| Why do we need to eat foods that are
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| | strawberries.
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| found to be naturally high in
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| | It is important in forming collagen, a
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| antioxidants?
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| | protein that gives structure to bones,
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| What are antioxidants?
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| | cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels.
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| Which foods do we need to eat, in order
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| | Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of
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| to naturally fight free radicals?
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| | iron, and helps maintain capillaries,
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| Scientists have found that the body forms
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| | bones, and teeth.
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| unstable oxygen molecules, called free
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| | Beta-carotene: Beta-carotene is a
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| radicals; every cell produces tens of
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| | precursor to vitamin A. It is present in
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| thousands of them each day. A free
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| | liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach,
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| radical is basically an atom with an odd
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| | carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato,
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| number of electrons in its outer ring.
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| | cantaloupe, peaches, and grains.
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| Since electrons have a very strong
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| | Studies have been done on beta-carotene's
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| tendency to exist in a paired rather than
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| | effectiveness for heart disease, cancer,
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| an unpaired state, free radicals
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| | chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer's
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| indiscriminately pick up electrons from
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| | disease, fibromyalgia, male infertility,
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| other atoms, which in turn convert those
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| | and psoriasis.
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| other atoms into secondary free radicals,
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| | Coenzyme Q10: CoQ10 boosts energy,
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| thus setting up a chain reaction, which
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| | enhances the immune system, and acts as
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| can cause substantial biological damage.
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| | an antioxidant. A growing body of
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| This, in short, is bad. There are also
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| | research suggests that coenzyme Q10 may
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| many kinds of free radicals, which we are
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| | help prevent or treat some of the
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| exposed to everyday, for example,
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| | following conditions: heart disease, high
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| pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and
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| | blood pressure, high cholesterol,
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| herbicides.
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| | diabetes, and others. Primary dietary
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| Antioxidants are thought to neutralise
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| | sources of CoQ10 include oily fish, organ
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| and stabilise these free radicals.
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| | meats such as liver, spinach, broccoli,
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| So, which antioxidants are naturally
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| | peanuts, wheat germ and whole grains.
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| found in which foods?
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| | Selenium: Selenium is a trace mineral
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| We have:
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| | that is essential to good health but
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| Vitamin E: a fat-soluble vitamin found in
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| | required only in small amounts. It helps
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| vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy
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| | synthesize antibodies; helps synthesize
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| vegetables, and fortified cereals. Some
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| | co-enzyme Q10and helps transport ions
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| of the foods containing the highest
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| | across cell membranes. The best sources
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| amounts of vitamin E are wheat germ oil,
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| | of selenium are Brazil nuts, wheat germ,
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| almonds, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil,
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| | molasses, sunflower seeds, whole wheat
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| hazelnuts, peanuts, spinach, broccoli,
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| | bread and dairy foods.
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| kiwi and mango.
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| | You should note that there are many other
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| Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin
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| | antioxidants naturally found in foods.
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| involved in the metabolism of all cells.
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| | You should also note that the best way to
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| It protects vitamin A and essential fatty
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| | take antioxidants is naturally, through
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| acids from oxidation in the body cells
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| | fresh, vibrant food.
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| and prevents breakdown of body tissues.
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| | One more thing; sometimes less is more.
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| Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid is a
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| | Some of these antioxidants are only
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| water-soluble vitamin present in citrus
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| | needed in small amounts, so check into
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| fruits and juices, cabbage, green
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| | whether you need to take more or not,
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| peppers, broccoli, spinach, tomato, kale,
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| | before you start overdosing on
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| guava, cantaloupe, kiwi, papaya, and
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| | antioxidants!
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