| Prevention and Anti-Aging Tips:
How Antioxidants Can Prevent Disease
and Slow Down Aging
Antioxidants | Free
Radicals | Laughter
| Kindness
| Stress
Management | Diabetes
What are antioxidants?
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing
or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. It can be
a protein, enzyme or hormone manufactured by your body, or
an essential vitamin that needs to be provided by your diet.
Antioxidants are often referred to as “free radical
scavengers” thanks to their ability to neutralize these
offenders.
As a result, antioxidants may help prevent
premature aging and dozens of chronic, degenerative diseases,
including cancer, cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes,
inflammatory/autoimmune and mental/neural diseases.
How do antioxidants fight free radicals?
Free radicals are
unstable molecules with a missing electron. When they become
too abundant in our bodies, they can damage healthy cells,
resulting in premature aging and dozens of degenerative diseases.
[Learn more about free
radicals.]
Antioxidants “donate” electrons
to free radicals, thus stabilizing and neutralizing them.
In the process, antioxidants themselves become oxidized. However,
they are capable of binding with each other, forming harmless,
stable molecules. In fact, most of them go right back to work
and keep neutralizing more free radicals.
By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidants
stop the chain reactions that could otherwise cause cell damage.
Consequently, antioxidants may help prevent
premature aging and degenerative diseases.
Your body manufactures certain proteins, enzymes
and hormones that act as free radical scavengers. These internal
antioxidants include glutathione, coenzyme Q-10, and melatonin.
If you are for the most part
healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle with balanced
nutrition, adequate physical activity and rest, low stress
levels, adequate coping skills, etc., your
body’s natural antioxidants may suffice in fighting
free radicals.
But… how many people do you know who match
the above description?
For all of us imperfect humans, nature and scientists
have created other ways to obtain antioxidants through antioxidant-rich
foods and through antioxidant supplements.
What foods provide nutrients with antioxidant
qualities?
As a rule of thumb, the darker and more colorful
a food is, the more antioxidant components it contains:
| White/light colored:
No or very few
antioxidants |
Dark yellow/orange/red:
Average and good
antioxidants |
Dark green/dark
blue/purple:
Strong and plentiful
antioxidants |
The following chart lists essential nutrients
that have antioxidant qualities, their potential health benefits,
and the foods that are their rich sources.
|
Nutrient |
Health Benefits |
Food Sources |
|
Curcumin |
May help prevent tumors, cancers,
arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, Alzheimer’s,
and diabetes; supports a healthy cardiovascular system,
may help control HIV |
Turmeric |
|
Flavonoids (incl. OPCs) |
Support a healthy cardiovascular
system, induce mechanisms that help kill cancer cells
and inhibit tumor invasion, increase vitamin C levels,
support strong collagen |
Berries, red grapes and wine, citrus
fruits, ginkgo biloba, green tea, dark chocolate (with
a cocoa content of 70% or more), parsley, onions |
|
Resveratrol |
In mice: extends life span, prevents
cancer and improves athletic performance; there’s
little evidence yet of similar benefits for humans,
but related research is underway (esp. re. colon, skin
and breast cancers) |
Japanese knotweed, red wine, red
grapes, mulberries, boiled peanuts |
|
Selenium |
Works with vitamin E to protect the
immune system, heart, and liver, may help prevent tumor
formation, may slow down aging and prevent age spots |
Brewer’s yeast, meat, fish,
grains, broccoli |
|
Vitamin A (esp. beta carotenes) |
Supports healthy eyes, skin, hair
and nails, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes |
Fish liver oil, liver, green leafy
vegetables, orange/red vegetables and fruits, green
herbs |
|
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) |
Essential for the growth, repair
and maintenance of tissues, cartilage, bones, and teeth,
the production of collagen, and the healing of wounds |
Sweet and hot peppers (all colors),
berries, tropical fruits, citrus fruits and rinds, dark
green vegetables, green herbs, cauliflower |
|
Vitamin E |
Protects tissues from damage by free
radicals, important in the formation of red blood cells,
helps the body use vitamin K |
Cold-pressed vegetable and nut oils,
wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw nuts and seeds, nut butters,
green leafy vegetables, hot spices |
Notes:
• Excessive
consumption of certain vitamins and minerals can cause
severe health consequences. Never exceed the recommended daily
values. Always consult your doctor or a certified nutritionist
before you start any supplementation
program or drastically change your diet.
• Liver,
other organ meats, and dairy
products are high in cholesterol and saturated fats. Limit
consumption to occasional “treats” if you’re
heart-healthy, avoid if you have a heart condition.
• Fish
(particularly shellfish), dairy
(milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.) and nuts
may cause allergic reactions. Avoid if you know you’re
allergic; consult an allergy specialist if you develop a rash
or have another adverse reaction; call 911 immediately if
you have difficulty breathing.
How to choose an antioxidant supplement
that’s best for you?
Rule #1: Consult your doctor
or nutritionist before you start taking any supplement!
Rule #2: Educate yourself
and only consider a supplement if information on its ingredients
is readily available. Have that information handy when you
consult your health care provider.
The following are selected antioxidant supplements
that we recommend. Click a supplement’s name to obtain
detailed information on its benefits and ingredients.
• Isotonix
OPC-3 — a potent, all natural antioxidant
composed of extracts from grape seeds, red wine, French
maritime pine bark (pycnogenol), bilberries and citrus
fruits. The isotonic formula maximizes the absorption
of the OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). |
|
French Maritime Pine Bark |
• Isotonix
Maximum ORAC Formula — another potent, isotonic
antioxidant. Contains vitamins C and E, selenium, and extracts
or powders from multiple types of berries, as well as grapes
and plums. In addition to the isotonic format, black pepper
extract (Bioperine) further improves bioavailability of the
ingredients. Provides 3000 ORAC units per dose.
• Curcumin
Extreme — a potent antioxidant that also
promotes effective liver detoxification. It contains turmeric
rhizome extract (BCM-95), selenium, and broccoli seed extract.
Although not isotonic, the BCM-95 formula significantly
increases the absorption of Curcumin Extreme in comparison
to most other available curcumin supplements.
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Antioxidants | Free
Radicals | Laughter
| Kindness
| Stress
Management | Diabetes
|
Prevention and Anti-Aging Tips