- Vitamin E: A fat soluble vitamin present in nuts, seeds, vegetable and fish oils, sweet potatoes, whole grains especially wheat germ, and apricots.
- Vitamin C: Also known as ascorbic acid, is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries.
- Beta-carotene: the antioxidant precursor to Vitamin A (retinol), is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, cantaloupe, peaches, grains, and in particular tomatoes.
- Selenium: Found in meats, fish, dairy and wholegrains and is particularly effective in combination with vitamins C and E.
- Co Enzyme Q10: Found in beef, soy, mackerel, sardines, spinach, peanuts, soybeans and vegetable oil and has been shown to be particularly effective in cases of heart disease, disrupted blood pressure, Alzheimers and chronic fatigue.
- Additionally, Co Enzyme Q10 encourages the production of glutathione, a powerful micronutrient used in the core of each cell in our body.
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine & Alpha Lipoic Acid: Also found in red meat, and in the case of Alpha Lipoic Acid, spinach, broccoli, and yeast. As well as delivering an antioxidant activity themselves, in particular with diabetic neuropathy, they are also known to regenerate the activity of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Glutathione.
- Green Tea: Contains an active antioxidant known as EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate) demonstrated to work effectively in maintaining heart health and suppressing damage to good cholesterol. On top of this it is said to boost the bodies own production of antioxidants.
- Grapeseed Extract: Contains a potent subgroup of flavonoids known as Oligomeric proanthocyanidns complexes (OPC) shown to enhance the health of blood vessels, lending itself as an extremely helpful antioxidant for poor vascular function, including varicose veins and diabetes. Often added to face creams, it is also thought to preserve and re-inforce the collagen in skin, but remember the skin can also be protected from the inside out.
- Pine Bark: Also containing OPC’s, Pine Bark works on strengthening fragile and weak capillaries and has demonstrated to have extensive benefits in cases of allergies and respiratory conditions such as hay-fever and asthma.
- Turmeric: Containing curcumin, Turmeric has an antioxidant effect shown to be equivalent to that of Vitamins C and E and an anti-inflammatory effect equivalent to those of cortisone and phenylbutazone.
So where do we go from here?
- Introduce more antioxidant rich foods into your diet on daily basis
- Reduce exposure to environmental pollutants as much as possible
- Stress management tips can help alleviate stress-induced free radical damage
- Always use sun protection when outside
- Take an antioxidant supplementBy following these tips your body will thank you for giving it the best helping hand it can have in its fight against free radical damage.
(published with permission in writing from:http://weblog.healthydirect.co.uk)
