Some Very Effective Antioxidants That You Must Include In Your Diet

We know the advantages of including antioxidants in our diet. Let us have a look at some of the most recommended ones and their properties so that we can appreciate and understand their utility in a better manner.

a) Grape seeds – They contain powerful compounds like PCOs or better known as pycnogenols and procyanidolic oligomers. These are time tested and proven phyto-antioxidants. They are believed to have 50 times greater power than Vitamin E and have the capability to cross the blood-brain hurdle. This makes them easy to absorb into the bloodstream and their special ability in being able to combine effectively with both vitamin C as well as E gives them a unique advantage.

b) Broccoli Sprout – A number of studies conducted at various schools of medicine have revealed that the sulphoraphanes can keep the body fight cancer very well. This is found in broccoli in good concentrations. However, the recommendation is that you take this in sprout form when the concentration is at its maximum. As broccoli grows, the concentrations start dropping and they are not as effective. The finding was that broccoli sprouts of three days had about 30 to 40 times higher levels than cooked ones. Sulphoraphanes act indirectly and are excellent detoxification agents helping the body to flush out the toxins. It is well known that the continued impact of indirect antioxidants last longer and thus more effective than direct activity.

c) Green Tea – This is yet another wonderful antioxidant agent due to the presence of polyphenols. The catechins in green tea are bioflavonoid that is extremely active in fighting free radicals and they also protect lipids from getting oxidised or spoilt. Catechins also possess much more power than Vitamin E and the one found in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate actually assists the body metabolism to produce antioxidant enzymes without any help from outside.

d) Oregano – Rosmarinic acid is one phenol present in many of the herbs and this is a powerful antioxidant. Research has shown that this herb is very high in its antioxidant activity to the extent that even apples, blueberries and oranges compare poorly with it in terms of its power.

e) Curcuminoids – This is another phyto-nutrient that is found in turmeric and is regarded as highly effective in its action. All of us are aware of the tremendous help that turmeric provides when it comes to dealing with inflammation or septic conditions. The curcuminoids are thrice as potent as the PCOs.

f) Bilberry - It is the deep pigmentation in bilberry that is responsible for its antioxidant effect. This helps in micro-circulation and is specifically helpful for maintaining healthy eyesight.

Making use of the above anti-oxidants will surely go a long way in maintaining good health.

By: Vivian Jones

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