It is an often overlooked piece of knowledge that most fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that have the ability to fight off free radicals which are produced by some elements within your body. Antioxidants can come from a number of sources including foods such as berries, wine and beer, vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, leafy greens and peppers, fruits such as grapes and pears and processed meats including bacon, sausage and hot dogs.
Antioxidants are very beneficial for your health because they boost the production of good cholesterol that lowers cholesterol levels and prevents heart disease. In addition to being beneficial to your health, antioxidants can help slow the aging process and repair damage done to your cells by free radicals. Antioxidants can be found in your everyday foods such as fruits, vegetables and other foods but you can also get them from health supplements as well.
Antioxidants can be found in a wide variety of foods and the best source of antioxidants for a balanced diet is from vegetables, fruits, fish and meat although there are many herbal extracts and vitamins available as well. The easiest way to get your daily dose of antioxidants is by eating fresh green tea and drinking plenty of water. The polyphenols in green tea and other types of green teas have been linked to lower blood pressure and boosting the immune system. The polyphenols are also said to improve brain function and reduce the risk of cataracts. The antioxidant benefits of these foods are most powerful when they are consumed together or in large amounts.
Oxidative stress is a common cause of cancer. Oxidative stress occurs when the body is attacked by free radicals and healthy cells are affected. Free radicals are unstable molecules that have incomplete electron shells. Antioxidants combat the free radicals so that they do not damage the healthy cells.
The easiest way to get plenty of antioxidants is to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. The fruits that contain the most antioxidants are apples, oranges, cabbage and blueberries. Some of the other more colorful fruits and vegetables include lettuce, kiwi, orange, grapefruit, papaya, strawberries and raspberries. You should also try to incorporate fish into your diet as this can also provide you with many different types of nutrients including omega 3 fatty acids which have been proven to reduce the risks of cardiac disease and certain cancers. There are plenty of vegetable oils that are very good antioxidants also including olive oil and canola oil.
If you want to lower the chances of developing heart disease or some forms of cancer then you should try to limit your intake of fried foods and those that contain a lot of trans fats. If you have poor immune system then antioxidant supplements such as vitamin C and vitamin E may help improve your immune system. Omega 3 fatty acids have been proven to boost the immune system and fight off some types of degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and arthritis so you want to make sure you take a daily supplement.
Oxidative stress is the biggest cause of cellular aging and age-related macular degeneration. This is why antioxidant supplements can help you to prevent the development of these diseases. It has been proven that taking antioxidant supplements after a major trauma like stroke can dramatically slow the development of these disorders. In addition to that, it can also prevent the development of heart disease and many forms of cancer.
We all know that fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of antioxidants but not everyone knows that they can actually take these vitamins orally in the form of supplements. The best way to increase your intake of antioxidants is to eat foods such as spinach, broccoli, kale, sweet potatoes and peppers. You should also consider taking multi-vitamins that contain a wide range of different vitamins including vitamin e, vitamin c, beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, and vitamin h.
If you want to find out more information on how you can improve your immune function and prevent or reduce the risk of many types of diseases, I strongly urge you to try adding more foods that are high in antioxidants to your diet. There is no point in starving yourself; instead, you should eat foods that are rich in antioxidants and you will see the results very quickly. The easiest way to start improving your immune system is by choosing foods that are free of harmful free radicals. Once you learn more about the role antioxidants play in optimum health, you’ll be able to take advantage of the many benefits that they provide.