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Antioxidants - Your Best Defense Against Disease and Aging

Brad  Bahrelectron that they can give away without
turning into free radicals. In order to
Studies support the benefits of eating a dietprotect us, the enzymes need help from
rich in fruits and vegetables. This is due tocertain  substances  known  as  antioxidants.
their high antioxidant value. Why are
antioxidants so important? Because they haveThe antioxidant value of any food or
a proven track record of fighting freesupplement can be determined by it's ORAC
radicals.rating. ORAC means Oxygen Radical Absorbance
Capacity. According to the University of
Michigan, Comprehensive Cancer Center, the
measurement of ORAC is a way to measure how
Free radicals are highly unstable moleculesmany oxygen radicals a specific food can
that are naturally formed inside our bodiesabsorb. The more oxygen radicals a food can
by the process of oxidation. They are normalabsorb, the higher its ORAC score. The higher
by products of everyday functions likeits score... the more that food or supplement
digestion and physical activity. Freewill help you fight diseases like cancer and
radicals also come from outside sources, suchheart  disease.
as smoking, environmental pollution, and
synthetic chemicals that are added to ourMost experts agree that we should consume
water  and  food.5,000 ORAC units per day to effectively fight
free radicals in the body. Sadly, most of us
We are also all exposed daily to pollutedaverage around 1,200 units per day. Not
air, ingest oxidized or partially rancidnearly enough to protect us from the common
foods, and oxidizing radiations from the sunciseases  of  aging.
and  various  electrical  appliances.
One of the best sources of antioxidants are
Free radicals lack one electron making themberries and fruits. Most of us would have a
chemically unstable. To stabilize themselves,very hard time eating the large amounts
they attack any other substance within reachnecessary to reach 5,000 ORAC units per day.
and steel an electron from it. This processFor this reason, high ORAC supplements have
creates a new free radical, which repeats thebeen created. They contain berry and fruit
process, producing a "domino effect." Whenextracts with a known ORAC rating. These
this reaction is uncontrolled, it cansupplements are inexpensive and provide many
generate millions of free radicals withinhealth benefits to your entire body and
seconds.brain. Many people use these supplements as
part of an anti-aging program. Keeping your
Fortunately our bodies come equipped with acells from being destroyed goes a long way to
free radical fighting mechanism. It consistsstaying healthy and young.
of specialized enzymes that have a "spare"



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