Everyone keeps talking about the benefits of fruits and vegetables with anti- oxidative capabilities. As a matter of fact I mentioned it in this blog just yesterday but I'm still not sure why anti- oxidants are so important. That's why I have decided to dedicate this blog to understanding why we need to eat our greens.
In a sentence, anti- oxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules of oxygen that have lost an electron and hence are reactive. They run around our bodies wreaking havoc on our cells by trying to poach an electron off them. Thus they are linked with several disorders, the most severe being cancer (of course, what doesn't cause cancer right?), arteriosclerosis (blockages of arteries), strokes, osteoporosis, ulcers and some studies indicate that free radicals are the culprits behind ageing as well. They are created through normal chemical processes in body and have their function as well. They help destroy old cells that have lost their use and they bolster our immunity. However, when created in excess, they destroy everything in sight and have to be controlled.
How embarrassing. For all of humanity's greatness we fall prey to crazed molecules and strands of DNA (viruses). This is where antioxidants come in. Our knights in shining armor, these nutrients occur naturally, but a body's supply needs an antioxidant boost from food. Common antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and certain compounds called carotenoids (like lutein and beta-carotene). Antioxidants help prevent widespread cellular damage by donating components to stabilize free radicals. So eat food with anti- oxidative properties and give your body a hand.
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