Antioxidant - Function, Benefits, Sources and Safety

The following was an article posted by Lesley Reid. Thanks Leslie for allowing me the opportunity to repost it here. I think it's a good concise look at the ins and outs of antioxidants.


Thought you would appreciate this info.ANTIOXIDANTS - FUNCTION, BENEFITS, SOURCES AND SAFETYPART I?Antioxidants - What are they??Oxidation is a natural process that happens to all cells in nature, including the cells in your body. Antioxidants provide an important defense against the daily assault of free radicals on healthy cells. This Essentials of Health four-part series will review the function, benefits, sources, and safety of dietary antioxidants.Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital tissues and cells are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin/mineral) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet. In addition, there are literally hundreds of plant derived nutrients (phytonutrients) that act as important antioxidants in the diet. It is impossible to avoid damage by free radicals. Free radicals arise from sources both inside (endogenous) and outside (exogenous) our bodies. Oxidants that develop from processes within our bodies form as a result of normal breathing, metabolism, and inflammation. Exogenous free radicals form from environmental factors such as pollution, sunlight, strenuous exercise, X-rays, smoking and alcohol. Our antioxidant systems are not perfect, so as we age, cell parts damaged by oxidation accumulate.

Superfruits...are they all they are stacked up to be?

Superfruits appear to be the hottest thing in the health market over the last few years. Most of the companies that have experienced significant growth are involved in the superfruit market. Here is a quick article on one with scientifically proven benefits.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=27023

Here's to your health.

What does your score tell you?

First of all I appologize for the lag in posting here. We've spent time preparing, working and then following up on the recent Women's Lifestyle Show in Peoria, IL. Thanks to all of you that stopped by to say hello and get scanned!


So you've got your score, now what? The chart above gives some updated information on what we've learned about scores after the last few years to scanning...

We have also found that those people with scores of 50,000 or above, live an average of 15 years longer than those below. What is 15 years of your life worth? What is it worth to spend an extra 15 years with your family and loved ones? If you don't know your score yet, you owe it to yourself to get scanned. If you do know your score and it isn't above 50,000, your family deserves to have you around and deserves to have you do all you can to extend that time with them. Take a minute to think about it. What is 15 years worth? If there is a solution to help add that 15 years, isn't it worth trying?