The Antioxidant Advantage

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Posted by Erika Pitera on May 26, 2007

The Antioxidant Advantage Photo courtesy of Thomas Pitera Photography

You've probably heard much talk in recent years about the benefits of adding antioxidant-rich foods to your diet. In the course of normal living, millions of chemical processes occur in our bodies each day.

All of these involve oxygen and some can create oxidant substances. These substances, more commonly known as free radicals, can cause cell damage and ultimately lead to disease.

The good news is that the human body has its own biochemical mechanisms for neutralizing the damaging effects of these free radicals.

The bad news is that the exposure to a myriad of outside factors including pollution, unhealthy foods and chemical additives, cigarette smoke, pesticides, etc. create more free radicals than our bodily mechanisms can handle.

Thankfully, we can help our bodies by introducing foods that contain antioxidants to assist the neutralization process.

Antioxidants are natural substances found in foods that can neutralize free radicals and also help to repair cells that have already sustained damage.

Because the health benefits of antioxidants have been scientifically proven over the last few years, it makes perfect sense to give them serious consideration when planning your meals.

Experts recommend getting antioxidants from foods rather than supplements because foods offer more variety and are more readily absorbed by the body.

To help you with your nutritional needs, we've provided you with a list of common fruits and vegetables that will help you add an "antioxidant advantage" to your diet.

*A food's antioxidant properties are measured by a system called ORAC (oxygen radical absorbancy capacity).

Source: USDA Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 2000.

The Antioxidant Advantage