Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Antioxidants Benefits

Health Article

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are an important supplement to anyone's diet because they prevent the bodily damage caused by free radicals. Fortunately, antioxidants protect against free radical damage. They offer a powerful nutritional tool to prevent illness and even slow down aging.


Natural Sources of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are found in cereals, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish or they can be taken in the form of dietary supplements. There is some research suggesting that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and cereals has additional benefits, because of lesser-known but potent antioxidants in food that may have a combined effect greater than that of any single nutrient or individual antioxidant supplement.


Vitamin C Antioxidant Vitamin
Also called ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin found in all body fluids, so it may be one of our first lines of defense. It works along with vitamin E, a fat-soluble natural antioxidant, and the enzyme glutathione peroxidase to stop free radical chain reactions.


Vitamin E Antioxidant Vitamin
A fat-soluble vitamin that can be stored with fat in the liver and other tissues, vitamin E is promoted for a range of purposes from delaying aging to healing sunburn. Vitamin E exists in eight different forms. Each form has its own biological activity, the measure of potency or functional use in the body. Alpha-tocopherol is the most active form of vitamin E in humans, and is a powerful biological antioxidants.


Selenium Antioxidant Vitamin
Selenium is an essential trace mineral in the human body. This nutrient is an important part of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant vitamins that protect cells against the effects of free radicals that are produced during normal oxygen metabolism. The body has developed defenses such as antioxidants to control levels of free radicals because they can damage cells and contribute to the development of some chronic diseases.

More Detail About Antioxidants