Antioxidants And Looking Younger

by Berry Fei

Want to look younger? Who doesn't! Free radicals are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. Free radicals are "free" because they float around until they stabilize, and "radical" in the sense that there are a wide variety of molecules from which they can take an electron. Free radicals are created by environmental pollution, cigarette smoking, and poisons like cleaners or herbicides. Free radicals are toxic to the body because they oxidize vital compounds damaging the body's cells and DNA.

Increase your intake of ANTIOXIDANTS. Antioxidants, present in many foods, are molecules that prevent free radicals from harming healthy tissue. Antioxidants are found in fresh foods like vegetables and fruits, particularly in Vitamin A, E, and beta-carotene. Antioxidants are a group of vitamins, minerals and enzymes used to protect the body from the formation of free radicals. Antioxidants therefore help to maintain our general health and wellbeing.

There are many vitamins and minerals which high a high count of antioxidants.Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E and so on can prevent free radicals from oxidizing your healthy molecules. Vitamins C and E are well documented for their powerful antioxidant activity and are the subject of clinical trials worldwide. Vitamin C and E are also good antioxidants, as well as, magnesium, copper and zinc.

Aging, itself, has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free-radical damage. Aging is caused by free radical damage which happens everyday, through our normal activities such as eating, breathing and exercising. To counteract this then increase you antioxidant intake.

Some of the symptoms of aging such as atherosclerosis are also attributed to free radical induced oxidation of chemicals making up the body. As the damage continues unchecked, the body becomes rusty and less able to defend itself against problems such as cancer, hardening of the arteries, premature aging and other health issues. 3 cups of Wulong Tea a day and regular intake of fruit can greatly reduce the aging process.

SMART ADVISE - It's better to get antioxidants from a balanced diet, rather than vitamin supplements, because our body can more easily absorb them. Many vegetables and fruit are a natural source of antioxidants. A simple suggestion to increase the antioxidants in your body is to drink certain teas on a regular daily basis.

Tea is such an amazing drink that everyone should be drinking. Tea can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, and degenerative diseases. Wulong tea has been incredibly effective for fighting free radical damage. Wulong Tea is richer in antioxidants than any other tea. It is easy to implement in your diet.Whether you take it as a drink, or in the form of a green tea weight loss product, green tea is proven to be an antioxidant rich source.

So now you know that Free radicals are highly reactive molecular fragments that can damage cell membranes and the internal organelles of the cell. Free radicals are also directly involved in the production of hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins which help regulate many different essential bodily functions. Free radicals are essentially good for us, since they promote beneficial oxidation that produces energy and kills potentially harmful bacteria.

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The benefits of green tea’s antioxidant

by Collin James

I am sure by now you have heard all about the antioxidants found in green tea. But, do you know what antioxidants are or how they work. The quality of a antioxidant can help prevent harmful diseases such as cancer and heart disease. I suppose your wandering why anything that is anti-oxygen can be good for your body.

Antioxidants themselves don't do anything to oxygen. What they do, do is fight a chemical reaction in your body called oxidation. I am sure your saying right now, wait a second - that's what causes metal to rust - I am not made of metal! Your right to say that but oxidation is the interaction between oxygen molecules and the substances they come in contact with. If this just so happens to be living tissue, then that's when disease occurs.

The damaged caused by oxidation in your body is caused by free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules that cruise around your body doing nothing but causing problems. Oxygen is the most common source of generating these free radicals.

Oxygen usually travels through your body paired up with another oxygen molecule. In some cases this pairing splits into two individual oxygen molecules called singlet oxygen. When this occurs, electrons fall in short demand as there are now to many oxygen molecules. This destabilizes the molecule and in a way, throwing it off balance. In the attempt to try and fix itself it races through the body trying to find an other electron.

The single molecule does not just sit around waiting for another electron to become available, what this little bugger does is it goes around and find ones to steal. So what happens to the molecule that just had it's electron stolen, well, it goes and steals it's own from another molecule. This process of stealing back and forth causes damage to the cells and it often though to be a leading contributor to cancer, heart disease and aging.

Now, this is where having antioxidants come into play. What antioxidants do is donate an electron to the lonely free radicals so they no longer have to steel electrons to feel balanced. Your body does produce antioxidants on its own, but not early enough to aid all the free radicals. That's where green tea can help you a lot,

Among others, these include beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, the mineral selenium, and various phytochemicals such as lycopene and quercetin. But the catechins, especially EGCg, are among the most powerful and effective antioxidants of all.

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