| Everyone has heard the news about antioxidants | | | | stored and must be consumed in adequate |
| and their importance to good health and proper | | | | quantities every day. Good dietary sources of |
| nutrition. It seems the more scientists learn about | | | | vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges and |
| antioxidants, the more their value and potential | | | | grapefruits, green peppers, broccoli and other |
| increases. Antioxidants have shown promise in | | | | green leafy vegetables, strawberries, cabbage and |
| everything from preventing heart disease to | | | | potatoes. |
| slowing the degeneration of the eyes and brain. | | | | Vitamin E |
| Antioxidants work in a fairly straightforward way, | | | | Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that is stored in |
| what makes them so effective is their ability to | | | | the liver and other tissues. Vitamin E has been |
| neutralize a group of highly reactive, highly | | | | studied for its effects on everything from |
| destructive compounds known as free radicals. | | | | delaying the aging process to healing a sunburn. |
| The production of free radicals is a normal bodily | | | | While vitamin E is not a miracle worker, it is an |
| process, and it's part of the process of breathing | | | | important antioxidant, and it's important that the |
| and living. Free radicals are normally neutralized by | | | | diet contain sufficient amounts of vitamin E. Good |
| the body's natural defense system, rendering | | | | dietary sources of this important nutrient include |
| them harmless. However, anything that weakens | | | | wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetable |
| the body's natural defenses weakens its ability to | | | | oil, fish liver oil and green leafy veggies. |
| fight off these free radicals, those weakening | | | | Beta-carotene |
| agents include environmental pollution, excess UV | | | | Beta-carotene is the nutrient that gives flamingos |
| radiation and even excessive consumption of | | | | their distinctive pink color (they get it from the |
| alcohol. When free radicals are not properly | | | | shrimp they eat). In the human world, |
| neutralized, the body is left open to illness. Free | | | | beta-carotene is the most widely studied of over |
| radicals can damage the structure and function of | | | | 600 carotenoids that have thus far been |
| cells in the body, and recent evidence suggest | | | | discovered. The role of beta-carotene in nature |
| that free radicals contribute to the aging process | | | | is to protect the skins of dark green, yellow and |
| and may play a role in a great many illnesses, | | | | orange fruits from the damaging effects of solar |
| including cancer and heart disease. | | | | radiation. Scientists believe that beta-carotene |
| While vitamin supplements containing antioxidants | | | | plays a similar protective role in the human body. |
| such as vitamin C can be important, there is no | | | | Sources of beta-carotene in the diet include such |
| substitute for a healthy diet. It's estimated that | | | | foods as carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, |
| foods contain more than 4,000 compounds that | | | | broccoli, tomatoes, collard greens, kale, |
| have antioxidant qualities so eating a healthy diet | | | | cantaloupe, peaches and apricots. |
| is the only way to take advantage of these | | | | Selenium |
| antioxidant properties. In addition to the well | | | | Selenium is one of the most important minerals in |
| known antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E, | | | | a healthy diet, and it has been studied for its |
| healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and whole | | | | ability to prevent cell damage. Scientists see this |
| grains also contain a lot of lesser known | | | | ability to protect cells from damage as possibly |
| antioxidants. Scientists are only now discovering | | | | important in the prevention of cancer, and |
| the important role these lesser known | | | | selenium is being studied for possible cancer |
| antioxidants have in keeping the body healthy. | | | | preventative properties. It is important to get the |
| Let's take a look at some of the dietary sources | | | | selenium you need from your diet, since large |
| for the major antioxidant vitamins. | | | | doses of selenium supplements can be toxic. |
| Vitamin C | | | | Fortunately, selenium is easily found in a healthy |
| Vitamin C is probably the most studied of all the | | | | diet. Good sources of dietary selenium include |
| antioxidant vitamins. Also known as ascorbic acid, | | | | fish and shellfish, red meat, whole grains, poultry |
| vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found in all | | | | and eggs, and garlic. Vegetables grown in selenium |
| bodily fluids, and it's thought to be one of body's | | | | rich soils are also good sources of dietary |
| first lines of defense against infection and disease. | | | | selenium. |
| Since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it is not | | | | |