See Slower Aging With Antioxidants
It seems that since the launch of time people have been searching for the mysterious fountain of youth. As we get older we all want to seem and feel younger and continue the young at heart vitality that we grew up with. Could it be that the fountain of youth has been with us forever and we just didn’t appreciate it?
Science has found that the bulk of age-related degeneration along with most diseases and other disorders are caused by free radicals. Free radicals are exceedingly unstable molecules that have an unpaired electron. They are caused by oxidative processes within our body. Most every physical function requires oxygen but what happens is the oxygen molecule is often compromised by environmental pollutants, cigarette smoke and even digestion and other organic processes. When the oxygen molecule loses an electron it will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from another molecule. This creates the free radical.
A free radical is an unpaired oxygen molecule. They are greatly unstable and in surplus they can produce many problems within our bodies. While the fact is that we cannot steer clear of free radicals and we in point of fact need some of them for our bodily functions, when we have too many of them they become destructive to our cells and they add to many disorders including grave diseases and the problems of aging decline.
But nature has provided a way out for us. Antioxidants are strong nutrients that are found in the healthiest foods in nature. Antioxidants come into our bodies and they donate the absent electron to the free radical thereby stabilizing it and preventing additional damage. That is why a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy foods is a fountain of youth. Foods high in antioxidants alleviate free radical damage in our bodies. Antioxidants reduce the amount of free radicals in our bodies and therefore contribute greatly to the strong, vibrant youth that we long to retain.
The prevention of free radical damage by antioxidants is an constant course. In fact even more free radicals are created as the others are being neutralized. Thus antioxidants must be repetitively replaced inside our bodies. We need to eat a beneficial food intake on a on a daily basis basis. It has been confirmed that the safest and most useful means to acquire antioxidants is through diet. Ideally, 8 to 10 fruits and vegetables should be consumed each day but a minimum of 5 is suggested.
The antioxidant capacity of foods is calculated by what is called the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity or ORAC. The ORAC is a number that corresponds with the antioxidants in that food. The highest ORAC scores belong to foods such as spinach, oranges and most berries, including blueberries, cranberries and the acai berry. The acai berry in fact has one of the highest ORAC’s ever found on Earth.
The highest benefits of antioxidants come from the synergy of the unique nutrients working in concert. That is why it is prudent to consume a considerable range of healthy foods. One separate antioxidant will not offer the benefit that it will when combined with the other nutrients. That is one reason why it is better to get your antioxidants from groceries rather than supplements.
The elusive fountain of youth has been with us forever. We just didn’t comprehend it. Age related decline along with a number of diseases and disorders can all be prevented and even stopped by the intake of a large variety of healthy antioxidants in your diet.
