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Anti-Oxidants |
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You may have heard about a new miraculous substance called an Antioxidant. In it, scientists believe they have discovered a sort of 'Fountain of Youth'. Actually, antioxidants have been around for a long time. Many of the vitamins we rely upon are antioxidants, like vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene. But there are other less well known antioxidants that are even more potent which are called the Super . |
These Super although not called vitamins because they aren't essential to life, are powerful weapons in our war on disease and aging (Yes, AGING) There are literally hundreds of good scientific studies that show that these Super can do everything from preventing heart disease and cancer to improving vision and enhancing brain function. |
What is happening: |
| Oxidation in the body is a process similar to what happens to metal when it rusts, or to an apple when it turns brown after being cut. And, just as a squeeze of lemon juice stops the oxidation of an apple, so do antioxidants stop the rusting inside our bodies by nasty things called Free Radicals |
The word oxidation come from oxygen, an element that is essential to life, but can be harmful in some forms inside our bodies. A good oxygen molecule has its electrons paired up, making it stable. An unstable or bad oxygen molecule has a missing electron, creating what is termed a Free Radical. These are bad because they go around grabbing onto other cells in their attempt to find another electron and become stable. In doing this, they can cause problems with the workings of the cell to which they attach. Scientists now believe this is what accelerates the aging process. Enough about electrons, etc. |
Free radicals are all around us; in the air we breath, in the food we eat, and even as a natural product of living. In fact, free radicals are used by the immune system to fight off invading bacteria and viruses. They have become a problem because of the polluted environment we live in and our poor diets. |
It is the excessive free radicals, not balanced properly with antioxidants, that do damage. The ideal body, with ideal nutrition, in an ideal environment, would have the ability to counteract the free radicals it produces, and keep them under control. |
Free Radical Sources: |
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