Antioxidant vitamin supplements

Antioxidants Help You Blocking Harmful Free Radicals Naturally - Where Can You Get Them All?

2009-05-08T18:12:00.001-07:00

By Moch Ridwan

What is an antioxidant? It is a molecule that can prevent oxidative damage in our tissues. Oxidative process in our body such as digestive process can results free radicals, reactive chemical substances that can strike other molecules thus change the structure, and the side effect is resulting other free radical species that also can behave the same reaction.

Free radicals can damage DNA conducting to dysfunction, mutation, and cancer. When they bother protein and enzyme leading to destruction of cell membrane and cell activities that may harden and thickening the arteries, this will cause heart attacks and stroke.

But you should be not worry, because free radicals can be neutralize by the present of antioxidants. Popular antioxidants include a number of enzymes, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, polyphenols, antocyanins, and etc. They all exist in the colorful fruits and vegetables; some edible oil contains antioxidants too such as olive oil.

Research study has shown that antioxidants may have played a part to avoid diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer, and degenerative disease. Antioxidants are belief to help because they neutralize and block free radicals that harmful to our body.

Recent research indicates that taking antioxidants in your diet may elevate the antioxidants level in your body, and those who take food rich containing antioxidants will gather health benefits. Natural source of antioxidants includes berries, beans, colorful fruits (with peels) and vegetables, beverage such as tea, wine, fruit juices, nuts, herbs, grain, and etc. Taking antioxidants from the natural source is very important because there are not only contains single type of antioxidants but there are containing an unmatchable array of antioxidant substances.

You can take antioxidants from the supplement too, but it is better if you check that your antioxidant supplement contains complex types of antioxidants thus you will get the optimal benefit from it.

If you want to know more about the important of antioxidants and other valuable health information, you can visit Article Chamber

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Moch_Ridwan

The Major Benefits of Green Tea Antioxidants

2009-01-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

by: Colin Holcomb

Green tea contains many beneficial nutrients and compounds, one example is the antioxidant. Green tea contains four primary polyphenols and these give rise to the green tea antioxidant. In recent studies these powerful antioxidants have been shown to fight viruses, slow aging and have an overall beneficial effect on a persons general health.

Catechins which is a part of the four primary polyphenols has been shown in recent clinical tests to destroy free radicals which has far reaching effects for the body. If left, free radicals could damage the body at the cellular level which leaves the body susceptible to cancer, heart disease and degenerative diseases.

About the Green Tea Antioxidant

The ability to protect the brain and fight against diseases such as Alzheimers has also been found to be a benefit of green tea antioxidants. A recent study shows this to be true since high doses of green teas ingredient EGCG reduces the formation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain of mice that developed Alzheimers disease.

EGCG is a flavonoid type of antioxidants that is typically found in plants and has been connected with many health benefits, including protecting against cancer and heart disease. EGCG is an important antioxidant in green tea that is proven to be the most primary explanation for why green tea is beneficial to a persons health.

The polyphenols in green tea claim to also contain antioxidants that are more potent such as Vitamin C and E. EGCG is better at protecting the cells and genetic material, or DNA, from damage than Vitamin C by 100 times and Vitamin E by 25 times. The damage to cells and genetic materials has been linked to health problems such as cancer, heart disease and other potentially life threatening illnesses.

The antioxidants that are found in green tea are important to acknowledge and understand. You should also know the positive aspects you can get from the components of these antioxidants that help your health and well-being.

About The Author

Colin Holcomb is writer of Green Tea Information -

http://www.greenteainformation.org ,

He also writes on green tea home remedies -

http://www.greenteainformation.org/green-tea-benefits/green-tea.htm

and different types of green tea product -

http://www.greenteainformation.org/green-tea-products.htm

The What & Why Of Antioxidants

2009-01-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

by: Brenda Marie Hoffman

More than likely you have heard the term "antioxidant" by now. However, do you know what it is, why you need it or how you get it? Probably not. So, herein what you need to know about antioxidants will be explained.

The first thing that you need to know about in order to understand antioxidants is the process of oxidation. This is a fundamental and necessary biomechanical reaction. Not all forms of this process are helpful though. There are some that forms that happen at the wrong time and are thus disastrous to your health. However, antioxidants can be a big help in helping positive oxidation to occur so that you will have sustained, good health.

Antioxidants also play a key role in keeping the proteins in your cell membranes from being damaged. These proteins are large, complex and specialized molecules. They control the functions of important cell membranes, which are the basic defense system that lets nutrients in, sends waste products out and prevents entry of toxic and viral invaders. As such, they are actually responsible for immune responses. However, oxidation interferes with this process by splitting up the molecules and thus destroying it. Fatty acids can also be destroyed in this way.

It is important to understand that you can also come into contact with the oxidation process outside of your body. Sources for this include exposure to radiation, air pollution, synthetic hormones in food, pesticides, over-the-counter and prescription drugs and food additives. Of course, some of these things are things that you cannot easily avoid. This is why it is important to make sure that your body has plenty of antioxidants, which enable good oxidation to take place.

You can find antioxidants in really green, fast growing plants. This is because sunlight, which is a high-energy source, drives the photosynthesis process. In effect, photosynthesis is the opposite of oxidation. So, plants contain a large supply of antioxidants so that they can be protected from the dangers that sunlight can cause. It is these antioxidants that you will want to consume.
Some of the other great places wherein you can find antioxidants include immature barley and wheat grasses. Zinc also has a lot of antioxidant power, which is why it is used so much during the cold and flu season.

It is also a good idea to avoid partially hydrogenated foods whenever possible. This can be found in processed foods, air pollution and medications. A great way in which to counteract this is by drinking green tea, which has a lot of antioxidant power.

Furthermore, if all else fails, you can take specific vitamins so that you get more antioxidants. One of the best ones that I have found is Shaklee's Glucose Regulation Complex. This "food supplement," as Shaklee prefers to call their vitamins, contains both Zinc and antioxidants. As an added benefit, this is a good choice for diabetics who would like to get off of their glucose products. However, you should contact your doctor before starting it.

So, now that you understand just how important antioxidants are and where they can be found, you can start helping your body out by taking more of them. Here's to your good health!

About The Author
Brenda Marie Hoffman is a published freelance author and a single mom.

Thanks to her lucrative business: http://www.livin-smart.net she is able to stay home to homeschool her daughter.

Does Coffee Have Any Antioxidant Benefits?

2009-01-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

by: Aaron Matthews Morgan

Before we get all excited over the recent news about coffee being our new antioxidant, we need to take a look at the entire picture. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? If there is, how exactly is coffee an antioxidant? Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us?

Brewed coffee contains many antioxidants and consumption of antioxidant-rich brewed coffee may inhibit diseases caused by oxidative damages. Antioxidants are said to be an inhibitor of certain types of diseases. However, coffee beans are not all a like. Not all coffee beans are of the same quality or even the same make up. Sort of like comparing tennis shoes to sandals. Both go on your feet, but they are not made up of the same components. You can actually break coffee down into several different water-soluble components. The dietary fiber derived from roasted coffee silverskin. This is one component of the coffee bean that has high antioxidant content. This is how the scientists find out about the antioxidant benfits of coffee in their studies. What they do in fact is the break down the coffee beans into different components. They filter out the components that the coffee antioxidant is found in, and then they test lab rats in a variety of experiments to determine how well they survive with or without the various additives in their diet. When they discover something really swell, like a coffee antioxidant, our culture of coffee drinking addicts suddenly becomes a feverorish mob.

For years and years we've heard bad things about coffee. For example: it's bad for your heart, increases blood pressure, may cause breast cancer, probably keeps you awake at night, and my personal favorite, has a poisonous gas when brewed.When the world of coffee addicts even gets a tiny hint that coffee could have something beneficial, believe me they don't just drink more coffee, they try to get everyone to join them. So, here we now have scientific studies proving to us that coffee has antioxidants.

Researchers have identified several compounds in coffee that create a coffee antioxidant. Why would this be of interest to us? Because scientific studies are showing that antioxidants may help prevent cancer. You see the connection here. However, until human studies are done, science cannot state exactly how much coffee must be consumed in order gain this protection against colon cancer or any other type of cancer. Before the coffee is roasted the antioxidant benefits are varied. However, once the coffee is roasted and served as a drink things get evened out. They all seem to have the same degrees of antioxidants.

Some studies suggest coffee having other benefits such as added fertility in men and some benefits for those suffering from diabetes. You'll have to read those studies on your own. The fact that a coffee antioxidant exists may be true, but the reality is that coffee can be just as harmful if your body doesn't like it, if you consume too much, if you have high blood pressure, and if it keeps you awake at night. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? Yes, but the actual amount needed to be consumed in order to receive the anti-cancer benefits by humans is unknown. How exactly is coffee an antioxidant?

Coffee alone isn't the antioxidant, it's several different components that are part of the coffee bean. Roasting and heating the coffee changes the total antioxidant output. Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? It seems that although some coffee beans like green coffee beans may be higher in antioxidants that other more common beans, once they are roasted and heated for consumption, the results are the same regarding the antioxidantal benefits. Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Honestly, this is NOT a question easily answered. In fact, the truth is it is still unknown just how beneficial coffee antioxidants are for humans. Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? Yes, of course there is. If you have high blood pressure and you have seen how coffee enhances this problem, you know it's bad for YOU personally. If you can't get proper sleep or you drive everyone around you nuts because you can't sit still or shut-up, you know coffee is bad for you.

Use common sense and listen to your body. Coffee is not good for everyone and unknown just how good for anyone. How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us? Again drink coffee in moderation, pay attention to your own body. Exercise and good eating habits are a far better way to get healthy than drinking 10 cups of cappuccino a day. All things in moderation. After reading everything about this new thing called a coffee antioxidant I have decided that there are better ways of getting antioxidants into my blood.

Coffee may have many benefits, but so does water and it is possible to drown from drinking too much water. Yes, I know, you have to really drink a lot to accomplish this, but it's the principle of the matter. Too much of anything is not a good thing.

About The Author

Aaron Matthews-Morgan is the owner of Heavenly Kona Coffee, an e-business that specializes in 100% Gourmet Kona Coffee from Hawaii. HeavenlyKonaCoffee.com is also a premier website for free information and resources, providing quality info and articles on everything related to coffee. Go to: http://www.heavenlykonacoffee.com/

Which Anti Aging Products Work?

2008-12-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

I have been using the MaxGXL vitamin supplements for 3 months, I have significant improvement.

Vitamins & Minerals Supplements Austin Nutrition

2008-12-27T03:53:00.000-08:00

Truth about Vitamins & Minerals Supplements Austin Nutrition

This video will explains what are the best types of vitamin and mineral supplements. He also explains the differences between synthetic vitamins, natural vitamins, whole food vitamins and whole foods.

Easy TIP of Vitamin Supplements With Rose Cole

2008-12-24T17:57:00.000-08:00

Wow! I would have never thought of this tip! This tip is so easy to remember to take my vitamins and supplements in the morning now!!! It only takes 10 minutes out of my week to make all 21 of my bags! This is absolutly awesome idea!!! And my kids are loving the chore money!

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF GUAVA FRUIT

2008-12-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Guava is rich in antioxidants that help to reduce the incidence of degenerative diseases such as arthritis, arteriosclerosis, cancer, heart disease, inflammation and brain dysfunction. In addition, antioxidants were reported to retard ageing besides preventing or delaying oxidative damage of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids caused by reactive oxygen species. These include all reactive free radical such as superoxide, hydroxyl, peroxyl, alkoxyl, and non radicals such as hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid. More>>>

Orange Tomatoes - contains rich of antioxidant

2008-12-02T04:28:00.000-08:00

Orange tomato rich in lycopene and ready to used by human body compare to red tomatoes. Lycopene is an antioxidant that help to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and skin aging process.

The absorption of orange tomato is 2.5 times better than red tomato.

Lutein for good vision

2008-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

Leutin is an antioxidant in a group of carotenoids. It has to important role as an antioxidant and absorp blue light which causes oxidative damage to the retina.

Lutein sources : mostly in many fruits that yellow and red in colour such as tomatoes, papayas and capsicums.

Lutein act as an antioxidant to fight free radicals that produce from pollutions, cigarette smoke and body's metabolisms. A lack of antioxidant contribute to further damage to our cells in the body.

Antioxidants help to reduce the toxic effects of lead

2008-11-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

This research study of antioxidant is carried out by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM).They proves that administering natural antioxidants can reduce the effects of lead poisoning in animals during the gestation and lactation periods. The study suggests that naturlantioidant could also be effective in humans as detoxification.

Mushrooms is an antioxidant for antiaging?

2008-11-23T17:23:00.000-08:00

A research by Penn State University revealed that eating mushrooms could become an antioxidant for antiaging. They presented the study to the American Chemical Society in Washington and went on to credit it with fighting cancer and cardiovascular disease.

According to their study on white-button mushroom, they found that white-button mushrooms have five times more of the antioxidant ergothioneine than in chicken liver. The white-button mushrooms are the most common mushroom consumed in the United States.

Ergothioneine is an antioxidant that helps removing free radicals

The antioxidant ergothioneine from this mushroom will help to eradicate of free radicals, which cause a lot of cell and tissue damage in humans body.

White button mushrooms also have twelve times more antioxidant ergothioneine than wheat germ. Wheat germ itself is considered a very good source of the nutrient and antioxidant.

These make this mushrooms a great antioxidant for antiaging as well as prevention of cancer, cellular damage and other diseases.

One of antioxidant for antiaging product is Lifespan Extension complex. A antioxidant product contains 120 capsules with Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Bioperine. This antioxidant for antiaging brings those taking them excellent energy and liveliness. It has an antioxidant antiaging formula which may reduce deterioration of brain cells, brown spots, and other signs of aging.

Another benefit of this antioxidant for antiaging is to re-establish mitochondrial activity and cardiolipin to younger stages and can lengthen your lifespan. For those seeking the fountain of youth behold this antioxidant for antiaging of choice.

Glutathione is an important antioxidant.

2008-11-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Why Glutathione is one of the most important and major antioxidant in our body ?

Flushes out the toxins from the liver.
Glutathion is potent antioxidant will help to protect our liver from free radical attack.
Produce an enzymes called enzyme glutathion-S-transferase that mportant in all the organs of the body to reduced risk of cancer.
Enhancing the properties of other antioxidant like vitamins C and E. Glutathione will restores vitamin C and E to their reduced form so they can resume the free radical scavenging activity again.
Glutathione helps in production, defense, and DNA repair and lastly reduced the risk of cancer.
Glutathion is also help to remove heavy metal toxics like mercury and arsenic from the body.

Glutathione supplements is poorly absorbed into the body but Vitamin B, Selenium and certain berries can increase the amount of Glutathione absorption.

Free Radicals : this short video clip will explain what are free radicals.

2008-11-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

Vitamin C ( Ascorbic Acid )

2008-11-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

L-Ascorbic acid is also known as L-xyloascorbic acid, 3-oxo-L-gulofuranolactone(enol form), L-3-ketothreohexuronic acid lactone, antisorbutic vitamin and vitamin C,. Its chemical formula is C6H8O6 and a molecular weight is 176.12. Vitamin C is water-soluble vitamin.

Vitamin C is important in forming collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage,muscle, and blood vessels.
Maintain capillaries, bones, and teeth and increase absorption of iron.
Vitamin C is a reducing agent and necessary to maintain theenzyme prolyl hydroxylase in an active form to keep iron atom in areduced state.
Precursor molecule to the protein collagen and procollagen
Ascorbic acid or vitamin C plays an important role as a component of enzymes involved in the synthesis of collagen and carnitine.
Powerful antioxidant because it can donate a hydrogen atom and form a relatively stable ascorbyl free radical.

Vitamin C deficiency:

Severe deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy. The symptoms occurs when serum level of vitamin C falls below 0.2 mg/dl.
Other symptoms are follicular hyperkeratosis, swollen and inflamed gums, loosening of teeth, dryness of themouth and eyes, loss of hair and dry itchy skin.
Depression and hysteria as psychological manifestations of scurvy.

This fatal disease can be prevented with intake as little as 10 mg of vitamin C per day and easily obtained through consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Food sources of Vitamin C :

Fresh fruits and leafyvegetables such as guava, mango, papaya, cabbage, mustard leaves and spinach. Recommend consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Animal sources of vitamin C : meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairyproducts contain smaller amounts and are not significant sources.

Factors affecting requirements of vitamin C :

Vitamin C is the most unstable of all vitamins because it easyly destroyed during processing and storage. Exposure to oxygen, prolonged heating in thepresence of oxygen, contact with minerals (iron and copper) and exposure to light aredestructive to the vitamin C content of foods.

Vitamin E

2008-11-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

Vitamin E is fat soluble and absorbed with the fat component of food, “piggy-rides” on chylomicrons (formed in intestinal mucosal cells) through the lymphatic system and are finally released into the blood stream. Vitamin E was discovered in 1922 and consists of two families of compounds :

Tocopherols - characterised by a 6-chromanol ring
Tocotrienols - characterised by isoprenoid side chain.

Sources of vitamin E :

Since vitamin E is synthesised only in plants it is essential nutrient in the diet of animals and man. Vitamin E found primarily in plantproducts, the richest sources being vegetable oils and to a lesser extent, seeds, nuts andcereal grains. Tocotrienols sources are palm oil, rice bran oil, and the bran andgerm portions of cereals such as oat, barley and rice. Surprisingly, most other commonedible oils contain only very small amounts of tocotrienols.

Vitamin E functions :

Major function of vitamin E appears to be as a non-specificchain-breaking antioxidant that prevents the propagation of free-radical reactions.

Diseases associated with vitamin E deficiency :

Vitamin E deficiency occurs rarely in humans. Vitamin E deficiency occurs only as a result of genetic abnormalities in alpha–tocopherol ransfer protein, as a result of various fat malabsorption syndromes, or as aresult of protein-energy malnutrition.

Vitamin E deficiency symptoms

Peripheral neuropathy - characterized by the degeneration of the large-caliber axons in the sensory neurons.
Other symptoms of vitamin E deficiency : spinocerebellar ataxia, skeletal myopathy,and pigmented retinopathy. Other symptoms include increased erythrocyte fragility, andincreased ethane and pentane production.

Vitamin A

2008-11-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

Functions :

Vitamin A (retinol) is for the normal functioning of the visual system.
vitamin A is in the maintenance of growth andepithelial cellular integrity and immune function in the body

Disease associate with vitamin A deficiency (VAD)

The disease is also called “xerophthalmia” or“dry eye” and most frequently presentation of these vitamin A deficiency is night blindness, which is the ealiest manifestation of xerophthalmia.

Food sources of Vitamin A

Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is found almost exclusively in animal products.

Liver from various animals mostly ox liver and chicken
Meat of these animals ( medium sources )
Whole egg is a verygood source of vitamin A
Vitamin A is high in full cream milk powder
Commercial ready-to-drink milk, eg UHT milk and fresh milk contains about 30μg retinol per 100 ml
Fish in general are not particularly good sources of vitamin A
Carotenoids provide most of the vitamin A activity in the diets - potential pro vitamin A precursors that can be converted into retinol, are present in plant products, especiallygreen leafy vegetables, red palm oil and yellow and orange fruits.

Antiaging Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements

2008-11-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

This video explains the importance of taking antioxidant vitamin supplements. They are essential for beauty and health care. I have no makeup on in this video, so take a close look at my skin, hair, and nails. All antioxidant is vital. They protect our body against degeneration and disease and also strengthen your immune system!

Free Radicals & Antioxidants : Good Eats

2008-11-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

The best explanation of FREE RADICALS, and antioxidant by Alton