Knowing More About Antioxidants

Certainly we have heard or read health articles in which there is the term "antioxidant", and of course the word is described as something that is beneficial to the human body, ranging from preventing aging to anti-cancer. But actually what is an antioxidant? What are its functions? And where we can get it? Here's the explanation.
Antioxidants are nutrients contained in foods that can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our bodies. When the body cells of oxygen mengguankan, naturally these cells produce free radicals that can cause damage that ultimately lead to cancer.

 What are the Advantages of Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are nutrients naturally found in fruits and certain vegetables, and has been shown to protect human cells from oxidative damage and provide other advantages, among others:
• Strengthens the immune system to resist colds, viruses, and infections.
• Reduce the incidence of all cancers.
• Prevent the occurrence of glaucoma and macular degeneration.
• Reduce the risk of oxidation of cholesterol and heart disease.
• Anti-aging of cells and whole body.
What Are Types of Antioxidants?
Here are some types of antioxidants and a source where we can get it:

• Vitamin A: fat soluble vitamin that is needed for bone formation, digestion, and eye health but it also can help the immune system and skin. Foods rich in vitamin A include, carrots, liver, sweet potatoes, apricots, oranges, mangoes, guava, papaya, milk, yogurt, and egg yolks.

• Vitamin C: Vitamin is cleaning free radicals that are in an aqueous environment, such as inside the cell. Vitamin C works synergistically with vitamin E to eliminate free radicals. Vitamin C found in oranges, lemons, strawberries, tomatoes, green peppers, broccoli, and leafy green vegetables.

• Vitamin E: Vitamin is also fat soluble it maintains cell membrane (which is mostly composed of fatty acids) from damage caused by free radicals. Another function of vitamin E is to protect the fat in the LDL (bad cholesterol) from oxidation. Nuts, grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, and liver oil, a diet rich in vitamin E.

• Selenium: Selenium is a mineral that should be consumed in a measurable amount, because if in large doses can be toxic to the body. Foods that are rich in selenium, among others, fish and shellfish, red meat, eggs, chicken, garlic, and whole grains.

• Beta-carotene: Beta-carotene is known as peluruh singlet oxygen (a form of oxygen that is toxic to the body) the best. In addition, beta-carotene is also a good cleanser, especially free radicals at low oxygen concentrations. Beta-carotene found in carrots, yellow and red peppers, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mangoes, and other types of fruit and vegetables.

• Lycopene: As an antioxidant, lycopene is twice as powerful as beta-carotene in protecting white blood cells from membrane damage caused by free radicals. Lycopene may also reduce the risk of prostate and cervical cancer. In addition, lycopene may prevent heart disease by inhibiting oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Together with beta-carotene, lycopene is known to play a role in protecting the skin from damage caused by UV radiation. Foods that are rich in lycopene, among others, tomatoes, grapefruit, and watermelon.

• Lutein: Lutein is kartenoid in high concentrations in the macula of the eye (the back of the eye which became the retina), which is believed to filter out damaging blue light and protect the back of the eye from damage caused by free radicals. Lutein also helps prevent macular degeneration related to age, developmental glaucoma, and cataracts. Foods that are rich in lutein include dark green vegetables, like broccoli, kiwi, spinach, and brussel sprouts.

• Lignans: Foods that contain lignans found in flax seeds, oatmeal, and berley.