 |
The Health Benefits of Antioxidants
A recent Harvard Health Newsletter reported on over a dozen studies on 100-year old people, and concluded that, “vitamin-rich blood may both strengthen the immune system of these centenarians and defend them against damage done by free radicals.” Read on for an eye-opening explanation.
Important Information About Free Radicals and the Damage They Cause
What kind of damage? Accelerated aging process and long-term health concerns.
What are free radicals and why does this damage happen? Free radicals are “oxidants”—an oxygen species produced by the body’s own white blood cells to fight infection, environmental toxins, smoking, alcohol abuse, and a host of other external health threats. Cell damage happens because, once the threat is over, legions of free radicals remain in the body, robbing healthy cells of the necessary electrons they need.
The result? Your body is open to widespread cellular changes that leave you susceptible to degenerative diseases that speed up the aging process.
What fights free radicals? Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, leaving them harmless. Antioxidants occur naturally in vitamins and minerals in natural, unprocessed foods, and also in many of nature’s herbs. However, because of the typical Western diet, most people do not get enough antioxidants from daily food intake. For example, you would have to eat 12 carrots, one whole head of broccoli, and 7 oranges each day, just to get the protection of 15 mg. of beta-carotene, 400 IUs of vitamin E, and 1000 mg. of vitamin C - safe levels of antioxidant protection for most adults.
Fortify your natural defenses and help reduce the risks of major health problems by adding the following antioxidant nutrients to your day, in addition to your regular multi-vitamin. Here are nutrients that score top marks for maximum health protection:
Vitamins & Minerals
Remember, a Comprehensive Multi-vitamin-Multi-mineral needs to be first on your list. It gives you the nutritional basics every day. Look for multis tailored to special needs, like those for men, women, or seniors.
- B-Complex Vitamins B-6 and B-12. Be sure you add vitamins B-6, B-9 (folic acid), and B-12 (especially if you are a vegetarian.)
- Vitamin C is the most well-known antioxidant vitamin. 180 to 1,000 milligrams a day is strong protection for health. Try the non-acid ascorbic form if it bothers your stomach.
- Coenzyme Q10 is known as the “anti-aging” nutrient. It declines drastically over age 50, so replace it each day or the youthful protection you once had naturally.
- Vitamin E is an absolute must for health at every level of cellular interaction. Try over 400 milligrams per day, for top antioxidant protection.
- Zinc and Selenium are proven heart-protective minerals everyone needs.
Herbs that are Super-Antioxidants
- Green Tea is rich in EGCG, a substance that appears to prevent formation of some free radicals, maintain cholesterol levels already in the healthy range, and regenerate vitamin E in the body.
- Grapeseed Extract with proanthocyanidins is reported to be about twice as powerful an antioxidant as vitamin E, and as much as four times stronger than vitamin C.
Synergy - that is, the action of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts - applies to all the nutrients on this Simple Solutions list. For example, the four herbs above have been found to be extra powerful in fighting free-radical damage, because each attacks and neutralizes a different free radical. All of the nutrients on this list have been, and continue to be, researched by the scientific community worldwide. Get a jump on science and live better with simple solutions for better health.