these optimum pH values in the first place is Kangen water!

Selenium A Powerful Antioxidant

2011-09-29T13:31:00.001-07:00

Selenium is micromineral and powerful antioxidant that protects your body from harmful free radicals. It also operates in the protective ability of the body. In this article I will discuss this nutrient in more detail and give you a summary of the main functions, the best food sources, recommended daily allowances (RDAs) and the potentially harmful effects of drinking too much or too little.

1) DISCOVERY:

Selenium was discovered in 1818 in two Swedish chemist Jons Jakob Berzelius and JG Gahn who have studied the chemical within sulfuric acid. During the study, they found that the chemicals contained a new element that has become known as selenium.

2) Function:

3) RDA:

Must consume more selenium as you get older. Children aged between 0 and 6 months is recommended to consume 0.015 milligrams (mg) of this nutrient each day. This requirement is increased to 0.04mg per day for children aged between 9 and 13.RDA for adults aged 14 years and older was 0.055mg per upper limit (TUL) for this nutrient is 0.4mg a day.

4) Food sources:

Nuts and fish are two of the best food selenium. Some of the richest sources of Brazil nut (1.92mg per 100g), mixed nuts (0.42mg per 100g), salmon (0.038mg per 100g) and shrimp (0.048mg per 100 g ).

5) Overdose Symptoms:

6) Deficiency symptoms:

Dietary selenium deficiencies are very rare and usually seen only in countries where the soil has a very low concentration of selenium. Intravenous feeding and serious gastrointestinal problems can also cause. Symptoms include lack of Kashin-Beck disease (bone and joint disorders), Keshan disease (heart disorder), Myxedematous endemic cretinism (a disease that causes mental retardation) and osteoarthritis (a chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints ).

Should We Be Taking Antioxidant Supplements?

2011-09-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

Due to the strong correlation between oxidative stress and aging, as well as a number of age-related diseases, it makes perfect sense to target free radicals as a means to slow aging. Almost all anti-aging strategy for the past 30 years have included high doses of antioxidants as a central ingredient.

The problem is that although the idea of antioxidants is a sound, long-term effects on health and longevity has yet to realize or understand.

Unambiguously, a diet naturally high in antioxidants can extend life ii reduce the effects of aging and done for centuries. However, with few exceptions, clinical trials with antioxidant supplements showed no advantage of food sources. Indeed some antioxidants have been proven to be harmful to human health.

First, the antioxidants commonly used in clinical trials (vitamins A, C, E and carotene) are not very selective in their actions and other effects on the human body, especially in large doses. Some may actually generate free radicals!

Second, most studies were not specifically conducted in individuals with high levels of oxidative stress. It is possible that participants in these experiments had used only because of reduced antioxidant defense was not their problem.

Thirdly, it is possible that other components of the diet naturally rich in antioxidants contribute to their benefits. This may involve a number of polyphenols and put intermediates, such as lycopenes. May it also be that different dietary elements have a greater impact when combined together. Indeed, one of the fundamental principles of traditional medicine is that the complex conditions best manage complex medication. To capture the different defenses and safeguards, "brew" often contains excerpts from a variety of sources. In the same way, the health benefits of tomatoes more than the sum of its lycopenes. Citrus is not only vitamin C, and rutin, bioflavonoids and other antioxidant variety of other ingredients.

Finally, it may be too much to ask that the amendment would in any cell, and especially every mitochondria of each cell, to reduce levels of ROS. Neither vitamin A, C and E actually inhibits the production of ROS. They just clean up after the fact, and by then the damage May have already done or molecules are formed that are immune to the cleansing effects of these antioxidants. For this purpose, more specific interventions to reduce the radicals, such as selenium supplements, may prove more useful than non-specific 'after' vultures.

Later we will look in detail at the most common antioxidants that are available as supplements and the evidence for and against his actions to slow aging. No information available about where the best of these many antioxidants when taken as a supplement. Each of these will have its fans. It is possible that, like computers, we'll kick for not investing earlier. Likewise, a May turn out to be a waste of money.

Resveratrol Pills Online Or In Stores Which Is Best?

2011-03-31T14:09:00.001-07:00

Which Types of Antioxidants Prevent Skin Aging Most Effectively

2010-05-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

Wondering what type of antioxidants prevent aging of the skin and wrinkles more effective ? In this article I will share with you some of the best fully natural health with antioxidants to prevent premature aging and give some tips to find the best solution to help keep his youth.

Most people think that all health with antioxidants are created equal, but this is far from the truth. The majority of skin care companies declare that they use powerful antioxidants in your formulas, but in most cases, do not contain effective quantities of them or are not as effective in total.

Then, how can you tell if the right types of antioxidants are being used in skin care products ? Well, I think that most skin care companies have shown that we cannot rely on what they say about their own products to make an educated decision.

The best way to evaluate a product before purchasing it is certainly to look at the ingredients contains. In fact, even should be an independent inquiry on what the best types of antioxidants are preventing aging of the skin, even before finding a treatment option. This will give you an advantage when you can begin your search.

But in a nutshell, you should be to find a couple of key things in the evaluation of different types of antioxidants and products for skin care. Be sure to know the answers to these questions before deciding to take out your wallet and hand over your money :
* do the antioxidant molecules used in molecular devices small enough to not only through penetrate the epidermis (the outer layer of skin), but ultimately also of multiple layers of the skin ?
* The antioxidant come from natural sources or is artificially created ? All natural ingredients are always much safer and come with multiple health - giving benefits.
* Is the antioxidant created in the body, of course, but perhaps not so much how to use it to be? If so, then you sure that will be easy to accept, useful and beneficial to your skin.

Ever have you heard antioxidant enzyme before ? These have the particularity that each molecule can stabilize million radical free as opposed to normal antioxidant molecules which are slaughtered by each free radical. And as an ingredient contains this special type of antioxidants, and is a staple food in all my skin care regimen!

Aging and Antioxidants

2010-05-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

Everyone ages, but while that happens, an increasing number of people are developing brain-related diseases which include loss of memory, impairment of consciousness, and Alzheimer's disease.

Why are these issues ?

As age the number of neurons or nerve cells brain healthy is slowly but gradually decreasing. Over time, permanent damage "oxidative stress" (an ageing factor is exacerbated by environmental problems related to pollution, smoking, excessive exposure to the Sun) can impair the function of the brain in general. This deterioration may affect their ability to respond to immediate as instant recovery or the decision-making system needs. While the symptoms of the ageing of the brain cannot appear in upper age, your brain can be gradually losing these capabilities. In severe cases, these symptoms may be a warning signal that slowly evolving Alzheimer or Parkinson's disease.

How can we reduce or stop this process ?

The role of dietary antioxidants research in recent years has begun to show that mainly due to a combination of oxidative stress and damage reduction in volume of antioxidant defenses, brain ages often due to a diet devoid of foods rich in antioxidants. High levels of reactive oxygen species (sometimes called "radical free" produced by the normal metabolism), is not controlled by sufficient dietary antioxidants can accelerate brain problems. Antioxidants are thought to neutralize these free radicals that damage, helping to prevent new cells and damaged tissues. This idea is creating new research into the aging brain.

Many studies have shown that individuals who consume a regular consumption of fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of developing age related disorders. Dr. Jim Joseph, Boston, United States Department of agriculture laboratory research suggests that the dietary supplementation with fruit or vegetable extracts rich in antioxidants (blueberries or spinach, extracts of so called phenols or carotenoids) could reduce our vulnerability to oxidative stress that occurs with aging.
The production of 3 harmful free radicals inflammation. Neural signaling and the transmission of defects such effect is maintained a not proven but promising hypothesis for human clinical trials.

This research also is a reasonable and simple to make dietary recommendations for elderly people. In other words, include plant colorful foods in your daily diet to promote slow and healthy ageing.

Value of Antioxidants in Anti-Aging Treatment

2010-05-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

For a long time, antioxidants have been extensively linked to the prevention of anti-aging but it is only recently that they have had enormous media exposure. Anti-aging skin problems have been much talked about for over fifty years and science has not stopped studying and discovering is to combat this dilemma. A school of thought say that it is the damage of free radical that causes aging. Others called it the oxidative stress process.

The rave about health with antioxidants began when they were found to play a great role in countering this oxidative stress phenomenon after the genetic alteration of a certain fruit fly by adding in enzymatic antioxidants and it lived a 30% longer life than its average life span. The fruit fly also showed less age-related aging or oxidative damage. This result pressed the scientists to further carry out the same study on humans to confirm that antioxidants are a great alternative to combating the unpleasant signs of aging.

In the mid of 1990s, a study conducted showed that the highest count of oxidative damage occurred with disabled elderly folks while the lowest counts were in younger healthy adults. In the same study, it was found that blood levels containing health with antioxidants. Vitamins E and C were associated with few disability and aging signs while free radical damage was associated to those without it.

Amazingly, this changed the way people view old age. While elderly people are associated with wrinkling skin, senility, disability, diverse diseases, and other aging signs, experts believe these are not results of aging per se but instead of unsuccessful aging. This is a very interesting pointer that is worthy of note by everyone especially those so concerned about aging and it consequences.

Unsuccessful or ungraceful aging is the process that happens when the human body is incapable of fighting off destructive elements and oxidative stress. These result in the weakening of the immune system and failure of the skin to regenerate and recover successfully. When an elderly individual is evident with aging skin signs and diseases, it is proof that they have not lived a healthy, positive lifestyle.
Rather carelessly treating oneself causes many aspects of the human body to be ignored and it deteriorates slowly. These points tell individuals that antioxidants play a very important role in allowing everyone to age healthily and gracefully. Antioxidants plus a healthy and positive lifestyle inhibits the dreaded signs of aging which make an individual feel less confident and weak later in life.

It is crucial to begin taking care of our body and health early in life. Regular intake of antioxidants strengthens the human body and this reflects on the skin. These days, different methods exist to take health with antioxidants supplements and directly from food rich in them.

I hope antioxidants will add a extra years to your life and not your appearance, just like it did to the fruit fly.

Antioxidants, an anti Aging Solution

2010-05-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

The metabolic system health is responsible for the entire body welfare and an explanation of the factors that strengthen or weaken can help to understand the mechanisms behind the disease and old age. Our body in oxygen, essential in each and every one of our cells, but in contact with some substances in molecules, the chemical reaction is completely hostile. Due to external factors such as stress, pollution, environmental chemical process of oxidation, some atoms in cells continue to be damaged and tend to establish his attacking the closest stable state produced a reaction in harmful chain.

These are the free radicals that weaken the system of the body, destroys the cell membrane and led to the death of molecules. Therefore, we can speak of an acceleration of the process of ageing: a specific number of cells lose their duties in time and do not regenerate. If free radicals cause cell destruction, it goes without saying that had joined the signs of aging. Typically, free radicals are compensated by other specific substances in our bodies: antioxidants created by the system of defence for this specific purpose. The main substances that act as powerful healthy antioxidant enzymes and vitamins such as beta-carotene, vitamin E and C. In addition, selenium stimulates the production of enzymes needed for the creation of antioxidants.

Therefore, a healthy with antioxidant a lot of fresh green food diet brings a constant amount of vitamins and enzymes that strengthen the immune system help in the effort to fight against internal and external aggression. Not only are we eat, there are environmental factors inherent to our way of life that we are exposed to the risk of developing defects of the system. Lemons and limes, blueberries, pomelos, grapes, and oranges are just some of the fruits containing natural antioxidants that prevent premature aging. A healthy diet, much physical exercise and a balanced lifestyle would be the key to staying young and in good health.

Anti Aging and Antioxidants

2010-05-11T05:32:00.000-07:00

Over the years the popularity of antioxidants for you as an anti-aging tool has grown. To be honest with you the anti-aging antioxidant benefit is much more of a comment than a reality. Healthy with antioxidants are now a specific group of organic substances found in food and supplements, which will provide preventive benefits to cancers, heart disease and stroke. But the question is, how to react in his body and where can be found ?

The references healthy with antioxidant word a long list of minerals, vitamins and supplements found and are available in both food and supplement form. Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, beta-carotene, selenium are antioxidants. Now that you eat foods that are rich in these ageing as well as supplemental benefits. But calling them simply an anti-aging is not correct. They are good for the anti-aging in terms of its benefits, but these benefits are available and necessary for the rest of the population, including an infant, child or adult. You are commonly facing environmental pollution either smoking, the smog pollutants from the air, and is limited to life in general.

Free radicals are formed in his body due to these pollutants so-called. Free radicals accumulate on his body as a reaction to contaminants and quickly begin to destroy the cell and the genetic structure of their cell walls. Reproduction of cells properties to manage these free radicals and therefore reproduced quickly. Healthy with antioxidants to the rescue. Fight against ageing are the benefits created by their ability to reach and cure these cells by which prevent the free radicals play. Therefore, are antioxidants against ageing, but are more correctly called "save lives". These types are something that all we need. Pay attention to this information

Multi – Vitamins for Health Beauty

2009-02-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

You know the old saying; "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" An apple is something that helps build internal health as it is a powerful antioxidant. That same antioxidant power can be applied to skin care as well. Antioxidants have been used for years with fantastic results for topical skin care. Today, it's rare for wholesome products not to be enriched with one or more health- and beauty-enhancing ingredients.

MULTI-VITAMIN HAS MULTI-POWER

Nearly two decades of scientific research indicates creams, lotions, and ointments containing vitamins and nutrients may help reduce wrinkles and protect skin against sun damage and maladies such as rosacea and exema. These ingredients, acting as antioxidants, fight oxygen-free radicals such as pollution, smoke, UV rays, and other harsh elements that damage DNA and cause skin to sag and lose elasticity.

Unlike supplements, which deploy only a portion of the vitamin's potency to the skin, vitamin-enriched products applied topically have a more direct, long-lasting effect. And, it is an effect today's clients are clamoring for-younger looking skin for longer: younger looking skin longer. To deliver what your clients seek, carefully evaluate the ingredients in the products you retail and your esthetician use in treatments. Here is what to look for.

WHAT THE LABEL TELLS YOU

Alpha Lipoic Acid ( ALA )

Products with ALA are ideal for treating people with clogged pores or acne. The antioxidant ALA , which is soluble in fat and water, and is easily absorbed. It helps reduce inflammations, minimize scars, and lessen the appearance of enlarged pores. ALA also increases cell metabolism and helps to repair skin damage, making it tremendously therapeutic for aging skin.

Deanol Bitartrate (DMAE)

DMAE, a strong anti-inflammatory nutrient that the body produces naturally, is hailed for diminishing the appearance of scars and improving the firmness and tone of muscles. When mixed with other nutrients and applied topically, DMAE can quickly and dramatically increase firmness and skin radiance. It also has the ability to store in the skin to provide lasting benefits.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A takes many forms. For example, retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, is the active ingredient in prescription Retin-A, and Renova, another derivative of vitamin A, is used to prevent [treat] acne and wrinkles. Today, many cosmetic companies are looking at incorporating another yet another derivative, Retinol, into nonprescription lotions. Regardless of the form, vitamin A causes the skin to exfoliate at a faster rate, a process that otherwise slows with age. Exfoliation brings fresher-looking skin to the surface and prevents pores from clogging, which could lead to acne. Using vitamin A increases sensitivity to the sun, however, so it is even more important to warn clients to be diligent about using sunscreen.

Vitamin C

Known for its ability to neutralize harmful free radical molecules, vitamin C protects skin against UVA and UVB rays. A six-month study conducted in France in 2001 found that C's fat-soluble form, vitamin C ester, might actually reverse skin damage. Researchers saw the participants' wrinkles diminish during the time they applied cream with vitamin C ester, also called ascorbyl palmitate. Additionally, vitamin C enhances skin's smoothness, creating a youthful glow.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E, known for its anti-inflammatory and nurturing effects, is cropping up in more and more in balms, lotions, and salves. The fat-soluble vitamin, found in nuts, oils, and vegetables, moisturizes, smoothes, and softens skin. Recent research suggests that vitamin E applied topically, particularly in the form of alpha tocopherol, can smooth rough skin, diminish the length of facial lines, and lessen the depth of wrinkles. Using vitamin E may also reduce the risk of UV light-induced skin cancer, prompting it to be added to many sunscreens.

Scientists are learning more and more about how vitamins and nutrients can improve our well-being-inside and out. Recently, another antioxidant, Idebenone, has emerged on the beauty scene. The extremely powerful nutrient appears to fight cell damage related to aging and wrinkles. By putting these naturally occurring substances to work, estheticians have a more effective skin care tools to treat and improve clients' skin. And happy clients with great-looking skin are a great advertisement for you and your business.

by Melanie Vasseur

How Are Antioxidants Linked to Anti-Aging ?

2009-02-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

Antioxidants have been widely praised in the media. Many know they are linked with anti-aging properties. However this is not new, it all began with one man’s theory a half a century ago about how free radicals were associated with aging, and science has been trying to catch up with it ever since.

As Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D., states in his 2001 book, “The Wrinkle Cure”: “When it comes to aging, it’s not Father Time that’s public enemy number 1. It’s the very busy, very nasty little molecule called the free radical.”

The Free Radical Theory of Aging was published by Denman Harman in 1956. He theorized that aging is a result of free radical damage of the cells of the body. This is also called oxidative stress.

Today, a great deal of experimental evidence supports the premise that length of life is determined by the crucial balance of antioxidants with free radicals in the body. Oxidative stress is being shown to be at the root of disease and aging.

One example is that the life of the fruit fly was up to 30% longer when it was genetically altered with an addition of enzymatic antioxidants. Not only that, but the altered fruit flies also showed a reduced amount of age-related oxidative damage.

Studies of humans have also shown evidence of free radical damage playing a large part in human aging. One 1996 study compared markers of free radical damage in the blood and found evidence of the highest oxidative damage associated with the disabled elderly, an intermediate amount with the healthy elderly, and the lowest levels with the healthy adults.

The study also found that higher blood levels of antioxidant Vitamins C and E were associated with less disability, and signs of free radical damage were associated with more disability.

We need to rethink our concept of aging. We accept disease, disability, senility, wrinkles, and all the other many signs of aging as natural. Instead, we should view this as ‘unsuccessful aging’ – ie., aging associated with deterioration, disease and disability.

Successful aging is what happens when the human body is able to fight off oxidative stress, and continue to regenerate and repair itself. Successful aging is getting older healthily, without significant pathological conditions.

What the evidence is telling us is that it is crucial we take antioxidants and free radicals very seriously if we want to ‘age gracefully’ and avoid the many pitfalls of ‘unsuccessful aging’.

Even young people can be victims of unsuccessful aging, if they are not providing their bodies with the necessary balance of having have enough dietary antioxidants to fight off the free radicals.

In our modern culture, many of us are guilty of not getting adequate nutrition. It’s ironic, when we are the richest we have ever been that we should be feeding our bodies so poorly.

An interesting example of how a person can seriously damage their body with the wrong diet was seen in the Documentary ‘Super Size Me’ by Morgan Spurlock who ate only McDonald’s for a month. In just 30 days of having a junk food diet as his sole source of nutrition, his health was spiraling downwards and out of control.

The fact that he gained 25 pounds in a month was the least of his worries. He experienced a toxic liver, a significant increase in cholesterol, headaches, depression, a lower sex drive and poor skin. He returned to normal after his experiment ended.

Unfortunately a great many of us continue to do damage to our bodies, by smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, eating junk food, and not eating our vegetables. When the media began warning us of free radicals, many of us did not understand the massive damage we were causing our bodies or how to prevent it, especially as most of the signs of damage are invisible until it is too late.

Free radical damage is accumulative and spreads like wildfire over time. Do your body a favor. Feed it a diet rich in antioxidant nutrition. Make it a habit, eat your fruits and vegetables, take your vitamins, and try to stop or cut down on damaging bad habits. You will thank yourself in 20 years.

Use antioxidants wisely to age successfully. Maybe like the fruit fly, you too can live 30% longer.

by Carina MacInnes

Free Radicals cause individual cells to become damaged or die

2009-02-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

We often read or hear news reports about antioxidants and how they can improve our health, yet we rarely hear about the role they play in the pleasure we obtain from sex and intimacy.

To understand antioxidants and the ways they can enhance genital health, we first need to understand the role that free radicals play in damaging our cells. In essence, free radicals are the toxic byproducts of our metabolism. Free radical production can increase as a result of the foods we eat (as is the case with charbroiled meat) or the air we breathe (as is the case with second hand smoke).

Using several enzyme-based systems, our body does its best to combat free radicals. When our body's defenses fail, though, free radicals cause individual cells to become damaged or die. If left unchecked, free radicals cause tissue damage, premature aging, and loss of cellular function. In other words, our cells become oxidized, much in the same way that rust forms on iron when it is exposed to air and water.

Antioxidants help to combat free radical damage by shoring up the body's enzyme-based systems. Vitamins C and E are popular antioxidants, as are the polyphenols found in plants and in certain foods and beverages, such as cocoa, red wine, green tea, and ginseng.

Antioxidants can also improve sexual pleasure and intimacy. Women who are perimenopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal - along with women who use oral contraceptives - can experience genital oxidative stress, which can result in vaginal dryness and a lack of sexual desire. In a sense, antioxidants are an aphrodisiac, in that they preserve the nitric oxide needed to dilate blood vessels in genital tissues, which in turn causes sexual arousal.

Eating or drinking foods and beverages with antioxidant properties is sure to improve your overall feeling of well-being, but antioxidants delivered in the form of a lubricant to sensitive genital skin can have a positive impact on sexual pleasure and intimacy. When organic antioxidants penetrate the skin, they energize nerve endings.

Genital skin care should be an ongoing priority. When looking for an antioxidant to promote genital health, it is important to find one that is water-free and non-oily. Instead, it should be polymer-based and have a non-sticky feeling. In addition, it should be a product that can be used on a daily basis.

by: Chris Robertson

Cholesterol May Act as an Antioxidant

2009-01-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

Cholesterol is not a life threatening toxin, but a medium-sized molecule that is really a building block for important parts of the body. Cholesterol is also the forerunner of important hormones such as the female sex hormone, oestradiol, and the male sex hormone, testosterone, and of vitamin D, which we need in order to utilize calcium and form bone. Cholesterol is carried in the blood as part of particles called lipoproteins. In fact, cholesterol is being transported to tissues as part of an inflammatory response that is there to repair damage.

Cholesterol isn’t part of the problem, its part of the solution to a different problem. Cholesterol is actually saving the lives of people, because cholesterol is a bandage, a waterproof bandage that the body has designed. Cholesterol is actually an interim lifesaver, giving the body time to recover from its problems. For people under the age of 50, high blood cholesterol may be indicative of a problem, but if you recall its role as an antioxidant, and a substance used in repair of the body, you may wonder if this highered level is an attempt to protect the body from such things as damage to the arterial walls.

If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, a lot can collect in the blood vessel walls, causing these "pipes" to become narrower. Avoid foods that are high in cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat, all of which increase cholesterol levels and your risk of developing heart disease. Before you start chomping on those cheese fries or that greasy burger, you might want to take a closer look at whether you're getting too much cholesterol. Actually, your body produces enough cholesterol so that if you never touched another cheese fry, you'd be OK. Although most teens won't need to take medication to lower their cholesterol, it's still important to keep cholesterol in check.

The natural antioxidants in Oat Bran can significantly reduce blood cholesterol levels by suppressing the adhesive molecules which make blood cells stick to artery walls, researchers reported. When, instead, you consume lots of 'naked' oils stripped from seeds, your cellular membranes become increasingly unsaturated and less protected by antioxidants. Eating a variety of antioxidant-rich foods, on a daily basis, is your best strategy for harnessing the disease-fighting antioxidant potential of the mighty plant kingdom.

A high cholesterol is not dangerous by itself, but may reflect an unhealthy condition, or it may be totally innocent. Importantly, while many cardiologists insist that lowering cholesterol is correlated with a reduction in the risk of heart attacks; few can say that there is a reduction in the risk of mortality (death). However, the bottom line is that a high level of plasma cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and strokes.

by Paul Rodgers

Activates Antioxidant Glutathione for Protection of Cells

2009-01-08T13:06:00.000-08:00

Selenium is a type of trace mineral which supports healthy activity within your immune system, functions as an important part of the potent antioxidant glutathione, and is necessary for good thyroid health. This formula uses SelenoPure high, yeast free selenium for ultimate immune support.

Selenium and Glutathione

Our bodies use Selenium to produce glutathione peroxidase, which is a part of the body's natural antioxidant defense system, manufactured in the liver. Some glutathione is released into the bloodstream, where it helps to maintain the integrity of red blood cells while protecting your immune systems white blood cells and contributing to the body’s natural defense.

Research Suggests that Selenium Supports Immune Health

Selenium is a requirement for a well-functioning immune system, and in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers investigated the effects of beta-carotene and selenium supplementation in patients who had deficiencies of selenium and vitamin A.

The researchers concluded that glutathione plays an important role in the natural enzymatic defense system in detoxifying hydrogen peroxide in water, therefore selenium supplementation could be of great interest in protecting cells against oxidative stress.

by Jeremy Maddock

Benefits of Green Tea Antioxidants

2009-01-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

Green tea contains many beneficial nutrients and compounds, one example is the antioxidant. Green tea contains four primary polyphenols and these give rise to the green tea antioxidant. In recent studies these powerful antioxidants have been shown to fight viruses, slow aging and have an overall beneficial effect on a persons general health.

Catechins which is a part of the four primary polyphenols has been shown in recent clinical tests to destroy free radicals which has far reaching effects for the body. If left, free radicals could damage the body at the cellular level which leaves the body susceptible to cancer, heart disease and degenerative diseases.

About the Green Tea Antioxidant

The ability to protect the brain and fight against diseases such as Alzheimers has also been found to be a benefit of green tea antioxidants. A recent study shows this to be true since high doses of green teas ingredient EGCG reduces the formation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain of mice that developed Alzheimers disease.

EGCG is a flavonoid type of antioxidants that is typically found in plants and has been connected with many health benefits, including protecting against cancer and heart disease. EGCG is an important antioxidant in green tea that is proven to be the most primary explanation for why green tea is beneficial to a persons health.

The polyphenols in green tea claim to also contain antioxidants that are more potent such as Vitamin C and E. EGCG is better at protecting the cells and genetic material, or DNA, from damage than Vitamin C by 100 times and Vitamin E by 25 times. The damage to cells and genetic materials has been linked to health problems such as cancer, heart disease and other potentially life threatening illnesses.

The antioxidants that are found in green tea are important to acknowledge and understand. You should also know the positive aspects you can get from the components of these antioxidants that help your health and well-being.

by Colin Holcomb

The Power of Antioxidants

2009-01-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

Antioxidants are becoming some of the most researched substances in health circles these days for good reason. They seem to be responsible for better quality of life, more energy, clearer skin, even tales of slowing the aging process. When free radicals and antioxidants are out of balance problems arise. Eating more dark-green, leafy vegetables, carrots, yellow and red fruits are strongly recommended. Some examples of antioxidant are Vitamins C, E, and Beta Carotene, to name just a few.

Some findings indicate that people who are low in antioxidants are more likely to develop arthritis and other diseases than those consuming higher amounts. Good sources of antioxidants are salmon, legumes, extra lean meat, leafy vegetables and colorful fruits.

Another important nutrient, the catechin shows they work well together with antioxidants, have fat burning and antibacterial qualities. In nature there are always numerous nutrients working together, and we are just scratching the surface deciphering those combinations. One thing is certain, you can never get too much of a good thing when it comes to antioxidants.

Supplements Are Necessary

Many dietary authorities agree we need to supplement with antioxidants. CoQ10 is one vitamin like supplement manufactured naturally in your body, but it's never enough to combat the amount of free radicals you're exposed to every day. Because of this daily free radical load, your best defense is to take antioxidants as a supplement as your food doesn't provide enough.

Vitamin E has been an extremely popular antioxidant vitamin in recent years. Alpha-tocopherol is traditionally recognized as the most active form of vitamin E. It's a fat-soluble vitamin in eight forms which is a much more powerful combination compared to any single form of Vitamin E. Vitamin C is important for the function of the immune system, tissue repair, and is also an antioxidant. It has been found that vitamin C can reduce cold symptoms because of its antiviral and antioxidant effects. Vitamin A is an antioxidant necessary for good vision and has also been shown to have a protective effect against cancer.

The Powerful Antioxidant List

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is derived from plant or animal tissue. Proanthocyanidin, or OPC, is another powerful antioxidant.
Vitamin K was been approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan in 1995.
Milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant for liver protection and body detoxification.
Green tea is the most powerful antioxidant beverage known today.
Olivus olive leaf tea is a good tasting tea with powerful antioxidant, anti-virus, anti- bacteria and anti- fungus properties.
The whole fruit puree of the Mangosteen fruit is a powerful natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Fermented Papaya is the new body antioxidant from Japan. Grape seed extract is another antioxidant that's easy to take.

With this list of powerful antioxidants you can choose one or more to suit your budget and taste.

Which One is Best ?

Of all the available antioxidants, Mangosteen seems to hold the most promise. Originally from South East Asia, Mangosteen is a highly revered botanical and the most expensive fruit at the market when it comes in season. It is used to combat numerous ailments by local Physicians and is the most prominent medicine in most Doctors kits there. Mangosteen can be found in a few health food stores but only one company makes the a puree with the whole fruit.

To get the full benefit from Mangosteen the juice must be made with the whole fruit, otherwise it's healing potential is about the same as apple juice. There is one nutrient in Mangosteen that is not available anywhere else, the Xanthone. Keep your eyes and ears open for that nutrient... Xanthone. You'll be hearing more about it soon enough.

by Karen Myton

The What of Antioxidants

2009-01-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

More than likely you have heard the term "antioxidant" by now. However, do you know what it is, why you need it or how you get it ? Probably not. So, herein what you need to know about antioxidants will be explained.

The first thing that you need to know about in order to understand antioxidants is the process of oxidation. This is a fundamental and necessary biomechanical reaction. Not all forms of this process are helpful though. There are some that forms that happen at the wrong time and are thus disastrous to your health. However, antioxidants can be a big help in helping positive oxidation to occur so that you will have sustained, good health.

Antioxidants also play a key role in keeping the proteins in your cell membranes from being damaged. These proteins are large, complex and specialized molecules. They control the functions of important cell membranes, which are the basic defense system that lets nutrients in, sends waste products out and prevents entry of toxic and viral invaders. As such, they are actually responsible for immune responses. However, oxidation interferes with this process by splitting up the molecules and thus destroying it. Fatty acids can also be destroyed in this way.

It is important to understand that you can also come into contact with the oxidation process outside of your body. Sources for this include exposure to radiation, air pollution, synthetic hormones in food, pesticides, over-the-counter and prescription drugs and food additives. Of course, some of these things are things that you cannot easily avoid. This is why it is important to make sure that your body has plenty of antioxidants, which enable good oxidation to take place.

You can find antioxidants in really green, fast growing plants. This is because sunlight, which is a high-energy source, drives the photosynthesis process. In effect, photosynthesis is the opposite of oxidation. So, plants contain a large supply of antioxidants so that they can be protected from the dangers that sunlight can cause. It is these antioxidants that you will want to consume.

Some of the other great places wherein you can find antioxidants include immature barley and wheat grasses. Zinc also has a lot of antioxidant power, which is why it is used so much during the cold and flu season.

It is also a good idea to avoid partially hydrogenated foods whenever possible. This can be found in processed foods, air pollution and medications. A great way in which to counteract this is by drinking green tea, which has a lot of antioxidant power.

Furthermore, if all else fails, you can take specific vitamins so that you get more antioxidants. One of the best ones that I have found is Shaklee's Glucose Regulation Complex. This "food supplement," as Shaklee prefers to call their vitamins, contains both Zinc and antioxidants. As an added benefit, this is a good choice for diabetics who would like to get off of their glucose products. However, you should contact your doctor before starting it.

So, now that you understand just how important antioxidants are and where they can be found, you can start helping your body out by taking more of them. Here's to your good health!

by Brenda Marie Hoffman

MaxGXL increases body's most powerful antioxidant

2009-01-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

Choose MaxGXL™ for maximum antioxidant protection. It is clinically proven to also provide these important benefits :

Dramatically Raise Your Energy Levels, Strengthen Your Immune System, Slow Down the Aging Process, Fight Inflammation, Improve Athletic Performance & Recovery and Detoxify Your Body.

According to the former president of the American Medical Association : "This product(MaxGXL™), in my opinion, represents the single most important breakthrough in health that I will witness in my life time. I believe it will revolutionize, change, and transform the practice of medicine world-wide and make Dr Robert Keller more famous than Jonas Salk who created the polio vaccine." -Dr. John C. Nelson, 159th President of the American Medical Association.

The body's most powerful anti-oxidant is one that the body produces itself. It is called Glutathione, which is a protein produced by every cell in your body. It is actually more effective than Vitamins C & E. Increasing your Glutathione levels is the smartest way to provide your body maximum antioxidant protection. MaxGXL's™ proprietary formula raises Glutathione levels within each cell, it also enables the liver to manufacture more, increasing the body's level of Glutathione.

Glutathione has been shown to slow down the aging process, detoxify and improve liver function, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the chances of developing cancer. Glutathione also works to help improve mental functions, increase energy, improve concentration, permit increased exercise, and improve heart and lung function - just to name a few.

The Consumers' Research Council has named the inventor of MaxGXL™, Dr. Robert Keller, MD, one of America's "Top Physicians in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in the fields of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Hematology.

Dr. Keller has served on the faculties of the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin (Marquette Univ.) He has published more than 100 original articles in various scientific and medical journals and has been awarded several patents. Dr Keller was elected to The Board of Governors of the American Academy of HIV medicine, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of several Biotech companies.

by Walter Bell

Antioxidants - Add a Lean, Muscular Body to the List of Benefits!

2009-01-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

I’m sure by now you’ve heard all about the amazing health benefits of antioxidant rich foods in your diet. Not only do these free-radical fighting antioxidants help you look and feel younger by slowing down the aging process, but they also help to prevent cancer, heart disease, and loads of other degenerative diseases. But that’s not all. Antioxidants also help you to recover better from exercise and that means more muscle and less fat on your body in the long run!

The function that antioxidants play in aiding your recovery from exercise is the inhibition of free radicals produced during exercise. Any time you workout, free radicals are produced in the body that damage muscle tissue. Having an adequate supply of antioxidants about an hour or so before your workout can greatly reduce the muscle damage caused by free radicals, hence, improving your muscular recovery from exercise.

Some of the most potent sources of whole food antioxidants are berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries), cherries, acai fruit, various teas (green tea, white tea, black tea, and red tea - a.k.a. rooibos tea), nuts, seeds, red and black beans, purple potatoes, grapes, red wine, cinnamon, and dark chocolate or cocoa. Don’t be fooled by all of the intense marketing for expensive antioxidant supplement pills remember whole foods are always better for you (and cheaper) than a pill.

My favorite pre-workout antioxidant-loaded snack is a piece of whole grain toast with almond butter, a small amount of blackberry jam, and topped with a pile of fresh blueberries or sliced strawberries. I wash it down with a glass of iced green tea or rooibos tea sweetened with just a small bit (about a teaspoon) of raw honey. This is literally a quintuple-whammy of potent anti-oxidants! The almond butter, blackberry, blueberries, raw honey, and the green or rooibos tea are all loaded with different varieties of muscle protecting, youth promoting antioxidants. I throw down this snack about an hour before my training. Give it a try for yourself, or be creative and come up with your own antioxidant-rich pre-workout snack based on your tastes.

Remember, your body is continually bombarded every day by free radicals (creating oxidative stress) from exercise, air pollution, smoke, sun exposure, junk food, exposure to chemicals, etc. To reap the full benefits of antioxidants, try to make sure that every meal and snack you eat has at least one or two sources of antioxidant rich foods. This will give you a continuous supply of antioxidants throughout every day to prevent damage from the free radicals you are constantly exposed to.

Antioxidants are just one piece to the puzzle of a healthy diet that will give you the lean, muscular, youthful, and disease-free body that everyone wants. To discover the secrets behind all of the other pieces to the diet puzzle that create a lean body (macronutrient profile, glycemic response, hormonal response, glycogen storage, muscle protein synthesis, the role of leptin, the insulin process, etc.).

by Michael Geary

The Power of Antioxidants is Not Just for Internal Health but Outward Beauty

2009-01-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

MULTI-VITAMIN HAS MULTI-POWER

WHAT THE LABEL TELLS YOU

Alpha Lipoic Acid ( ALA )

Deanol Bitartrate (DMAE)

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

by Melanie Vasseur

Multi – Vitamins for Health Beauty

2009-01-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

MULTI-VITAMIN HAS MULTI-POWER

WHAT THE LABEL TELLS YOU

Alpha Lipoic Acid ( ALA )

Deanol Bitartrate (DMAE)

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

by Melanie Vasseur

Antioxidants : Combating Aging and Disease

2009-01-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

Wouldn’t we all like to age gracefully (if at all for that matter!) and ward off the wrinkly signs and ill symptoms for as long as possible. Keys to longevity may be more accessible than we think, and it appears our diets play a critical role. Antioxidants are the knights in shining armor that subjugate the attack of free radicals in the body, the hazardous molecules that damage cells and procure aging and disease. Though antioxidants are produced naturally in the body, these decline with age, hence an increasing need to acquire them from the foods in our diet.

Before examining antioxidants more closely, it is important to take a look at the free radicals they serve to neutralize.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are created as by-products in our use of oxygen during metabolism such as the burning of food for energy. They are essentially oxidant molecules that are missing an electron and seek to restore themselves by targeting nearby cells in an attempt to recover this electron, potentially harming enzymes, DNA, proteins and cell membranes in the process. This damage can mutate cells and alter cell function, increasing the risk of numerous diseases and chronic conditions including arthritis, diabetes, cataracts, cancer, heart disease and stroke. Free radical damage is implicated in the onset of aging and its degenerative symptoms and diseases.

As well as generated within the body, free radicals come from environmental sources such as pollution, radiation, unhealthy foods, bacteria, viruses, cigarette smoke and UV light.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants serve to mitigate the harmful effect of free radicals by giving up an electron and stabilizing them in the process. Although we produce many of our own antioxidants within the body, food provides an essential source for these key players of our defense system. Vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients all have antioxidant properties. The most common examples include vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc, carotenoids, flavonoids, co-enzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione.

As there are many different types of free radicals in the body a variety of antioxidants are required to protect against them. Antioxidants function best as a team, with each other and other nutrients and phytochemicals, which is why incorporating a wide range of plant foods into your diet is recommended. Phytochemical groups such as flavonoids and carotenoids correspond to the colour, taste and smell attributes of plants, hence eating a rainbow array of vegetables and fruits can offer a diverse selection of these potent antioxidants.

Antioxidant Rich Foods

Foods especially high in antioxidants include berries, plums, pomegranates, oranges, spinach, green tea, avocado, kale, broccoli, peas, onions, grapes and pure chocolate.

Scientists at the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) have developed a rating scale that measures the total antioxidant capacity of a given food. This is known as the ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity).

Of 40 common fruits and vegetables measured by the USDA, top ranking scores were those of prunes(5770), raisins (2830), blueberries (2400 – highest of all fresh foods with other berries close behind), kale (1770), spinach (1260), Brussels sprouts (980), plums (949), alfalfa sprouts (930), broccoli florets (890), beetroots (840), oranges (750 ), red peppers (710 ) and red grapes (739).

Pure cocoa surpasses all these foods with a whopping score of 26,00 units, more than 10 times the prestigious blueberry (though one is likely to eat far less in quantity). The extraordinary goji berry from Tibet also has outstanding antioxidant capacity with a score of 18,500 units; hardly surprising as they contain 500 times more vitamin C than oranges and even more beta-carotene than carrots!

According to studies on animals and human blood at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts in Boston, high-ORAC foods may slow aging processes in the body and brain. Results found that high ORAC foods such as blueberries and spinach could increase the antioxidant power of human blood by 10-25%, prevent loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats, and protect rat blood vessels against oxygen damage.

Antioxidants and Aging

As we age, free radical levels rise and yet the body falls short in producing necessary amounts of antioxidants to meet this challenge. For example, cells generate more of the oxidants hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, yet levels of the necessary antioxidant glutathione required to neutralise these decline. The Free Radical Theory of Aging, first proposed by Harman in 1954, is supported by cross-species examination of animals with regard to life span, free radical damage and antioxidant defence. For example, the white-footed mouse lives about twice as long as the house mouse (8 versus 4 years), and is found to generate less oxidants and have higher levels of antioxidants. As Beckman and Ames write in The Free Radical Theory of Ageing Matures (1998), ‘Together, interspecies comparisons of oxidative damage, antioxidant defences, and oxidant generation provide some of the most compelling evidence that oxidants are one of the most significant determinants of life span.’

Very recent evidence comes from a study on dogs at the University of Toronto by Dr. Dwight Tapp and colleagues who found that ‘old dogs that were on an antioxidant diet performed better on a variety of cognitive tests than dogs that were not on the diet. In fact, the dogs eating antioxidant-fortified foods performed as well as young animals’.

Additional research by Dr. Rabinovitch and his team, studying aging at the University of Washington, Seattle, found that mice engineered to produce high levels of an antioxidant enzyme (catalase) lived 20 per cent longer and had less heart and other age-related diseases than controls.

In light of the role free radicals play in the onset of aging and disease, it is important to ensure our diets include a rich and diverse supply of antioxidants. These protective agents can be found abundantly in vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and are particularly high in superfoods.

by: Sylvia Riley

What of Antioxidants

2009-01-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

So, now that you understand just how important antioxidants are and where they can be found, you can start helping your body out by taking more of them. Here's to your good health!

by Brenda Marie Hoffman

Health Benefits

2008-12-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Rooibos is an African name for 'red bush', its scientific name is 'aspalathus linearis'. Rooibos is a natural herb found in a small area in South Africa, the Cedarberg Mountains. The leaves are processed to make tea and brings many health benefits to the body. The tea is nowhere related to green tea from the plant camella sinensis.

Popularly called ' red tea ', the plant is far from the color red, it is actually green. The red color only appears after the oxidation or fermentation process of tea making.

Rooibos tea or red tea does not contain caffeine making it suitable even for children. No sugar may be added because it is naturally sweet.

The antioxidant content of rooibos tea : The two primary antioxidants in the rooibos tea are aspalathin and nothofagin. Aspalathin is unique to rooibos while nothofagin can be found in some other plants.

Aspalathin contain phenolic acids such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid , p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid. It also contains flavonoids such as isoquercitrin, rutin, quercetin, iso-vitexin, vitexin, chrysoeriol, orientin, iso-orientin and luteolin. So much for those scientific names, these compounds are all beneficial to the body.

Mineral content: Aside from the antioxidants, rooibos tea also contain lots of minerals which can aid your body in maintaining a healthy nervous system and metabolic processes giving you healthy bones, teeth and skin. Copper, iron, mangnesium, calcium, zinc and potassium are some minerals which can be found in rooibos tea.

Rooibos tea is ideal for people who are prone to kidney stones since it does not contain oxalic acid.

Compared to black tea and green tea, the tannin content of rooibos is relatively small making your body absorb more iron and other minerals and does not disrupt proper digestion.

Rooibos tea have been used in Africa to aid in many health problems including insomnia, nervous tension, hypertension, irritability and headaches. Its anti-spasmonid agents can relieve colic in infants and stomach cramping.

Allergies such as eczema, asthma and hay fever can be treated by drinking rooibos tea.

Not only is rooibos beneficial when taken internally, it can also be applied topically to treat irritated skin and minor wounds. Antioxidants are naturally anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial making it suitable for this application.

Other health benefits of rooibos tea : It makes a good alternative for NSAIDs to relieve inflammations. NSAIDs(Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) can be detrimental to your health especially the gastrointestinal tract when taken for a prolonged period of time. Rooibos tea has no side effects making it a healthier alternative as an anti inflammatory.

Free radicals are the starting point of potential oxidative damage to your cells. The antioxidants in rooibos tea can neutralize these free radicals before doing any damage.

Commercial applications of rooibos tea : Rooibos tea have been included as ingredients for soaps, facial creams and shampoos. Users claim that it makes their skin softer and smoother. Others say that it clears up psoriasis and acne.

If you want to consider rooibos tea as part of your healthy diet, you can find many products which can be purchased online.

by Jess Ba-ad

A Honey Spoonful a Day Keeps the Free Radicals at Bay !

2008-12-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

There have been many reports that honey lowers cholesterol.

Now, what exactly is cholesterol ? It is a type of lipid or fat produced by the liver needed to make vitamin D and some hormones, build cell walls, and create bile salts that help you digest fat. Our liver produces enough of this waxy substance (about 1,000 milligrams a day), so we don't have to worry if there is need to get supplements. In fact, many foods contain cholesterol and sometimes it's hard to ensure that we don't get an excessive intake of cholesterol that could lead to serious health problems. Eggs, meats, and whole-fat dairy products (including milk, cheese, and ice cream) are loaded with cholesterol, whereas vegetables, fruits, and grains contain none. Because cholesterol can't travel alone through the bloodstream, it has to combine with certain proteins, which pick up the cholesterol and transport it to different parts of the body. When the cholesterol and protein are combined, a lipoprotein is formed. Most cholesterol is LDL/bad (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol which can narrow the arteries and clog the blood vessels that supply the vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys and intestines. This is why it's so important to start paying attention to our cholesterol levels by maintaining a healthy weight, keeping an exercise regime to strengthen your heart, avoiding foods that are high in saturated fat and trans fat and following a low fat diet that contains many low-cholesterol foods such as fruits, veggies, whole grains (like breads and cereals), legumes (beans), and fish. When you eat more of these carbohydrate-rich foods, you will eat less of the foods higher in fat and cholesterol.

Honey and cholesterol-free recipies are often associated in the world of healthy foods. Not only is honey free of cholesterol, it has been reported that adding small amounts of it in the daily diet could even help keep cholesterol levels in check. High in minerals such as potassium, calcium and sodium and B complex vitamins, honey is known to be a cholesterol fighter - honey lowers cholesterol in our blood. The antioxidants in honey prevent cholesterol from being moved out of the blood and into the lining of the blood vessels. Daily consumption of this natural sweetener could raise blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds in the body.

It is believed that honey contain about the same range of antioxidants as green vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach and also comparable to fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries. And the antioxidant level in mead, a wine made with honey is believed to be comparable to white wine in terms of its antioxidant capability. Generally, it's been known that dark honey lowers cholesterol more effectively than lighter honey. For instance, Buckwheat honey contains the highest levels of antioxidants. The intake of honey and cinnamon, mixture also has been reported to have innate healing characteristics that appear to help diabetics control both blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

So, see if honey lowers cholesterol by kick starting your day with this honey and lemon cleansing tonic: mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast. Incorporate honey in more places where you might be using table sugar, and use it often as a home remedy, in no time, you may find a significant increase in the amount of antioxidant chemical compounds in your body.

by Ruth Tan

Antioxidants

2008-12-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

At the present time, one out of ten adults have some form of Alzheimer disease. According to Dr. Greengard, Director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research at the Rockefeller University, that number is expected to strike up to three times as many in the coming decades. Alzheimer's is considered a disease of the elderly and with the average lifespan of the US population rising to 74, a solution to the medical problem is being sought.

For Scientists the largest concern is what causes Alzheimer's and how can it be eradicated. For possible victims and their families it is how do we prevent the dreaded affliction or stop it in its tracks once it is diagnosed.

Scientists are in agreement and have narrowed down the contributing factor causing Alzheimer's disease. Most researchers agree that Beta-amyloid is one of the agents thought to cause damage to the brain in Alzheimer's disease. The research is attempting to find a deterrent and is recognizing antioxidants to be significant in protecting at risk patients.

According to the Harvard Medical Center, continuing research and studies are being conducted with some positive results. Even though some studies by the French point to wine as a protectant, the results are considerably controversial. The component in the wine that was indicated to be responsible for the protectant agent is still somewhat ambiguous.

Recent studies, including the study on wine, point to antioxidants for Alzheimer and Dementia risk reduction.

In an Italian study conducted by A. Russo, et.al., it was found that black grape skin extract protected cells in a test tube from oxidative damage and DNA fragmentation when exposed to beta-amyloid. An even more recent study by E. Savaskan, et.al, examined the red wine ingredient resveratrol, and found it to be neuroprotective against beta-amyloid oxidative stress, again supporting an antioxidant mechanism.

What these studies point to is, red wine may have an effect that could provide some protection against Alzheimer's disease, but indication says it is the antioxidant factor that is the hero. This is consistent with the fact that other antioxidants, most notably vitamin E, are being studied with great interest as potential protective agents against Alzheimer's disease. According to Dr. Steve Seiner, of Harvard Medical School, "While the results of these studies do not necessarily suggest that people should drink wine in order to lower their risk of Alzheimer's disease, they do support the potential role of antioxidant treatment in preventing or delaying Alzheimer's disease.

In another study by Robert P. Friedland, MD chief of the neurogeriatrics laboratory at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, "If antioxidants prove to protect against Alzheimer's disease, it is probably because they reduce what is called 'oxidative stress' in cells." He went on to say that his team believes free radicals are the culprit of oxidative stress in cells caused by the inappropriate consumption of some foods such as those in high fat content. In this study Friedland is recommending a "to-do" list for those who want to improve their chances of maintaining a healthy brain. He suggests :

Eat a diet high in antioxidants
Eat fish
Take vitamin E
Take B vitamins
Take folic acid
Be mentally and physically active throughout life
Avoid head injuries

When addressing the reduction of free radicals it is essential to recognize the importance of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC's) as the most powerful antioxidant known in scientific studies. OPC's are products commonly derived from a combination of grape seed extract, red wine extract and/or pine bark extract. They are very powerful bioflavanoids used as a natural food supplement ready to be absorbed into the body and begin to attack the free radicals.

OPC's are safe and have been used for over 20 years throughout Europe. Extensive studies and laboratory testing reveal no evidence for human toxicity, allergic reactions, birth defects, or carcinogenicity. OPC's work synergistically with other antioxidant vitamins, regenerating the antioxidant properties of vitamin C and vitamin E.

However, Bill Thies, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific affairs for the Alzheimer's Association says although Friedmand's recommendations are probably useful and that he agrees with all of them, he wants to "be very clear that the association is not making any recommendations about ways to prevent Alzheimer's. Thies is, however, involved in reading and learning about all studies concerning Alzheimer's Disease.

A study conducted in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Dr. Monique Breteler with the Eras UM Medical Center, found the antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E appear to be equally protective as a reducing factor in the fight against Alzheimer's. Her results of the 5,000 volunteers over the past 14 years, confirmed some earlier studies that point to antioxidants as a way to lower risk of dementia. She also said the protective effect of antioxidants was "more pronounced among smokers and among those who are carriers of the Alzheimer's gene."

It was also pointed out that diets rich in antioxidants are helpful, but in order to consume the necessary requirements, a person would have to triple, or more, their current consumption, which Breteler says, is most unlikely. Recommendations for proper amounts of ingestion are through antioxidant supplements including OPC's, vitamin E and vitamin C.

by Aaron Cummings

Why Are Antioxidants Important to Me ?

2008-12-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

Did you know that when we breath oxygen, it interacts with certain molecules in our bodies to create free radicals and that these free radicals damage important cellular structures such as DNA and cell membranes? Well, it is true and this damage may cause cells to function poorly and mutate. Free radical damage may lead to disease and aging.

We are exposed to huge amounts of free radicals from pollution, and pesticides. Every time you breathe, you take in millions of free radical molecules created by cigarette smoke, radiation, and automobile emissions. Every time you eat, you consume free radicals in the form of pesticides and preservatives.

This is where antioxidants come in. Our bodies have a natural defense system against these free radicals. Our immune system creates antioxidants which are able to neutralize free radicals and prevent much cellular damage. We also need antioxidants from other sources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, some meat, poultry and fish.

I bet you may recognize these antioxidants : vitamin E, C and beta carotene (a form of vitamin A. Others include luetin, lycopene, magnesium, and zinc.

There has been much talk about antioxidants preventing heart disease which is so deadly that it results in an average of 1 death every 34 seconds. The American Heart Association says, ?Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol is important in the development of fatty buildups in the arteries. This process, called atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis), can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Increasing evidence suggests that LDL cholesterol lipoprotein oxidation and its biological effects can be prevented by using antioxidants - both in the diet and in supplements.? In 1993, Harvard University researchers reported that supplemental doses of vitamin E actually reduced the risk of heart disease by as much as 54 percent!

And what effects can antioxidants have on the big ?C? word? This is a question that all of us are dying to know since one American in every three living today will get cancer, and one in four will die from it. The National Cancer Institute says, ?Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture, and animal studies indicates that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer. However, information from recent clinical trials is less clear.? Selenium, an antioxidant mineral can help protect against breast cancer. One expert, Dr. Gerhard Schrauzer of the University of California at San Diego, stated, "If every woman in America started taking selenium supplements or had a high-selenium diet, then within a few years the breast cancer rate in this country would drastically decline. And according to a study by Dr. Larry Clark of the University of Arizona, 200 micrograms daily of selenium cut the rate of prostate cancer by 69% and lung cancer by 34%.

So clearly antioxidants are important for all of us to strengthen and protect our immune systems and to help guard against disease. Antioxidants may even help us live longer. The theory is that if free radical damage causes aging, antioxidants in high enough quantities should be able to slow aging. This theory is advanced in one California study of people aged 50 or older, where it was found that those " with a higher intake of vitamin C were found to have a total death rate only 40% of that for those with the lower intake of C. This decrease in the death rate corresponds to an increase by eleven years in the length of life." Even small doses of vitamin C can help. According to one UCLA study only 300 milligrams a day can add 6 years to a man's life and two years to a woman's life.

Antioxidants are made naturally by your body but supplementation from food or other sources is needed. The highest concentrations of antioxidants are found in the most deeply or brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as spinach, red bell peppers, raspberries, carrots, apricots, pomegranates, and tomatoes.

by Scarlet S. Paolicchi

The Wonder Antioxidant

2008-12-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

A naturally occurring compound, L - Glutathione (Tathion,) has demonstrated that it is effective in fighting cancer, environmental poisons, and even cataracts. Sound like snake oil? Well, that is what I thought until I started doing research. It turns out that L - Glutathione is one of the most effective antioxidants that our body produces. It works to protect our bodies from the thousands of daily hazards that we are exposed to such as pollution, second hand smoke, alcohol, and food chemicals and poisons. In fact, it is so effective that some researchers believe that it can actually slow down the aging process.

L - Glutathione is an antioxidant that our body produces from three basic amino acids that are found in our food. Our body makes it and uses it, along with the other vitamins that we ingest, as a hard line defense against all of the hazards that cause us to grow sick and old. This is important because research into this specific antioxidant has shown that it can actually cure disease, regenerate damaged tissue, minimize the side effects of chemotherapy, and treat cataracts.

It works by acting as a guardian to the toxic compounds that attack our cells. These compounds, typically called free radicals, are extremely aggressive and attack the molecules that make up the cells in our body. These free radicals change the chemical structure of the molecules in our cells and make them ineffective. This in turn either kills the cell, makes it ineffective, or turns it cancerous. L - Glutathione and other antioxidants attack the free radicals and destroy them before they have a chance to attack the cells.

Because it protects our cells by attacking the external poisons, the levels of L - Glutathione in our blood have the potential to significantly impact our overall health. Studies have demonstrated that administration of L - Glutathione is extremely effective in treated diseases such as Hepatitis. It has also been shown to be a key player in the regeneration of the liver, and to combat cirrhosis. The compound is useful in treating jaundice and protects the brain and body tissues in the event of poisoning. In addition, the level of tissue damage from Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental poisoning has been demonstrated to be significantly lower with adequate L - Glutathione in the blood stream. Finally, the side effects of chemotherapy and the growth of cataracts have been demonstrated to be significantly reduced with the addition of L - Glutathione.

So what does all of this mean? Essentially, it is time to supplement your diet with L - Glutathione or the proteins that help your body make more of this essential nutrient. Although L - Glutathione is readily made by your body, supplementation with it and its precursors may increase your overall level of protection. Glutathione and its precursors, Cysteine, Glycine and L - Glutamic Acid, are all readily available as food supplements in your local health food store. In addition to eating a healthy and balanced diet, supplementation with Glutathione and its constituents can only help to increase your overall level of health, and may even slow down the process of growing old.

by Barrett Niehus

Keeping Illnesses at Bay with Antioxidant Vitamins

2008-12-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Antioxidant vitamins perform many important tasks that our bodies benefits from. In recent years, a great deal of research has been done concerning the abilities of the antioxidant vitamins to prevent certain diseases, ranging from cancer to heart ailments.

One of the many important tasks that antioxidant vitamins perform is that of bringing free radicals under control. But before we get ahead of ourselves, what are free radicals actually? A free radical is an unstable molecule, operating within the much larger context of a cell. Missing an electron is actually the reason why a free radical is unstable. Electrons are a part of a system that enables chemical reactions within the body. Chemical and electrical actions and reactions are the basis of whatever’s going on inside our bodies.

The splitting of a structure that is caused by the weakening of the body’s metabolism or outside factors such as pollution or cigarette smoking constitutes to the missing electron in a free radical. Thus, the free radical attacks other molecules seeking its missing part which leads to converting other molecules into free radicals as well. This should never be taken lightly because just the right amount of free radicals in the body could actually damage our cells and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Antioxidant vitamins have the power to bring these free radicals under control. They do this by meeting the free radicals’ most basic needs, by giving them the electrons they need to be stable. In result, we end up with a healthy body which is free from all these free radicals that are out to destroy our cells and our overall healthy well-being.

The primary antioxidant vitamins are Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. These antioxidant vitamins actually have the power to act as “stand alone” catalysts for a healthier you therefore free radicals prove to be of no match for them. More importantly, these antioxidant vitamins can actually help us get rid of these free radicals that may eventually cause us our healthy well-being.

Various studies have found that the antioxidant vitamins may offer protection against a variety of cancers. While other studies have associated antioxidant vitamins to helping lower blood pressure. To be able to control the growth of free radicals in our bodies through the help of antioxidant vitamins has actually some added benefits as well, aside from the ability to lower the risks of catching an illness or disease as well as helping to prevent and cure cancer, antioxidant vitamins will also help regulate the “signs of aging” in a person by helping one to stay radiant and youthful-looking.

Antioxidant vitamins clearly has a lot of benefits, from helping prevent cancer, diabetes and heart diseases, antioxidant vitamins is an important part of our daily nutritional intake and must always be kept at its prescribed levels in order to keep illnesses and diseases at bay. Dietary supplements actually offer a safe and convenient means of meeting the suggested daily intake of antioxidant vitamins as prescribed by your doctor. Always remember to do everything in moderation so as to be able to maintain a healthy well-being. An excess of antioxidant vitamins (or of anything for that matter) cannot be good for anyone’s health. The chemical balance that allows the body to stay in tip, top shape can be seriously disrupted when antioxidant vitamins as well as other nutrient supplements are taken in at dangerous levels. Seek out the advice of a licensed nutritionist or your family physician in order to be properly guided on the correct dosage that’s most suitable to your individual dietary needs and health goals.

by Charlene J. Nuble

Add a Lean, Muscular Body to the List of Benefits!

2008-12-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

by Michael Geary

The Green Tea claim to also Contain Antioxidants

2008-11-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

About the Green Tea Antioxidant

by Colin Holcomb

Antioxidants

2008-11-08T13:23:00.001-08:00

Popularly called ' red tea ', the plant is far from the color red, it is actually green. The red color only appears after the oxidation or fermentation process of tea making.

Rooibos tea or red tea does not contain caffeine making it suitable even for children. No sugar may be added because it is naturally sweet.

Rooibos tea is ideal for people who are prone to kidney stones since it does not contain oxalic acid.

Compared to black tea and green tea, the tannin content of rooibos is relatively small making your body absorb more iron and other minerals and does not disrupt proper digestion.

Allergies such as eczema, asthma and hay fever can be treated by drinking rooibos tea.

Free radicals are the starting point of potential oxidative damage to your cells. The antioxidants in rooibos tea can neutralize these free radicals before doing any damage.

If you want to consider rooibos tea as part of your healthy diet, you can find many products which can be purchased online.

by Jess Ba-ad

L - Glutathione, The Wonder Antioxidant

2008-11-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

by Barrett Niehus

Antioxidants May Prevent Childhood Asthma

2008-11-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

A source suggests that there may be a new way to help children who are subjected to the dangers of second hand tobacco smoke.

It has become apparent that childhood asthma could be prevented with the help of antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and Selenium. This is especially true in cases involving children who are exposed to cigarette smoke.

Researchers in a 2004 study looked at data collected from a sample of 6153 four to sixteen year old children. It was discovered that dietary supplementation of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and Selenium caused a 10% to 20% overall reduction in asthma prevalence.

A likely reason for this is the high levels of serum that are contained in these highly effective antioxidant substances.

The most surprising part of the study, however, was that the effect was considerably much more pronounced in cases where the children were exposed to environmental second hand tobacco smoke. In these cases, supplementation was associated with an enormous 50% reduction in asthma prevalence.

These results seem to indicate that supplementing your child's diet with Selenium, as well as with vitamin C and beta-carotene is an excellent way to protect them against the damaging effects that second hand smoke can have on their growing lungs.

by Jeremy Maddock

Antioxidants and Your Health

2008-11-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home and neutralize free radical oxidation, which is rusting away your body, by eating a variety of foods high in antioxidants every day.

Why ? Antioxidants, as the name implies, help prevent oxidation, may help increase immune function and possibly decrease risk of infection and cancer.

A few of the better known antioxidants include carotenoids the substance that gives fruits and vegetables their deep rich colors. Apricots, broccoli, pumpkin, cantaloupes, spinach and sweet potatoes, are some good choices in addition to lycopene in tomatoes. Vitamin C and E are also good antioxidants.

What's a Free Radical Anyways ?

As cells function normally in the body, they produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals steal parts from other molecules such as fat, protein, or DNA, thereby spreading the damage.

This damage continues in a chain reaction, and entire cells soon become damaged and die. This process is useful because it helps the body destroy cells that have outlived their usefulness and kills germs and parasites. However, this damage, when left unchecked, also destroys or damages healthy cells.

Antioxidants help prevent widespread cellular destruction by willingly donating their parts to stabilize free radicals. More importantly, antioxidants return to the surface of the cell to stabilize rather than damage other cellular components.

When there are not enough antioxidants to hold cell destruction in check, free radicals begin damaging healthy cells which, in turn, can lead to problems. For example, free radical damage to immune cells can lead to an increased risk of infections.

Your body needs to be able to repair this damage that occurs and protect itself from the free radicals before they impact your overall health. This is where antioxidants come to the rescue, because they significantly delay, inhibit, or prevent oxidation.

Your first line of defence is a natural diet full of a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. For all those times when your diet isn't perfect, make sure you have a safety net in place. Think of antioxidants as Rustoleum for your insides! and be sure to have a supplement in your medicine cabinet.

by Glenn Beach

Your Best Defense Against Disease and Aging

2008-11-08T13:06:00.002-08:00

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.

by Brad Bahr

Your Body's Garbage Collector

2008-11-08T13:01:00.002-08:00

Are you making the mistake of not eating enough antioxidants in your diet? I mean really, what is the harm? What, that is, aside from early aging, heart disease, cancer, and a host of other illnesses.

As someone who is concerned about your health, you should be very much aware of the foods you put into your body. But how many of us actually are?

If your health strategy is simply to eat what you want and hope for the best, you may be planting the seeds of your own future illnesses.

Antioxidants help to fight free radicals. But what are free radicals and why are they so harmful to your body? And why does your body need protection against them?

A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. Because it has a free electron, it is highly reactive and very susceptible to oxidation.

Just think of how an exposed apple or potato turns brown when left uncovered. This is caused by oxidation. Well, this is what free radicals are doing to the inside of your body.

Free radicals are not useful as cells to the body. Instead, they steal nutrients from healthy cells - starving them. When healthy cells starve, they deteriorate, and in the process, weaken the body's immune defenses. This is why your body needs to rid itself of them as soon as possible.

Free radicals occur in our bodies every minute of the day. But environment has an effect also. The more you are in contact with toxic environments such as cigarette smoke, radioactivity, smog, pollution, and so on, the more free radicals your body will absorb.

So how can you slow the free radical onslaught against your body? The key is antioxidants.

Normally, a healthy body full of antioxidants, is capable of handling free radicals easily. But if your body is under physical or mental stress, your body's natural defense system may simply not have enough antioxidants available to fight the free radicals.

Antioxidants are believed to help protect the body from free-radical damage by interacting with free radicals in the body and short circuiting their harmful actions. They're scavengers, or garbage collectors. They help to rid your blood vessels and cells of radical cells that would harm you.

Clearly, with all the evidence so far, no reasonable person could ignore the wealth of evidence pointing to the importance of antioxidants.

Although, not conclusive, high antioxidants levels have lent to conclusions that they can slow aging, prevent heart attacks and strokes,

The best way to ensure that your body is loaded with enough antioxidants is to eat the recommended five to eight serving of fruits and vegetables a day. Especially, those with high levels of vitamins E, A, and C.

But, really, how many of us do that? The only people I know doing that are hard core vegetarians.

Therefore, even though, it may not be the best choice, you should seriously consider making nutrient supplements a part of your every day dietary routine.

Taking vitamins or supplements daily that contain antioxidants are a good way to maintain cellular health.

by Jim Allen

Recommendations for proper amounts of ingestion are through antioxidant supplements including OPC's, vitamin E and vitamin C

2008-11-08T13:01:00.001-08:00

Recent studies, including the study on wine, point to antioxidants for Alzheimer and Dementia risk reduction.

Eat a diet high in antioxidants
Eat fish
Take vitamin E
Take B vitamins
Take folic acid
Be mentally and physically active throughout life
Avoid head injuries

by Aaron Cummings

Why Do Liquid Vitamins Contain Antioxidants ?

2008-11-08T12:45:00.002-08:00

Vitamins offer many health benefits. Many only think they need to take a good vitamin supplement because their mother said so. However, vitamin supplements offer antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin A. These antioxidants combat reactive oxygen intermediates (free radicals). In order for us to understand why it is important to take a vitamin supplement rich in antioxidants, we need to understand free radicals.

Most recall the widely recognized chlorofluorocarbons which were free radicals produced by solar radiation that caused depletion of the ozone layer. This is probably the most familiar free radical that jogs the memory. However, free radicals have been linked to several diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis to name a few. But what are free radicals ?

Free radicals are simply atoms or groups of atoms with unpaired electrons in the outer (valence) shell. Why is this so deadly? Most atoms want to attain a stable outer shell. In order to be stable, free radicals must obtain an electron so that the electrons are paired. Because the outer shell contains unpaired electrons, free radicals are extremely reactive.

In our bodies, free radicals will oxidize the nearest molecule taking the needed electron. The oxidized molecule will then become a free radical, beginning a chain reaction. This chain reaction will continue until resulting in the disruption of a living cell. Free radicals can attack lipids (fats), proteins, carbohydrates, and DNA. However, DNA is a prime target. DNA and free radical interactions usually result in mutations that adversely affect the cell cycle and potentially lead to malignancy. In fact, researchers believe this is how many forms of cancer arise. Why should you take an antioxidant?

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from damaging oxidation reactions. The antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals and prevent the damage of vital molecules. Antioxidants are able to neutralize the free radical chain reaction by reacting with the free radical. In order to stop the chain reaction, the antioxidant donates the needed electron. The antioxidants also do not become a free radical by donating the electron, safely ending the chain reaction. The antioxidants are able to do this because they are stable in either form.

Free radicals can be very harmful for the body. Most focus on the harmful affects of free radicals and sources of damaging free radicals; pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides. However, some free radicals can be useful to our bodies and environment. Free radicals are required in polymerization reactions to create useful plastics. The body uses free radicals in the immune system (neutrophils). The body also uses free radicals for cell signaling processes.

Regardless of good free radicals, protection against harmful free radicals is extremely important to good health. The most important antioxidants are vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and vitamin E (alpha tocopherol). The body does not produce these essential vitamins, so they must be provided in the diet.

The invisible war against harmful free radical damage affects the world. The antioxidant remedy can easily be supplemented with a vitamin supplement fortified with antioxidants. Cancer may not be curable but it can be prevented if antioxidants are allowed to intervene.

by Kristy Haugen

Can Antioxidants Help You Build Muscle ?

2008-11-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

Many people these days take antioxidants to counter the detrimental effect of free radicals. Antioxidants mopped up free radicals and convert them into harmless substances. Free radicals are known to cause body cell decomposition and therefore are the main culprit in our aging process. Free radicals are linked to aging diseases such as cancer and heart problems besides making us age more quickly. Since free radicals cause our cells to decompose, then free radicals will also degenerate our muscle cells.

Staying clear of situations that cause a surge of free radicals to surge is one way of prevention and taking antioxidants as a supplementation is another. There are many situations that will increase free radical activities such as sun burn, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, pollution, exercise workout amongst others. Yes, we get a surge of free radicals when we exercise especially intensive exercises because we are putting our bodies under tremendous stress when we exercise. These muscle destroying activities will continue for hours and even days depending how intensive your exercises are.

This is where antioxidants supplementing comes in. Since antioxidants neutralize free radicals, it helps your muscles to recover faster and stop the ravaging effects of free radicals on your muscle and thus allowing better muscle growth.

So if you want your muscles to recover faster and want to grow bigger muscles after your workouts, supplementation with antioxidants may help. There are many antioxidants supplements in the market. Vitamin A, C and E are perhaps the better known free radical fighters out there. Some other excellent free radical scavengers are Green Tea extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Beta Carotene etc.

So our mums although may not have known about antioxidants and its effect of free radicals on our body was right when they insisted that we take our vitamins. Do protect your muscles and general health with antioxidants.

by Chris Chew

Destructive Scavengers and the Vital Role Antioxidants Play

2008-11-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, it was all over the news. Free radicals were damaging - we all had them, and antioxidants were the solution. But what role really do free radicals play in damaging the body, and how are we supposed to best get rid of them? How do antioxidants work and what is the best way of adding them to our diet?

24 hours a day, while the body is constantly working, cells are metabolizing and creating energy as they carry out their tasks. This natural process results in free radicals, the same way driving to work in your car creates exhaust fumes. Some free radicals are natural byproducts of the ongoing workings of the body. Some are from environmental factors, such as pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke.

A free radical is simply a molecule that is missing an electron. As soon as a molecule loses one of its attached electrons, it becomes unstable and seeks to re-stabilize itself by stealing an electron from the nearest molecule. This causes the attacked molecule to then become a free radical, and starts a chain reaction. Ultimately as the process continues this can lead to cell damage.

Free radicals become extremely damaging to the body as they steal electrons from your cells. They begin to spread like a wildfire through the years if your body does not have enough antioxidants to keep them in check. They can attack cell walls, get inside the cell, and cause damage to the DNA. This leads to cancer. Cancer is defined as a degenerative stress condition, and we can understand this better when we understand the role free radicals play.

The brain is the most active part of the body. It uses the most energy, and therefore is subject to bombardment with the most free radicals. The significance of this is not only that we feel negative effects in our mind - such as feeling tired and muddled - but also because brain is very important in its control of so many of the vital workings of our bodies.

When a free radical attacks, it can get into the cell and cause the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, to die or cease to function fully. This can disrupt one of a multitude of processes. A dead or poorly functioning mitochondria in a cell can disrupt or slow down neuronal firing. Mental illness is largely due to imbalances in the neuronal processes of our natural brain chemistry. A poorly working or dead mitochondria can prevent certain natural functions from working, causing symptoms like hormonal imbalance.

Untreated, the damage from free radicals accumulates with age. They are the cause of many degenerative diseases, and are associated with many of the signs of the aging process.

Antioxidants are molecules loaded with extra free electrons. When we have enough antioxidants the free radicals get their electrons from the antioxidants in our body, rather than stealing them from our cells.

The body is naturally built to handle free radicals. Antioxidants are found in the vitamins A, C and E in the fruits and vegetables we eat. However even eating the 5-8 recommended servings a day, or using supplements still often does not do enough to combat the massive free radical damage.

Antioxidants from Vitamins E, C, and A actually pale in comparison to the phytonutrient antioxidants such as those found in red wine and blueberries. This is the reason for the French paradox, why it is being recommended to drink wine, eat chocolate, and drink green tea. They provide better sources of antioxidants.

There is an even better source : the newly discovered acai berry, of the Brazilian rainforest. It provides antioxidants in strengths 33 times more powerful than red wine. It floods the body with massive amounts of antioxidants and other essential nutrients. The acai berry is the number one ingredient for anti-aging recommended by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, in his book the Perricone Promise.

The acai berry can be best added to the diet in liquid form. A small dose of several ounces daily will flood the body with the vital antioxidants it needs. The acai berry is the best way to add to your diet the most powerful antioxidants combating free radical damage.

by Carina MacInnes

How Are Antioxidants Linked to Anti-Aging ?

2008-11-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Free Radical Theory of Aging was published by Denman Harman in 1956. He theorized that aging is a result of free radical damage of the cells of the body. This is also called oxidative stress.

The study also found that higher blood levels of antioxidant Vitamins C and E were associated with less disability, and signs of free radical damage were associated with more disability.

What the evidence is telling us is that it is crucial we take antioxidants and free radicals very seriously if we want to ‘age gracefully’ and avoid the many pitfalls of ‘unsuccessful aging’.

Even young people can be victims of unsuccessful aging, if they are not providing their bodies with the necessary balance of having have enough dietary antioxidants to fight off the free radicals.

In our modern culture, many of us are guilty of not getting adequate nutrition. It’s ironic, when we are the richest we have ever been that we should be feeding our bodies so poorly.

Use antioxidants wisely to age successfully. Maybe like the fruit fly, you too can live 30% longer.

by Carina MacInnes

How Smoking Cause Wrinkles

2008-11-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, you know by now that smoking is bad for you. Smoking cigarettes causes cancer, emphysema, and a whole host of chronic health problems. In addition, it's smelly and unattractive. But did you know that smoking could age your skin dramatically? Studies show that exposure to cigarette smoke is a leading factor in aging skin. Wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles under the eyes, sagging skin; all are results of exposure to the ravages of cigarette smoke.

Cigarette smoke, like other pollutants, damages the skin in part because it leads to the production of free radicals. These are unstable molecules that attack healthy cells. While they cause damage throughout our bodies, their ravages are most visible in the skin. When healthy cells are attacked, the skin appears dull, dry and blotchy.

Toxins really take their toll on skin. Modern anti-aging research shows that keeping the toxins out of our bodies leads to firmer skin with a more even tone. Reducing the amount of pollution and toxins will be reflected in your face. Even if you are not a smoker yourself, the presence of smoke in your environment is a real concern. We know that second-hand smoke causes health problems. It also causes aging in the skin.

Smoking reduces the levels of collagen in the skin. Collagen has been called the building block of our bodies. It is a protein, which acts as the glue that holds everything together. It is responsible for both elasticity and smoothness in the skin. Over time, collagen begins to break down, and the body has a harder time producing more. Wrinkles and sagging skin are the result. Cigarette causes collagen to degrade even more quickly, prematurely aging the skin.

Finally, smoking reduces circulation. This has two effects. A smoker's skin is actually thinner than that of non-smokers. Thin skin is far more susceptible to wrinkles, age spots, dark circles, and other signs of aging. And lack of circulation means that less oxygen is flowing to the skin cells. Oxygen is a necessary ingredient in healthy skin.

Fortunately, quitting can make a real difference in the appearance of your skin. And using a quality anti-aging skin formula can help repair the damage. Some skin creams use a cutting-edge product which can visibly reduce fine lines, firm the skin, and provide the moisture needed to keep your face looking young and healthy. They are also full of top-quality antioxidants, key ingredients in fighting the damage caused by smoke exposure.

By James Schramko

Antioxidants Increase Sexual Pleasure

2008-11-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

We often read or hear news reports about antioxidants and how they can improve our health, yet we rarely hear about the role they play in the pleasure we obtain from sex and intimacy.

by Chris Robertson

Combating Aging and Disease

2008-11-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

Before examining antioxidants more closely, it is important to take a look at the free radicals they serve to neutralize.

Free Radicals

As well as generated within the body, free radicals come from environmental sources such as pollution, radiation, unhealthy foods, bacteria, viruses, cigarette smoke and UV light.

Antioxidants

Antioxidant Rich Foods

Foods especially high in antioxidants include berries, plums, pomegranates, oranges, spinach, green tea, avocado, kale, broccoli, peas, onions, grapes and pure chocolate.

Antioxidants and Aging

by Sylvia Riley

Fight Free Radical Damage with Antioxidants

2008-11-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

Antioxidants are a class of nutrients that protect the body from damage caused by different factors, most importantly oxidative damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals are known as “reactive oxygen species”, or ROS. They are produced when your body uses oxygen for energy. Just as fire emits smoke as a by-product, ROS are emitted from the conversion of oxygen to energy in the human body, eventually causing oxidative damage to body systems. Free radicals are also created when the body is exposed to pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust and other harmful environmental toxins.

There are different types of antioxidants, and most work better when paired with other antioxidants. This is called synergism. Vitamins can be antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. The tripeptide glutathione, loosely classified as an amino acid, acts as an antioxidant, along with other true amino acids such as methionine. The raw herbs and vegetables we consume contain natural antioxidants called bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are effective antioxidants on their own, but are more effective when synergistically combined with other antioxidants. Together these nutrients protect your cells from electron robbery at the hands of larcenous free radicals, protecting the body from disease and slowing the inevitable signs of aging.

Antioxidants are important supplements for everyone, but especially for those who exercise on a regular basis. The rational is that exercise is a highly oxidative process and, as a consequence, produces free radicals from aerobic metabolism. Antioxidant compounds help alleviate this process.

Benefits :

• minimizes the damage from free radicals

• protects against cell damage

• may assist with prevention of debilitating diseases

by Chester Ku-Lea