What is involved in an antioxidant diet? Does this term mean that one would eat nothing but antioxidant foods? What is an antioxidant diet, anyway?

Let’s explore these questions and see if we can allay any fears.

An antioxidant diet is one in which a person consumes foods that are, indeed, rich in known antioxidants. The purpose being that antioxidants are molecules that absorb the harmful “free radicals.”

Free radicals are maverick electrons that are traveling about in your body, looking for another molecule that they can attach to. Many times they attach to unstable molecules that only need one electron to complete a molecule that will cause tremendous harm to the body.

One such molecule might be the beginning of cancer.

So antioxidants absorb the free radical electrons and diffuse them before they can connect with an unstable molecule and begin to wreak havoc in the body.

Vitamins and minerals are excellent antioxidants. Some of them are better than others for providing antioxidant actions.

At one time, there were very few vitamin and mineral supplements available. People got their antioxidants from the foods they ate. People actually ate more fruits and vegetables, on a daily basis, than most people eat today. They naturally got more exercise because there were few labor saving devices in those days. People did not have to work out because their daily labor was their work out.

They ate very balanced diets regularly and, thus, many of the modern diseases that we see, were rare.

Today, our lives are so busy that we often do not have the time to eat right, so we take supplements to provide the antioxidant diet that we need.

If one were to consume a daily antioxidant diet, what kinds of foods would be on it and what kinds of antioxidant actions would be provided from those foods?

As far as vitamins go, let’s start with the number one antioxidant vitamin known: vitamin C. What kinds of foods contain vitamin C?

Obviously, citrus fruits like oranges are the leading vitamin C provider but there are others that you might not suspect.

In addition to citrus fruits there are all types of green, leafy veggies, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries and even some meats like beef, fish and poultry.

what does vitamin C do, in regards to antioxidants?

It maintains the pliability and elasticity of blood vessels, improving arterial and venous circulation and, thereby providing a lower risk of strokes. It is also a known natural antibiotic and enchances the texture and strength of cells. This can be very helpful for anyone undergoing chemotherapy as this process is very destructive to body cells. The vitamin C helps rebuild those cells. Vitamin C is a water-based vitamin which means that it is stored and transported throughout the body in the various water enriched tissues.

Another vitamin is vitamin E, which is a fat or adipose stored vitamin that is found in the fatty tissue of the body. Like oil and water, fat soluble vitamins cannot be stored in water based tissues. One of these types of vitamins is vitamin E.

Vitamin E can be found in mangoes, green, leafy vegetables (of course), many whole grains, nuts and seeds.

This vitamin helps in the prevention of any blood clots and it reduces plaque formation in the blood vessels.

Vitamin A is great for the eyes, skin and all cells. It provides elasticity and strength and helps provide types of protection for the prevention of both cancer and stroke as well as reducing heart attack risks.

Vitamin A can be found in such foods as tomatoes, squash, broccoli, carrots, peaches, egg yolk and even yams. This is yet another fat soluble vitamin.

Phytocemicals such as flavonoids help protect the body from free radical damage from high cholesterol and they’re helpful in preventing blood from clotting uneccesarily.

Phytochemicals are found in green tea, onion, cranberries, soy, pomegranates, purple grapes and even red wine.

These are just a few of the many antioxidants found in foods.

An antioxidant diet would include most, if not all, of these foods and more, so when one asks, “is that ALL I can eat?” the answer is easily, “well, why not?” as these foods contain all the great nutritional values that one needs as well as providing excellent antioxidant characteristics. However, the truthful answer is, “no”, this is not all that one can eat on an antioxidant diet. They can eat just about anything they want though it is recommended that anyone stay away from processed foods which contain tremendous amounts of preservatives and sugars. These types of ingredients contain lots of free radicals and can eventually lead to poor health if consumed in excess.

Simply try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible and eat as much antioxidant food products as you can on a daily basis.

Along with regular exercise, that should help you stay healthy for a good while.

Leave a “legitimate” comment and receive a “Do Follow” link.

Technorati Tags: antioxidant diet, antioxidants, blood clotting, blood vessels, cancer, flavonoids, free radicals, fruits, Phytocemicals, processed foods, vegetables, Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E