Antioxidants are substances which protect Cells of your body from the harmful effects of free radicals. Free radicals are highly unstable compounds, which are formed as a product of your natural metabolism as well as due to environmental factors such as pollution, pesticides and radiation. Cigarette smoking also releases harmful free radicals in your body.
|  | Free radicals can easily react with the Cells of your body, causing chain reactions and damage your Cells leading to certain diseases like cancer, heart disease and Diabetes. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals thereby preventing cellular damage.
| Antioxidants are substances which protect Cells of your body from the harmful effects of free radicals. Free radicals are highly unstable compounds, which are formed as a product of your natural metabolism as well as due to environmental factors such as pollution, pesticides and radiation.
Cigarette smoking also releases harmful free radicals in your body. Free radicals can easily react with the Cells of your body, causing chain reactions and damage your Cells leading to certain diseases like cancer, heart disease and Diabetes. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals thereby preventing cellular damage.
| | | Benefits of antioxidants | | Reduce the risk of cancer. They also slow or prevent the development of cancer. | | Help prevent Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke. | | Make skin healthy and help prevent premature aging of skin. | Protect eyes from UV rays and help prevent eye diseases like cataract. | Strengthen the immune syste | | |
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Where you will find antioxidants?
Antioxidants are found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. Plant foods are also rich in antioxidants. Some of the common antioxidants are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C. | | Beta-carotene
It is found in foods that are orange, green and yellow in color. Oranges, carrots, pumpkin, mango, sweet potatoes, squash, papaya, mustard leaves, apricots, broccoli and spinach are rich in beta-carotene.
Lutein
Luteins are found in green leafy vegetables like spinach and fenugreek plants and are good for healthy eyes.
| | Lycopene
Red fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, watermelons, figs, pink-grapefruits, apricots and pink-guavas are the most common sources of lycopene. | | Selenium
Selenium is not an antioxidant nutrient but a mineral. Rice, wheat, nuts, and fruit seeds are rich in selenium. Vegetables which are grown in selenium-rich soils can also be good sources of selenium.
Vitamin A
Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots, oranges, mangoes, guava, papaya, milk, yogurt, butter, egg yolks and cheese. | | Types of antioxidants | | Beta-carotene | | Lutein | | Lycopene | | Selenium | | Vitamin A | | Vitamin E | | Vitamin C |
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| Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in almonds and in many oils including wheat germ, sunflower, corn, soybean oils and fish-liver oils. It is also found in mangos, nuts, broccoli and other foods.
Vitamin C
It is a water soluble vitamin and cannot be stored in the body. Hence it has to be taken regularly. Important sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits (e.g. orange, lemon), green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, raw cabbage and potatoes.
| | Finally…
Introduce antioxidant-rich foods into your diet everyday. Take control of your health by reducing the risk of diseases and delaying age-related conditions— begin a journey to a new healthier you. |
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