Oxidation and Free Radicals
Oxidation occurs naturally to our bodies for various reasons including pollution, poor diet, and aging, amongst other things. As oxidation persists, it creates an excess of free radicals in our bodies which cause damage to our bodies proteins, cells, and genes. Free radicals float around our bodies trying to replace missing electrons which causes oxidation. Studies show oxidation to be the root cause of many diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, macular degeneration and alzheimers. Researchers believe oxidation also plays a major role in the aging process.
What are Antioxidants?
Simply put the word antioxidant means anti (against) - oxidation. Antioxidants are a group of natural chemicals that our bodies need to help fight against oxidation. Antioxidants help destroy free radicals caused by oxidation and prevent them from causing damage to our bodies. Antioxidants are composed of thousands of natural chemicals found in foods. Antioxidants include vitamin A, C, E, beta carotene, flavonoids, phenols and anthocyanins. Research shows these natural antioxidants to be highly beneficial to our bodies.
Oxygen radical absorbance capacity or ORAC measures water soluble antioxidant levels in foods and their ability to absorb free radicals. The higher the ORAC levels of a food, the greater the amount of antioxidants present, thus the greater chance of destroying free radicals and potential diseases that may affect the body. Foods that scores above 40 are considered to be extremely high. Berries with dark or red pigments tend to score the highest on the ORAC chart.
Health Benefits of Antioxidants in Berries
Studies show consuming a regular diet high in antioxidants will help prevent numerous diseases including heart disease, macular degeneration, stroke, alzheimers, cancer, diabetes and more. In particular, research shows Anthocyanins provide many benefits to humans including cardiovascular health, memory retention, improved vision and reduced risk of hypertension. A study conducted by Gary Stoner Ph.D., of the University of Ohio shows just how powerful berries are in their cancer fighting abilities. During the study two groups of rats were injected with high levels of cancer-causing agents, one group was left alone and the other was fed a diet rich in Antioxidants from berries, specifically black raspberries. The results were overwhelming with 60%-80% fewer malignant, cancer causing tumors found in the rats fed an antioxidant rich, berry filled diet. Bottom line, keep berries in your daily diet.
Great Sources of Antioxidants
Many foods are great sources of antioxidants including fruits and vegetables. Some of the best sources are found in berries, especially wild berries. Berries of dark color or reddish color tend to have the best sources of antioxidants. Although blueberries are known for being antioxidant rich, many other berries have significant greater amounts of antioxidants in them. Some of the most antioxidant rich berries on the planet include wild huckleberries, wild blueberries, black currants, black raspberries and lingonberries. Lingonberries actually have more antioxidants than any other berry in the world, including the acai berry. Lingonberries can be found online at Northwest Wild Foods
Holloway, Patricia, Roxie Dinstel and Roseann Leiner. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Department of Plant, Animal and Soil Sciences.
Oregon State University. Department of Food Science & Technology
Stoner, Ph. D. Gary. "Black Raspberries Show Multiple Defenses in Fighting Cancer." Research Communications Department at the University of Ohio.UGG Australia Indah Marrakesh Flat (Women)
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