Fighting Disease By Eating Antioxidants In Food

Free radicals are those by-products given off by the daily metabolism process of the body. In addition, free radicals enter the body through the body’s respiratory system. These free radicals are found in polluted air, cigarette smoke, etc. Free radicals in the blood stream have been linked to causing heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer.

Antioxidants are an integral component in fighting free radicals. The function of antioxidants is to negate the destructiveness of free radicals within the blood stream. The only source of antioxidants is in the food we eat and the taking of supplements.

That is why it is critical that we pay attention to our diet to receive the antioxidant in food that we need to combat the free radicals in our system. There are three major food groups that can be eaten which will meet the minimum amount of five portions recommended each day to provide the antioxidants we need. Three major antioxidants in food groups are fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Fruits

Antioxidants in food are one of two major sources in meeting the antioxidant requirements of the body. The other source of getting the minimum requirements of daily antioxidant is through supplements.

The first significant category of food, where antioxidants are replete, is through a daily intake of fruit. The two powerful antioxidant ingredients found in fruit are vitamin C and beta-carotene.

A general rule of thumb, when considering the antioxidants in food, is the deeper the color of the food the richer the level of antioxidants. Therefore, fruits that are deep in color and antioxidants are blueberries, plums, cranberries, blackberries, cherries and apples.

Vegetables

Other significant antioxidants in food group are vegetables. When considering your choice of vegetables, it is again important to think about choosing different colors of vegetables. Colors such as green, orange, red and blue speak to the intensity of antioxidants in food as well as reflecting an assortment of antioxidants from vegetables.

The specific antioxidant ingredients found in vegetables are vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene.

Vegetables of note for their intensity of antioxidants are artichokes and potatoes of the russet variety. In addition, red cabbage, rapini, asparagus and sweet potatoes have significant levels of antioxidants.

Nuts

The final antioxidants in food group that will ensure that you ingest a minimum of five servings a day is the food group of nuts. By snacking on nuts, between meals, the concerned individual can easily reach the amount of antioxidants required to ensure optimum health.

Some of the particular beneficial nuts are walnuts, pistachios and hazelnuts. The benefits of supplying antioxidants to the blood stream are realized as they provide the nutrient of vitamin E.