Why You Should Hire Antioxidants

 

Photo Credit: Greyerbaby

Antioxidants are apart of an effective crime fighting team in the body. We could say they’re like special op agents hired by you.

You thought you didn’t have a part to play in this huh? Well you do because what you decide to put in your body will determine how healthy and disease free it will be.

So let’s cut to the chase. Why are antioxidants so important for me and you to hire?

They’re important because they are capable of neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are the unwanted criminals, but if we were to put it scientifically, they’re unstable molecules. Meaning, they shoot around the body looking for electrons to steal so that they can become stable again.

The problem is when they do this, the molecules they steal from in return become unstable. This instability is due to oxidation.  An unstable molecule = potential for any disease to form. The body then becomes a toxic waste plant instead of a pure hydroelectric plant. You with me? Therefore diseases like cancer and parkinson’s begin to take root.

Our objective then is to have antioxidants present to neutralize those free radicals and therefore create balance in the body. They do this is by giving. Giving their electrons to the free radical. The free radical is then stable and satisfied. No more stealing.

Unlike other molecules in the body antioxidants do not become unstable when giving up electrons or by oxidation BUT they do lose the ability to neutralize more free radicals. So once one antioxidant give electrons to stabilize one free radical, it can’t give anymore to another free radical.

If we attempt to use our noodle for a little while and imagine:

We get bombarded by free radicals everyday. Toxic fumes, poorly cooked food, fried foods, smoke, are to name a few.

We can say then there are significant amounts of free radicals in our bodies and if we look at the fact that we don’t really pay much attention to how much antioxidants we get in a day, I would say our chances of being “Free-Radical-Free” are slim.

Hence we need to have a constant supply of antioxidants every. single. day. So that when one antioxidant gives up their electron another is there to give up more. There should be an equal amount of antioxidants to free radicals (1:1). It would be fantastic if it were (2:1) antioxidants being greater than.

By reason of when the number of free radicals is greater than that of the antioxidants the cells undergo, what is called oxidative stress, which means excess oxidation. Excess oxidation = Cell deterioration. Cell deterioration = Every cell in the body weakening and open to disease.

Now that you’ve got the gist of what I’m conveying, allow me tell you where these antioxidants are found.

They’re basically found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains. Not in ice cream, not in beef patties.

The main antioxidants you can find:

• Vitamin C

Oranges, Bell peppers, Kiwis, Kale, Guavas

• Vitamin E 

Peanuts, Soybeans, Blueberries, Sunflower seeds

• Flavonoids

Apples, Black beans, Cabbage, Apricots

• Carotenoids

Carrots, Yams/Sweet potatoes, Pumpkin, Cantaloupe

• Garlic allicin

Garlic – the one & only

 

Are they worth hiring then?

Photo Credit: M. Connors

YES THEY ARE!