What is Antioxidant? What Food Has Antioxidant?
Are you taking the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables every day? Do you ever know all those fruits and vegetables loaded with nutrients called antioxidant which benefits to our body?
What is antioxidant?
Antioxidants are chemicals that interact with and neutralize free radicals*, thus preventing them from causing damage.
*Free radicals are defined as highly reactive and unstable molecules that are naturally formed when you exercise and when your body converts food into energy. At high concentration, free radicals can be hazardous to the body and damage all major components of cells, including DNA, proteins and cell membranes.
The food especially fruits and vegetables which contain high level of antioxidant help in promoting good body health. The combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc offer protection against development of advanced age-related macular degeneration (but not cataract).
Examples of antioxidants are:
Beta-carotene
Lutein
Lycopene
Selenium
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Beta-carotene and other carotenoids
Examples: apricots, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, green peppers, kale, mangoes, turnip and collard greens, nectarines, peaches, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, tomatoes, and watermelon
Vitamin C
Examples: berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, honeydew, kale, kiwi, mango, nectarine, orange, papaya, snow peas, sweet potato, strawberries, tomatoes, and red, green, or yellow peppers
Vitamin E
Examples: broccoli (boiled), avocado, chard, mustard and turnip greens, mangoes, nuts, papaya, pumpkin, red peppers, spinach (boiled), and sunflower seeds
Other foods rich in antioxidants:
Prunes
Apples
Raisins
Plums
Red grapes
Alfalfa Sprouts
Onions
Eggplant
Beans
However, the high dose of antioxidant may be harmful in some cases.
Examples:
For heavy smoker, the high dose of beta carotene lead to an increased risk of lung cancer
For cardiovascular disease patient, high dose of Vitamin E causes high risk of haemorrhagic stroke (stroke caused by bleeding in the brain).
It is always recommend for people who are being treated for cancer or other disease to have consultant from doctor before taking any supplements.
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