Our bodies require oxygen to survive yet the use of oxygen in our bodies causes oxidative destruction. When our bodies use oxygen, free radicals are created. A free radical is a molecule that is lacking one or more electrons. These molecules are greatly volatile and can cause a immense amount of injury. Antioxidants are a class of nutrients found in food that are recognized to put off or slow the effects of oxidative harm in our bodies.
An antioxidant will stabilize a free radical and avoid further injury by donating the absent electron. Many of the foods found in nature are very excessive in antioxidants and including these foods can help us put off diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancers and many of the problems typically coupled with aging by enhancing our own immune systems.
Some of the highest antioxidant foods are the berries. Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries and even grapes and cherries are all excessive in antioxidants. The ORAC or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is how antioxidant activity in food is calculated. All berries have a high ORAC level but the food with the highest ORAC level is in point of fact the acai berry. There are a couple of things with a higher ORAC level including ground cinnamon and cloves but as far as authentic food the acai berry surpasses each and every one.
Other fruits that possess high ORAC levels are the citrus fruits, like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes and the tropical fruits such as kiwi, mango and papaya. Pears, peaches, plums, apricots and apples are also exceptional sources.
Many of the familiar vegetables are exceedingly high in antioxidants. Spinach, Kale, Swiss chard, dandelion greens and other greens are superior, along with the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
Pumpkins are very excessive in beta-carotene, which is a matter that converts to vitamin A in our bodies. Beta-carotene is a very important nutrient but it can be risky, specially for smokers, to take beta-carotene in supplement form. The top way to get this fundamental nutrient is through the diet. Most orange foods, like pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash provide an ample amount.
The top means to get your antioxidants is through consumption of a multihued diet. It is the deeply colored foods from nature that provide the most antioxidants. Intense purples and reds from the berries, oranges from the pumpkins and carrots, and greens from the spinach, kale and cruciferous vegetables and reds from tomatoes and watermelon. Any whole food that is a deep color is probably overloaded with essential antioxidants.
Research being conducted on antioxidants is proving a benefit for many of the things that trouble us. Enhanced immune function can help stave off disease such as cardiovascular disease and cancers and even many conditions generally linked with aging such as macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.
Acai berries provide essential nutrition our bodies require to lose weight. For more information about acai berries stop by my blog at acaiwow.com
