Healthy Diet The importance of antioxidants in the diet
March 7, 2009
A healthy diet should contain all types of foods, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and antioxidants. We have all heard about antioxidants and how important they are to good nutrition and health. Let us have a look at some of the advantages that antioxidants have.
Disease prevention
The more scientists study antioxidants, the more important they become. They have been seen as very important in preventing heart disease and slowing down the degeneration of the brain and the eyes.
Neutralisation of free radicals
Antioxidants are now known to work in a fairly straight forward way. They have the ability to neutralise a group of highly destructive and highly reactive compounds referred to as free radicals, which are produced through normal body processes, including breathing and living. The body’s defence systems are able to neutralise free radicals making them harmless.
Weakened body defence
Anything that weakens the body’s defence system naturally reduces its ability to fight free radicals. The weakening agents include pollution, excess ultra violet radiation, and alcohol consumption. These empower free radicals to cause havoc.
When free radicals are not neutralised well, they cause a lot of damage to the body. They damage the structure and function of cells, they quicken the ageing process, and they play major roles in many serious and dangerous diseases like cancer.
Some sources of antioxidants are as follows:
This is the most studied antioxidant vitamin. It is water soluble and can be found in all bodily fluids. It plays a major role in the body’s fight against disease and infection. But because it is water soluble it is not stored, therefore it must be eaten every day in adequate quantities. It is found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, and in vegetables like green pepper and cabbage.
Beta-carotene
This is the nutrient that gives the distinctive pink colour to flamingos. They get it from the shrimp they eat. Beta-carotene protects dark green, orange and yellow fruits from being damaged by solar radiation. It is believed that it plays similar roles in humans. Beta-carotene can be found in carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cantaloupe.
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