Saturday, April 24, 2010

antioxidents

Defends us from of FREE RADICALS

Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Natural antioxidant foods are fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds. The best way to ensure adequate intake of the antioxidants is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables through a diet consisting of 5 to 8 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Best Sources of High Antioxidants Foods

  1. Fruits
    Berries (Cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, crowberry, blueberry, bilberry/wild blueberry, black currant), pomegranate, grape, orange, plum, pineapple, kiwi fruit, grapefruit.
  2. Vegetables
    Kale, chili pepper, red cabbage, peppers, parsley, artichoke, Brussels sprouts, spinach, lemon, ginger, red beets.
  3. Dry Fruits high in antioxidants
    Apricots, prunes, dates.
  4. Legumes
    Broad beans, pinto beans, soybeans.
  5. Nuts and seeds
    Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, ground nut, sunflower seeds.
  6. Cereals
    Barley, millet, oats, corn.
  7. Spices
    cloves, cinnamon, oregano
Top 20
RankTypeFood itemServing sizeTotal antioxidant capacity per serving size
1Beans/LegumesRed Beans (dried)Half cup13727
2Fruit, BerryWild blueberry1 cup13427
3Beans/LegumesRed kidney beans (dried)Half cup13259
4Beans/LegumesPinto beansHalf cup11864
5Fruit, BerryBlueberry 1 cup9019
6Fruit, BerryCranberry1 cup (whole)8983
7VegetableArtichoke (cooked)1 cup (hearts)7904
8Fruit, BerryBlackberry1 cup7701
9FruitPruneHalf cup7291
10Fruit, BerryRaspberry1 cup6058
11Fruit, BeryStrawberry1 cup5938
12FruitRed Delicious appleOne5900
13FruitGranny Smith appleOne5381
14NutPecan1 ounce5095
15Fruit, BerySweet cherry1 cup4873
16FruitBlack plumOne4844
17VegetableRusset potato (cooked)One4649
18Beans/LegumesBlack beans (dried)Half cup4181
19FruitPlumOne4118
20FruitGala appleOne3903
FREE RADICALS
The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a cloud of electrons. These electrons surround the nucleus in pairs, but occasionally an atom loses an electron, leaving the atom with an "unpaired" electron. The atom is then called a "free radical", and it is very reactive. When cells in the body encounter a free radical, the reactive radical may cause destruction in the cell. According to the free radical theory of aging, cells continuously produce free radicals, and constant free radical damage eventually kills the cell. When free radicals kill or damage enough cells in an organism, the organism ages. WE DONT WANT TO AGE BEFORE OUR TIME
GET THOSE ANTIOXIDANTS!

song of the day ANIMAL by NEON TREES

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