Is Your Body Rusting Away?
By Mike Williams
Free radicals damage the body like rust eroding metal. The longer unprotected metal is exposed to oxygen, the more rust erodes the metal through oxidation. In much the same way, free radicals in your cells can lead to oxidation, damaging the cells like rust damages metal.
Another way to visualize oxidation taking place is to recall what happens to apple slices when exposed to air. In a short time, the fruit begins to brown. That’s oxidation. To prevent oxidation in cells, nutritionists recommend adding antioxidants to your diet. Antioxidants work to prevent cell damage.
Free radicals are the culprits causing oxidation. And, put simply, free radicals are everywhere: in the air we breathe, in the food we eat, and even in sunlight. For the most part, the body can handle the free radicals. But when the body’s ability to counteract oxidation caused by free radicals is overwhelmed, the result is cell damage.
To protect against the damage caused by free radicals, antioxidants rich foods should be consumed. Antioxidants can block free radicals before damage is done to cells. Vitamins C and E, and selenium and manganese, are all antioxidants.
Likewise, certain foods are high in antioxidants. Some antioxidants are: carotenoids, flavonoids, and isothiocyanates, reservatrol, and tannins. Carotenoids are found in deeply pigmented foods such as leafy greens, carrots and sweet potatoes. Flavonoids are also found in fruits such as apples, apricots, pears, and berries as well as whole grains and wine. They’re also found in vegetables such as beans, cabbage, celery, onions. Isothiocyanates are found in broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Reservatrols are found in red and purple grapes and their wines, as well as peanuts, blueberries, and cranberries. Lastly, tannins can be obtained by eating pomegranates, persimmons, nuts, lentils, and green teas.
Making sure your body has what it needs to fight oxidation and cell damage is extremely important. And it all begins with maintaining healthy eating. So get plenty of antioxidants to protect your cells from rusting away.
