Resveratrol is an anti-oxidant that is manufactured by certain plants and fruits for protection against environmental conditions that are unfavorable for the formation of free radicals. When our bodies’ cells use them in protecting functions, the higher the level of anti-oxidants in our body, the healthier the cells become. This is where the anti-oxidants present in the foods we consume come in. Many of these anti-oxidants are also available in nutritional supplements.
The formation of free radicals is a natural process that takes place every day in our bodies. As we get older, the number of free radicals in our body increases, therefore causing damages to the body. Anti-oxidants present in the foods we consume fight the damage that the free radicals cause to our body. One of the primary sources of anti-oxidants is vitamin C. However, other anti-oxidants are also used to prevent the damage done by free radicals.
As the name states, anti-oxidants cannot be produced by our body and have to be taken from external sources. There are plenty of sources from which we can obtain anti-oxidants. Some of the ways in which we can obtain the necessary anti-oxidants are eating a balanced diet, which implies that we should take in various food groups in our diet. Some of the berries and fruits that are high in anti-oxidants are included in the list below.
Consuming food that contains lots of anti-oxidants is certainly a healthier option to the regular consumption of the junk foods. Some of the popular fruits are listed here.
Raspberries – contains Myricin which is an anti-oxidant
Strawberries – contains actin which is an anti-oxidant
Blackberries – contains riboflavin which is an anti-oxidant
Beet Juice – Contains zeaxanthin which is an anti-oxidant
Cranberries – contains cucumin which is an anti-oxidant
Spinach – Folate (found in folic acid) which is an anti-oxidant
Red Wine – increases nitric oxide which is an anti-oxidant
Dates – They have a lot of iron and vitamin B6, and also contain potassium.
Oranges – They contain vitamin C and are known to reduce the risk of cancer.
Dried figs – They contain powerful antioxidants.
Grapes – They contain lots of Iron and Potassium salts.
Brown Rice – They contain vitamin B-Complex and Vitamin E.
Beef – It contains Iron and its amino acid.
Chicken – It also contains Iron and protein.
For the last couple of decades, we have seen a steady stream of research about antioxidants. And justifiably so, it has been estimated that as much as 80 percent of the illnesses brought on by aging are a direct result of free radical damage.
In the following sections, we will be looking at how the free radicals are generated, which admittedly is a very simplified description of the way things are. But as a scientific point of importance, one of the billions of cells in our body’s are equipped with an immune system consisting of many specialized units such as enzymes, hormones, proteins, etc. These specialized units are not very effective at fighting all the different kinds of free radicals present inside our body. Some of the fighting groups of free radicals include the so-called superoxide radicals, the hydroxyl radicals, and the hydroxyl radicals. Superoxide radicals are a very destructive kind of radical that canii destroy internal components of cells and DNA, and can lead to a host of other complicated health problems.
One of the antioxidants that we will discuss is Vitamin E. There are two types of Vitamin E, the alpha-carotene type and the gamma-carotene type. The alpha-carotene type is mostly found in plants and is the one that has been implicated in a lot of research done on animals. The best way to get the alpha-carotene is by eating carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, and apricots. The other type of Vitamin E, the gamma-carotene type, is found in oranges, dry figs, and Performance greens. This particular type of vitamin is very important as it plays a major role in the maintaining of cellular membrane, is very important in the forming of red blood cells, and is also vital for cardiovascular health. As a matter of fact, vitamin E is found in very high concentrations in olives, nuts, and dark leafy greens such as mustard and turnip greens.
