Healthguider’s Healthy Nutrition
Antioxidants – By Definition
Nowadays it seems almost impossible to avoid talk of antioxidants
and their necessity in our modern, highly toxic lives. But
what exactly are they and what are the best sources?
Antioxidants are either nutrients or enzymes (and sometimes
both) which mop up damaging free radicals in our bodies.
Free radicals (resulting from among other things, smoking,
alcohol consumption and pollution) readily damage the tissues
of our body and have been linked with the onset of many
diseases including heart disease and cancer.
Top antioxidants are:
- Vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene.
- Lycopene - found in tomatoes.
- Flavonoids - found for example in ginkgo biloba, black
cherries, blackberries, bilberries and blueberries.
- Quericetin - a specialised flavonoid.
- Coenzyme Q10 - a vitamin-like substance.
Selenium is indirectly an antioxidant as it is required
for the production of the major antioxidant enzyme glutathione
peroxidase.
© Healthguider 2004
|
|
 |
|
