Some Super Antioxidant Foods For Your Health
Grow Organic
Every cell in our bodies produces tens of thousands of free radicals every day. A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. Because it has a free electron, it is highly susceptible to oxidation. You have seen how an apple or potato turns brown when exposed to the air. This same process is taking place inside your body, stealing nutrients from healthy cells, weakening the bodys immune system.
A normal, healthy body has enough antioxidants to deal with free radicals easily. However, exposure to toxins such as cigarette smoke, pollution, smog, etc., as well as physical or mental stress, can weaken the immune system to the point where free radicals begin to take over.
In order to slow the invasion of free radicals, we need a diet rich in antioxidants. Heres a list of some of the healthiest foods on the planet. If you can grow them yourself in your organic garden, better yet! The best source of available antioxidants is fresh, wholesome, Organic Food.
Vitamin E is used by the body to protect Vitamin A from oxidation and prevents the breakdown of body tissues. These foods are all rich in vitamin E: Almonds, broccoli, hazelnuts, kiwi, mango, spinach.
Beta-carotene is a precurser to vitamin A, and studies have shown it is effective for the prevention of Alzheimers disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease and cancer. Foods rich in Beta-carotene include broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, egg yolk, peaches and grains.
Vitamin C helps to form collagen, a protein that gives structure to cartilage, bones, muscle and blood vessels. Vitamin C is found in broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, green peppers, papaya and strawberries.
Coenzyme Q10 enhances the immune system, boosts energy, and may help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. You can get Coenzyme Q10 from whole grains, spinach, liver, broccoli and wheat germ.
Selenium is essential, but only in small amounts. It helps to synthesize the Coenzyme Q10 and antibodies. Selenium can be found in dairy products, whole wheat bread, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts and wheat germ.
Sports nutrition and antioxidant nutrition: Studies comparing marathon runners taking glyconutritional sports nutrition supplements were undertaken. The results reported by the Proceedings of the Fisher Institute For Medical Research ( August 2003, vol.3, no.1) demonstrated that antioxidant protection appeared to be powerfully enhanced against free radicals with glyconutritional supplementation. Thus, the body was protected for several days after the marathon run.
However, when glyconutrient support was NOT used, the damaging effects of the free radical burden appeared to remain in the body for about five days. Thus, the subject “consistently excreted higher concentrations of free radical byproducts…” as compared to that of the athletes using glyconutritional supplement.
Antioxidant protection does appear to be (significantly) strengthened with glyconutritional sports nutrition. Such antioxidant protection appears to be of benefit for athletes overall, including training, stress, competition and dietary issues.
The glyconutrional revolution in sports nutrition and therapy is just beginning. More studies are being done. More results are coming in concerning free radicals and the capacity of the glyconutrients to boost antioxidant affect against free radicals.
Sports nutrition is about to see a new revolution…
