Last 
month’s article was on the importance of our health in relation to sculpting the physique of our dreams. I thought I would continue down that path and talk about free radicals and antioxidants. For those that are not familiar with free radicals they are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. Some of these molecules are very unstable and looking to bond with other molecules destroying their health and further continuing the damaging process. Not all radicals have a negative consequence in the body, but for the purpose of this article we will focus on just the negative consequences of free radicals and how to combat them.
There are five different forms of free radicals:
1. Peroxyl radical (major cause of disease)
2. Hydroxyl radical (most dangerous of the free radicals)
3. Superoxide radical (damages blood vessels)
4. Peroxynitrite anion (damaging to skin and causes joint inflammation)
5. Singlet oxygen (generated by UV light and causes cell damage)
The molecules are unstable. They do not have an even number of electrons and they search and then steal an extra electron to become stable. Free radicals float around until they stabilize and there are a wide variety of molecules from which they can take an electron. The damage doesn't stop there, now the new molecule is also missing an electron and has become another free radical. This snowball effect can wreak havoc on healthy tissue. We create 7 trillion of these free radicals every second.
So on to the good news, antioxidants! Antioxidants fight free radicals. So where do we get antioxidants? Luckily we can get these from foods such as fruits and vegetables. To help our bodies get powerful nutrients, we would need to eat at least 5-10 antioxidant-rich foods daily. Foods such as pomegranates, grapes, berries, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage contain naturally occurring antioxidants. Here are some “super fruits” that are high in antioxidants to help fight cell damage and oxidation.
Maqui Berry—native to the rainforests of Chile, it contains polyphenols that help protect the body against aging and also help protect human cells from damage and oxidation. Maqui berry is considered the most powerful antioxidant in the world. It contains more antioxidants than açai berry, mangosteen and red wine.
Capros® Extract—patented and clinically tested form of Indian gooseberry used in Indian Ayurvedic remedies. Capros® provides greater and longer-lasting protection
against oxidative stress by eliminating iron and copper induced oxidative stress on the body and skin.
Pomegranate Extract—has high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols with potent antioxidants that may support a healthy cardiovascular system. In ancient cultures, pomegranate was a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life!
Baobab Extract—hails from South Africa and is very rich in vitamin C. It also has prebiotic properties and may promote healthy intestinal microflora.
Açai Extract—comes from the açai plant found in the Brazilian rainforest. It was used by the people of the Amazon as a protective boost during battles. Today, this antioxidant is used to support mental focus, fight stress, combat tiredness and protect cell membranes from free radicals.
Apple Extract—for added energy, maintaining a healthy weight, and supports glowing skin. Whether you run, cycle or engage in any high-intensity sport, exercise fatigue can
limit your performance. You’ve probably heard the old saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples can help do more than keep the doctor away—they can
help you fight off exercise fatigue as well.
Black Currant Extract—according to recent research from eight clinical trials, this superfruit proved to support healthy blood flow, support muscles, support the body’s response to inflammation and support eye and kidney function.
Grape Seed Extract—contains bioflavonoids that may support and protect cell membranes from oxidative stress. It also may help contribute to a healthy heart and
provide other health benefits.
Rooibos Extract—contains 50% more antioxidants than green tea and contains 19 different antioxidants. It may help the body absorb iron and support the body after
strenuous exercise.
Due to the nature of our diets it is difficult to get all the antioxidants that we need from the foods we eat. We should do all we can to try to get them from foods, but supplementation is also necessary in most individuals diets. There are many different pills, powders, and liquids out there to get antioxidants.
So what does this all mean? Bottom line we all make trillions of free radicals, to combat free radicals we should be getting plenty of antioxidants. To get the antioxidants our bodies need we should be eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Since most of our diets are lacking the amount of fruits and vegetables necessary to achieve the nutrients our bodies need, we should supplement with antioxidants and vitamins/minerals. There is more to health than just sculpting the physique of dreams. Please contact me on Facebook and let me know what you would like to hear about and what questions you have.
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