Fighting Disease with

Antioxidants

By: Aariana Adams

Antioxidants and their role in disease prevention is a vague notion for most of us. Antioxidants fight cancers - and other things…but how they do it, and just what other diseases do they fight? Can we supplement antioxidants in pill form, and if so, are pills as effective as receiving antioxidants in our natural diet?

Free radicals are once-healthy cells that become damaged by our body’s absorption of air pollution, chemicals, radiation and tobacco residuals. The unstable free radicals are missing a needed electron. They scurry about attempting to heal themselves by stealing an electron from a healthy cell. The once healthy, but now attacked cell, then becomes unstable…and becomes a free radical itself.

Antioxidants are compounds that move around our cellular structure, and among other good deeds, they seek out these damaged free radical cells, attempting to repair them by lending a needed, stabilizing electron. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it the damage to our DNA is irreversible, promoting the growth of diseases.

The problem: our bodies cannot produce all the needed antioxidants to nurse and heal all the free radicals. Cellular damage can multiply, and have a domino effect, making it impossible for our natural antioxidants to keep up.

So, do we take an assortment of the many antioxidants in pill form, or do we eat a healthy diet of 5-7 fruits and vegetables a day?

• The American Heart Association, in a “Scientific Advisory” “…continues to promote a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, legumes, poultry and lean meats to derive antioxidant vitamin benefits.”

• The American Cancer Institute at cancer.org says: “ if you want to take in more antioxidants, health experts recommend eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of antioxidants.

A healthy intake of antioxidants should be an easy task. Among the many tasty choices, here are a few.

Antioxidants thought to render free radicals harmless: Sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, apricots, pumpkins, and orange bell peppers

Antioxidants for maintaining a healthy heart: Chocolate, cocoa, grapes and many teas, including black, green and white.

Antioxidants for certain cancers: Red bell pepper, tomatoes, watermelon, papaya and pink grapefruit, most nuts, including almonds, flax seed and soy.

Antioxidants for eye health: Spinach, kale corn and leafy, green vegetables.

Antioxidants for healthy brain function: Red cabbage, red grapes, blueberries, cherries and pomegranates.

Antioxidants high in Vitamins A, C and/or E: Among them are cereals, fish, mozzarella cheese, egg yolks, liver, and some oils, such as soybean, corn and safflower oil.

Ideal antioxidant consumption is still in test mode. The Department of Agriculture, The National Institute of Health, The American Heart Association and American Cancer Institute advise daily balanced portions of the foods listed above. Balance is the key.

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