Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances (vitamins A, C, E & other minerals) which are believed may slow down or prevent damage to cells within the body caused by free radicals.

What causes free radicals?

When our bodies turn oxygen into energy (known as oxidation), toxins are produced. These toxins are known as free radicals.

Free radicals are atoms which have unpaired electron(s), causing them to be unstable. These free radicals steal electrons from surrounding molecules in an attempt to gain stability. This in turn causes the surrounding molecule  to become a free radical itself, and so on.

It is believed that antioxidants neutralise free radicals therefore reducing or preventing cellular damage.

What products contain antioxidants?

Antioxidants are found in many foods, bright coloured fruits and vegetables including;

Vitamin A;

• Apricots
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Kale
• Mango
• Peaches
• Pumpkin
• Squash
• Sweet potato

Vitamin C;

• Blackcurrant
• Broccoli
• Capsicum
• Citrus (orange, lemon, lime etc)
• Guava
• Kiwifruit
• Mango
• Papaya
• Potato
• Tomato

Vitamin E;

• Avocado
• Dark green leafy vegetables

The above list is by no means complete, there are many other fruits & vegetables with high levels of vitamins A, C & E.

Other sources of antioxidants include;

• Tea
• Coffee
• Soy
• Red wine
• Nuts
• Whole grains
• Wheat germ
• Vegetable oil
• Fish oil

What diseases may antioxidants prevent?

Not only are free radicals implicated in the ageing process, it is also believed that they may be responsible for;

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Alzheimer's disease

Guidelines:

Most doctors & nutritionists recommend eating 5 serves of fruit & vegetables a day as part of a balanced diet.