An antioxidant
works by providing an electron to the free radical, stopping it from
damaging tissue further. Most
antioxidants become a milder free radical themselves in this
process as they give up their electron. However, the
antioxidants slow down the formation of free radicals, and reduce the loss of
electrons by the cells of the body.
Free radicals have been found to be involved
in several of the most severe diseases, including circulatory disease, cancer,
Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS.
Antioxidant nutrients help prevent damage to tissues by free radicals in
one of two ways: by reducing free radical formation, or by apprehending and
neutralizing free
radicals that have formed.
Antioxidants
include many nutrient compounds from multiple food sources:
Vitamin C, Vitamin E,
polyphenols (such as resveratrol from red grapes, lignans as from flax
seeds, and ellagitannins as from red raspberries), tocotrienols (as from rice bran), curcuminoids
(as from the turmeric used in curry powder), other phytonutrients (such as
pigments, eg. flavonoids (such as OPC's as from pine
bark and grape seeds, chlorophyll as in green foods and carotenoids
as from algaes and red/yellow plant foods), and negative ion hydrogen.
Resveratrol
The television and
newspaper media have featured stories about the
health benefits of red wine, citing research
that suggests that red grapes and wine may lower the risk
of developing certain diseases.
Research
studies from around the world on resveratrol and the
other polyphenols found in red grapes, red wine and other plants,
confirm that these help improve
overall health and longevity.
Lignans
Lignans are polyphenol
antioxidant compounds that are considered "phytoestrogens".
Some of them are hormone-like substances that can act
similarly to estrogen, though mildly. In this regard lignans
can help balance hormonal irregularities. They are known to
be helpful in cancer prevention. The best known food sources
for lignans are flax seeds and sesame seeds.
Ellagic
Acid
University studies have shown that a special concentrate of red
raspberries high in ellagic acid has dramatically helped many with cancer.
Ellagic
acid is a natural compound found primarily in red raspberries, and to a lesser
extent in other berries and fruits. It
has been proven to have anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. Increasing ellagic acid may be the most
effective way to prevent cancer. It
blocks the growth of cancer cells and stops cancer growth in
people genetically predisposed to it.
Research
done at the Medical University of South Carolina on an ellagic acid concentrate
has been confirmed at a number of other major universities. These have shown that ellagic acid destroys
many cancer cells, including some of those related to a virus. Also, it inhibits division of most cancer
cells.
Results
have been similar for a variety of conditions, including: skin, breast, lung,
esophageal, pancreas, prostate and colon cancers. It also prevents destruction of a gene thought to guard against
mutation of cervical cells in women.
Further, there are indications that ellagic
acid works with DNA to hide potential binding sites on a
cell that a carcinogen or mutagen might occupy.
Since
ellagic acid is also a powerful antioxidant, the consumption of it as a
preventive agent is a wise practice for everyone.
Tocotrienols
Tocotrienols are one of the most health-restoring substances ever
discovered. These are
phytonutrient compounds found in certain plants and foods that have
great benefits for restoration and protection of health in humans.
Tocotrienols are cleansing, strengthening and highly protective to the
body’s tissues. The
assistance these wonderful compounds bring to the body is of great value
to the immune functions as well.
Tocotrienols are among the most powerful antioxidants known. They are 6000 times as effective as vitamin E in antioxidant
activity, 2400 times as powerful as vitamin C, and about 120 times as
effective as OPC’s, (eg., “pycnogenols”).
The potent antioxidant protection that tocotrienols provide could be
very important to anyone known to have trouble with circulatory disease,
as well as for many other conditions.
There are a number of cases of people recovering from cancer that was
called “terminal”, who have taken a combination of plant-source enzymes,
beneficial probiotic bacteria, superfoods containing plant pigments and
other phytonutrients, and tocotrienols for cleansing and nutritional
support. Liver support,
enzyme-enhancement and antioxidant activity from tocotrienols are key
beneficial factors for someone with this condition.
Tocotrienols feed the liver which makes enzymes, hormones and other
compounds for the rest of the body, some of which nourish and stimulate
the endocrine glands, including the pancreas, to function better.
Help for the pancreas should be of great interest to diabetics. Some research through health
professionals utilizing natural methods indicates that tocotrienols
could help reverse diabetes.
Those who begin using a tocotrienol-rich nutritional supplement
should monitor their blood sugar closely.
Adjustment of the amounts of insulin or other medicines may be
needed.
Beyond that, tocotrienols are neuro-stimulants, and help rebuild the
sheath on the nerves, calming anxiety and stress and increasing mental
abilities. These compounds also hold out hope
for those suffering from Alzheimer’s, M.S., Parkinson’s and other nerve
and brain disorders, as well as for children with learning disabilities
or slow brain development.
Children with “Down’s syndrome” may be helped to improve.
Over all, the protective benefits, the cleansing of the liver as well as
the rest of the body, and the rejuvenating effect on all body tissues,
makes supplementation with tocotrienols a wise choice.
Pigments
Chlorophyll and carotenoids (carotenes and xanthophylls) are
well-known pigments that are protective antioxidants.
Chlorophyll, found in all green foods,is similar in its
make-up to human blood, except it has magnesium as the
centerpiece, while blood has iron. It is relatively easy for
the body to make blood with a good intake of chlorophyll.
Carotenoids are from the red and yellow part of the color
spectrum. They are antioxidants that are particularly
protective for the skin, eyes and other soft tissues, as
well as the liver.
Oligo
Proanthocyanidins
are powerful antioxidant pigments that have received a great deal of attention in
recent years. OPC’s are flavonoid
compounds found in certain pine extracts and in some fruits, especially grape
seeds.
Native Americans used parts of special
pine trees centuries ago in the form of a tea made from the needles and bark
that was used to prevent scurvy, colds and flu in the winter.
OPC’s extend the effectiveness of Vitamin C
in the body dramatically, and the Vitamin C extends Vitamin E. OPC’s are outstanding as antioxidants, 20
times as effective as Vitamin C and 50 times as effective as Vitamin E.
OPC’s also strengthen blood
vessels, including fragile capillaries,
enhance the brain, and firm collagen in the skin, renewing a youthful
appearance.
Similar flavonoid pigment compounds to OPC's are found in
other fruits, especially berries. Flavonoids are commonly
associated with vitamin C, and serve to extend its
effectiveness. All flavonoids have similar benefits to those
of OPC's in antioxidant protection, improved brain function
and nicer skin.
Antioxidant supplements are now being made from concentrated extracts of
various algae, fruits and other plants with wonderful results.
Negative Ion Hydrogen
Negatively charged hydrogen has been found to be the most
effective antioxidant, as it has the most available free
negative electrons to neutralize free radical toxins, which
are positively charged.
|
"Must
Have" Antioxidants
Antioxidant
intake is absolutely essential to counteract the tremendous bombardment our
tissues receive from free radicals. It
is valuable to consume a variety of antioxidants, though, as each has other
accompanying benefits that it provides.
