| For centuries, people have been asking the | | | | negative results. |
| question "Why do we get sick?" And for many | | | | Natural foods are the key to a healthier life. They |
| centuries, wise people have been providing the | | | | allow for a more effective metabolism, which |
| simple answer "You are what you eat." | | | | allows the body to become more energetic. This, |
| All right, maybe the answer is not so simple. | | | | in turn, opens the door for greater mental and |
| However, what we put in our body often yields a | | | | physical health. |
| number of unfortunate health effects that can | | | | The definition of free radicals also extends to |
| wear down the body and age us more quickly. | | | | environmentally impactful situations that lead to |
| This is commonly the result of eating processed | | | | illness. Car fumes, for example, deliver an |
| food and drinks that are loaded with impurities. | | | | enormous amount of carbon monoxide to the |
| These impurities are loaded with, or can create, | | | | body and that is poisonous. Lifestyle choices along |
| free radicals. They can yield severe problems like | | | | the lines of smoking and drinking alcohol also |
| heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. | | | | contribute greatly to the answer of the "why do |
| The Cause: Free Radicals | | | | we get sick?" question. |
| What is the definition of free radicals? In simple | | | | This does raise important questions regarding how |
| terms, they are atoms missing an electron. This | | | | we can reverse the problem, improve our health, |
| makes them chemically incomplete and unstable. | | | | and reduce the impact that free radicals can have |
| In this state, they attack healthy cells to "steal" | | | | on the body. The answer will lie in the |
| electrons from other molecules in order to | | | | understanding what antioxidants are and how |
| stabilize. When you ingest food loaded with free | | | | they can improve one's health. |
| radicals, they will cause major problems on the | | | | Antioxidants To The Rescue |
| molecular level. | | | | Antioxidants can be considered an umbrella term |
| Consider the following: has there ever been a | | | | for any food sources, vitamins, or dietary |
| scenario where you ate a large meal and felt tired | | | | supplements that reverse or prevent the harm |
| and sluggish afterwards? This ties into the answer | | | | caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. |
| to the question 'why do we get sick'. It would | | | | Among the most common antioxidants used to |
| seem as if you ran a marathon as opposed to | | | | defeat free radicals and prevent the onset of |
| eating a meal. | | | | sickness are Vitamin A, E, and C. |
| Your body must expend more energy digesting a | | | | These substances, along with other types of |
| large meal than the benefits it receives in return. | | | | antioxidants, "donate" their extra electrons to free |
| In a way, the impact on the body delivers all the | | | | radicals, in effect neutralizing them. This eliminates |
| trauma of a marathon with none of the health | | | | the need for free radicals from ravaging and |
| benefits. An end result is the creation of still more | | | | destroying healthy cells and organs in their rush to |
| free radicals. | | | | regain stability. |
| Similarly, when you eat processed foods, your | | | | Antioxidants can come from a number of food |
| body will expend a tremendous amount of energy | | | | sources with organic fruits, vegetables, teas, nuts |
| to break down and digest your poor dietary | | | | and spices being the most common. These natural |
| choices, not to mention the additives and | | | | and organic items allow for easiest absorption of |
| preservatives, which have a direct and immediate | | | | the various antioxidants present in them, although |
| impact on your health. Needlessly expending | | | | taking vitamins and minerals in supplement form |
| energy on digesting too much, or poor food | | | | can also prove to be a great help as well. |
| leaves that much less for living life. | | | | The health benefits of antioxidants are far |
| To be sure, there are other things that can | | | | reaching. Did you know, for example, they have |
| contribute greatly to the creation of free radicals | | | | the potential to greatly reduce physical pain? This |
| such as anger, depression and leading a stressful | | | | is achieved by the ability of antioxidants to reduce |
| life. | | | | inflammation in the cells, which can promote a pain |
| This overburdens the body with oxidative stress | | | | free life. |
| and wears down the immune system, allowing the | | | | That means restrictions on physical activity due |
| free radicals to wreak even further havoc on the | | | | to pain are lifted, promoting further exercise |
| system. Needless to say, this does not exactly | | | | potential. The benefits are a stronger heart that |
| set the stage for living a healthy life. | | | | improves quality of life and longer life potential. |
| Eat Natural Foods | | | | So, why do we get sick? Is it oxidative stress? Is |
| Conversely, when you eat natural and organic | | | | it a lack of ingesting enough antioxidants? The |
| foods, you are denying a major cause of free | | | | answer is yes on both counts. Being aware of the |
| radicals in the body. This removes the | | | | nature of our environment and how we choose |
| overburdening aspect of the diet and drastically | | | | to act on that awareness, will go a long way to |
| reduces the potential for the body to suffer | | | | promote vibrant health and longevity. |