Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that the body produces in response to environmental and other stressors. These compounds are sometimes known as free radical scavengers. Antioxidant sources can be natural or synthetic. Some plant foods are thought to be rich in antioxidants. The body also produces some antioxidants known as endogenous antioxidants.

The antioxidant properties of dates prevent the occurrence of stomach ulcers; Kurma Piarom Shah Alam also reduces the incidence of colon and stomach cancer.

Antioxidants that come from outside the body are called exogenous. Factors that increase the production of free radicals in the body include inflammation, air pollution, ultraviolet rays and cigarette smoke. Free radicals are associated with oxidative stress, cancer, arthritis, stroke, respiratory disease, immunodeficiency, emphysema (a type of chronic lung disease), Parkinson’s disease, and other inflammatory or ischemic diseases.

Antioxidants can protect the body against cell damage caused by free radicals, known as oxidative stress. Activities and processes that can lead to oxidative stress include:

Mitochondrial activity

Too much exercise

Damage to tissue, due to inflammation and injury

Ischemic injury and reperfusion

Eating certain foods, especially processed foods, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, and certain colors and additives

smoking

environmental pollution

Exposure to harmful radiation

Exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and medications, including chemotherapy

Such activities and exposures can lead to cellular damage. These factors, in turn, may lead to these reactions in the body:

Excessive release of free iron or copper ions

Activation of phagocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a role in fighting infection

Increase of enzymes that produce free radicals

Disturbances in electron transport chains

All of these can lead to oxidative stress.

Types of antioxidants

It is thought that there are hundreds and possibly thousands of substances that can act as antioxidants. Each has its own role and is able to communicate with other antioxidants so that the body works effectively. Examples of antioxidants that are obtained from foreign substances are:

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

beta carotene

Lycopene

lutein

Selenium

Manganese

Zexanthine

Flavonoids, flavones, catechins, polyphenols, and phytoestrogens are a variety of antioxidants and plant nutrients, and they are all found in plant foods. Each antioxidant has a different function and cannot be replaced by another substance. This is why it is important to have a varied diet.

What is an antioxidant? What role do antioxidants play in the body? Are antioxidants absorbed by the body through food or do we need to take supplements? If antioxidants are also obtained through food, then what foods contain this substance? These are the questions that are going to be answered in the upcoming article.

Have you ever wondered what makes blueberries blue and pomegranates red? If you haven’t thought about it until now, it’s good to know that this beautiful red or purple color that you see in fruits and some vegetables is caused by anthocyanin pigments that are naturally present in them.

According to a study published in February 2016 in Current Opinion in Food Science, all fruits contain natural pigments. These pigments produce different colors of fruits. For example, beta-carotene gives carrots their orange color and chlorophyll gives vegetables such as kale and collard greens their green color. But this is not the only role of pigments. These pigments also act as antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that prevent the oxidation of molecules in the body. When molecules in the body are subjected to oxidative stress, they release another toxic side molecule called “free radicals” that can damage the body’s cells. This damage can lead to a person suffering from various incurable diseases such as cancer. To have a good source of antioxidants, you can rely on jual Kurma Mariami.

A study whose results were published in the Journal of Nutritional Sciences in December 2016 showed that antioxidants prevent a person from suffering from various cancers, heart diseases, and eye diseases such as macular degeneration due to the stabilization of cells and their protection against oxidative stress.

According to scientists, antioxidants can help prevent aging and prolong life by creating free radicals. However, more recent research has proven that the true root of aging is much more complex than the presence or absence of antioxidants.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that high doses of antioxidant supplements can be harmful. For example, high beta-carotene intake is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. High doses of vitamin E have been found to increase the risk of prostate cancer, and the use of certain antioxidant supplements has been linked to a higher risk of developing various types of tumors. Antioxidant supplements can also interact with some medications. It is important to speak with a healthcare professional before using any of these products.

Free radicals have been linked to a wide range of diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and vision loss, but that doesn’t mean that increasing your intake of antioxidants will prevent these diseases. Even antioxidants from unnatural sources may increase the risk of certain health problems.

As a result, it is very necessary to search for natural sources of antioxidants to include in the diet. Eating fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and antioxidants can play a role in this. However, consumption of added antioxidants, especially in processed foods, is unlikely to provide significant benefits.

The following tips can help increase antioxidant intake:

Every time you eat, include a serving of fruit or vegetable in your meals and snacks.

Drink a cup of green tea or matcha every day.

Look at the color of your plate. If your food is mostly brown or beige, its antioxidant level is probably not enough. Add colorful foods such as kale, beets, and berries to your dish.

Use turmeric, cumin, oregano, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon to improve the flavor and antioxidant content of your meals.

Snack on nuts, seeds, sunflower seeds, Kurma Rabbi Green Diamond and dried fruit, but choose items that are low in sugar and salt.