Antioxidants are a group of nutrients found in food that are known to avert or slow the effects of oxidative destruction in our bodies. Processes in our bodies that utilize oxygen cause oxidative damage. While oxygen is necessary for life when our bodies cells use oxygen free radicals are created. Free radicals are a molecule that is lacking one or more electrons. Free radicals are exceedingly unstable and can cause many problems within our bodies.
Antioxidants essentially come in and give the missing electron to the free radical thus stabilizing it and preventing added damage. Antioxidants are opulent in many of the foods found in nature and including high antioxidant foods can help us to prevent many of the tribulations of aging and thwart diseases such as heart and cardiovascular disease and cancers by strengthening our own immune system.
Some of the uppermost antioxidant foods are the berries. Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries and even grapes and cherries are all high in antioxidants. The ORAC or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is how antioxidant activity in food is calculated. All berries have a high ORAC level but the food with the highest ORAC level is actually the acai berry. There are a few things with a higher ORAC level including ground cinnamon and cloves but as far as genuine food the acai berry surpasses all.
Other fruits that have high ORAC levels are the citrus fruits, like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes and the tropical fruits such as kiwi, mango and papaya. Pears, peaches, plums, apricots and apples are also outstanding sources.
Many of the widespread vegetables are enormously high in antioxidants. Spinach, Kale, Swiss chard, dandelion greens and other greens are excellent, along with the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
Pumpkins and most other orange foods are high in beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is changed to vitamin A in our bodies. Beta-carotene is best provided by diet, as supplements of this nutrient have been known to trigger troubles, especially in smokers. Most of the orange foods, such as pumpkins, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash give a liberal total.
The finest means to get your antioxidants is through ingestion of a multicolored diet. It is the intensely colored foods from nature that provide the most antioxidants. Rich purples and reds from the berries, oranges from the pumpkins and carrots, and greens from the spinach, kale and cruciferous vegetables and reds from tomatoes and watermelon. Any whole food that is a deep color is probably laden with essential antioxidants.
Research continues on antioxidants but it is showing more and more advantages for our wellbeing. Superior immune function can inhibit disease like cancers and heart disease and also stop common ailments associated with aging such as macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.
Acai berries provide necessary nutrition our bodies need to lose fat. For more information about acai side effects stop by my blog at http://acaiwow.com
