Antioxidants
In this section of Seattle Organic Restaurants I want to talk about the power of antioxidants. Everyday (depending on our lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise or environmental pollution) somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 free radicals are attacking our living cells. Free radicals are groups of atoms that can cause damage at the cellular level and result in a weakened immune system.
Natural compounds of antioxidants can help to protect the body against the damage of free radicals and toxins. Free radicals can be formed by being exposed to sun, unhealthy and toxic foods like fried and junk foods, chemicals in cigarettes, industrial or chemical wastes and polluted air. There are different types of free radicals and the most common ones are oxygen-derived free radical known as hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite radicals, lipid peroxide, superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals. On the other hand, your guardian angels protecting you against the damage of free radicals and toxins are Vitamin A, C and E, and beta-carotene flavonoids.
Antioxidants and enzymes can both neutralize the damage of free radicals and toxins in your body. Methionine reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are the four essential enzymes that can neutralize the damage of free radicals in your body. Many vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains are a high source of antioxidants, but most people do not get enough fruits and vegetables in their daily diet to fight off free radicals. Therefore taking the right nutritionally balanced supplements high in antioxidants can help to lessen the damage of free radicals.
