Antioxidant Vitamins Key Facts
It is a common fact that your health is determined by
what you eat. If you want to be healthy, you must eat food with the
necessary nutrients which your body need.
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Today, cardiovascular disease is the foremost
cause of death for African-American men and women, claiming
the lives of over 100,000 annually. In recent years, there
has been scientific research conducted in the US to
establish how antioxidant vitamins may reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease. Based on previous studies, it has
been established that antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin
E, vitamin C, and beta carotene (a type of vitamin A), have
potential health-promoting properties. The data on
antioxidant vitamins is incomplete for the most part but up
to 30% of Americans are already taking some form of
antioxidant vitamin supplement along with their diet.
However, due to the lack of sufficient data to support the
success of antioxidant vitamins supplement against
cardiovascular diseases and other such degenerative
illnesses, the American Heart Association does not recommend
using antioxidant vitamins supplements. |
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However, they recommend continued taking of
antioxidant vitamins found in the foods that we eat.
Some of the basic food groups that prove to
be rich sources of antioxidant vitamins are breads, cereals,
pasta, and starchy vegetables (such as potatoes, yam,
squash, etc.). Fruits and vegetables; fat-free milk and
low-fat dairy products, and lean meat, fish, and poultry are
some of the key food items that you must eat to keep
healthy. Although it is a fact that there is nothing
healthier than including fresh produce in your diet, there
is actually another reason why doctors insist on a healthy
diet of fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Fruits and vegetables are antioxidant foods
are powerful at fighting free radicals which are created
during the natural process of oxidation. Eating all the
foods that are recommended is essential if you want to keep
healthy.
Additionally, if you follow this diet and
east these basic food groups, you not only ingest a high
level of natural antioxidant vitamins, but you also keep fat
buildup in your body. Eating a variety of foods low in
saturated fat and cholesterol will provide a rich natural
source of antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Why do we need antioxidant vitamins? Oxygen radicals are
everywhere because we live in an atmosphere that contains
oxygen. Oxidation is a process that naturally occurs in the
body and a natural consequence of it are the radical
particles that have since been referred to as free radicals.
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Scientists point to these so-called free radicals
as the culprits when it comes to most degenerative diseases.
Free radicals are blamed for even the simplest of illnesses,
such as colds.
There is an increasing body of proof that
oxidative stress is linked to many diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, neurological
disorders, cataracts, and arthritis. Our strongest defenses
against these harmful free radicals are antioxidant vitamins
which are contained in the foods that we eat.
By eating the right foods with antioxidant vitamins, our bodies
fight against diseases and we remain healthy.
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