Food contains many properties that help our body function properly. The antioxidant properties of food are of great importance because free radicals cause great damage to our health, producing among others premature aging and predisposing to Alzheimer's .
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In Otramedicina we tell you why free radicals are produced and what antioxidants you can consume.
Oxygen is necessary for the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates to obtain energy. However, in the normal reactions that occur in the cells, chemically unstable substances, such as free radicals, are released . The body has a complex antioxidant defense system to neutralize radicals and prevent cell damage and associated diseases, such as heart disease and cancer .
The antioxidant defense system of the body includes the antioxidant vitamins C and E and the carotenes (pigments present in colored vegetables and some fruits). A higher intake of these nutrients is associated with lower rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Optimal levels of antioxidants are also necessary for the maintenance of immune function.
In a study at Harvard University , tomatoes and strawberries were effective against prostate cancer. The benefits of tomato are found in raw and cooked forms. Tomatoes are rich in Iicopene, a red carotenoid pigment that has antioxidant activity.
The lack of antioxidants and the decrease of antioxidant enzymes aggravate the alterations of aging such as the alterations of the lens and the retina . Increasing the intake of antioxidants in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be the cheapest way to prevent cataracts.
Whole grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables also contain a wide variety of flavonoids and phenolic compounds (such as ellagic, ferulic and caffeic acids) that act as powerful antioxidants. Flavonoids also inhibit the formation of blood clots. Grapes, strawberries, raspberries and nuts are rich in ellagic acid, while oats, blueberries, soybeans and dried plums are good sources of ferulic and caffeic acid.
Two European studies found that the high consumption of flavonoids in fruits and vegetables is related to low rates of heart disease and cancer. This is why it is very important that we receive food that is well balanced, with a high consumption of fruits and vegetables, which will help us to be healthier and have less risk of suffering diseases.