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What Is Antioxidant Therapy?
Antioxidant therapy is a way of treating patients with a variety of natural vitamins and nutritional elements in order to try to limit some kinds of degenerative conditions. Doctors are looking at how to use this kind of medical treatment to help patients combat a range of illnesses from diabetes to cardiovascular issues. Antioxidants naturally occur in a wide range of foods, and as a result, the science of antioxidant therapy is closely linked to the science of nutrition.
Antioxidants are a category of chemical elements in vitamins and nutrients that help to prevent oxidization in the body. Scientists define oxidization technically as the removal of electrons from molecules. On another level, oxidization is a process that allows for negative cellular activities that can lead to certain types of cancers or heart conditions.
Antioxidants are found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables such as peppers, greens, tropical fruits, citrus fruits, and other brightly colored natural foods. The nutrients that contain a high amount of antioxidant value include vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as other elements called anthocyanins and anthocyanidins that contribute color to berries and brightly colored plants. All of these can be added to a diet to increase the body’s absorption of antioxidants, but much of this health value can be lost in cooking, processing or storing the foods, which makes it harder to deliver a high volume through diet alone. Another way to incorporate antioxidants into your diet is through Supergreens. Supergreens can help boost your immune system and promote healthy digestion.
Antioxidant therapy may include dietary changes as well as specific dietary supplements. Generally, antioxidant supplements are seen as relatively safe. There are some side effects of high intake of some antioxidants, including nausea or upset stomach. Other side effects and medical interactions may apply to some individuals.
Some doctors are enthusiastic about what antioxidant therapy can provide to a wide range of patients. Other doctors are critical of careless or unsupervised usage of antioxidant supplements, and warn the public that individuals should see their doctors and consult with them prior to starting a regimen of antioxidant dietary supplements. Nutritionists and food experts generally want the public to know more about antioxidants and how to use them in a daily diet to benefit from a wide range of healthy chemical interactions. More people around the world are looking at food science as a way to combat disease and provide a quality of life for themselves. Antioxidant therapy through diet fits into this philosophy of smart eating.
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AS FEATURED ON:
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![Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are all good sources of antioxidants.]()
By: ElenathewiseStrawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are all good sources of antioxidants. -
![Citrus fruits, which are high in Vitamin C, are often used in antioxidant therapy.]()
By: AccentCitrus fruits, which are high in Vitamin C, are often used in antioxidant therapy. -
![Antioxidant therapy may include specific dietary supplements.]()
By: diego cervoAntioxidant therapy may include specific dietary supplements. -
![Green tea, whether brewed or taken as a supplement, is packed with antioxidant polyphenols.]()
By: Liv Friis-larsenGreen tea, whether brewed or taken as a supplement, is packed with antioxidant polyphenols.
Discussion Comments
This is the post that you should read! A serious approach to antioxidant therapy is to choose raw, unprocessed foods. The best bet is to eat vegetables, fruits and berries, whole. Don't rely on processed juices that boast antioxidant power. Most are watered down with concentrated apple juice. anyway.
If you must drink the juice, then purchase a home juice machine and do it yourself. A general rule is that anything blue or purple is rich in antioxidant value, like beets, blueberries, blackberries, etc. There are also many herbs with high antioxidant value.
A serious approach to antioxidant therapy is to choose raw, unprocessed foods. The best bet is to eat vegetables, fruits and berries, whole. Don't rely on processed juices that boast antioxidant power. Most are watered down with concentrated apple juice anyway.
If you must drink the juice, then purchase a home juice machine and do it yourself. A general rule is that anything blue or purple is rich in antioxidant value, like beets, blueberries, blackberries, etc. There are also many herbs with high antioxidant value.
Alpha Lipoic Acid, Selenium, and Milk Thistle are already proving their strength in antioxidant therapy.
Wow, antioxidants sure can do a lot! I will start adding more to my family’s meals, too. I had no idea all the different ways you could benefit from getting more antioxidants. I love that the food choices include a lot of things my whole family will enjoy. I will be talking to our doctor about antioxidant therapy and how it can improve my family’s health and well being.
I made a point to add more foods with antioxidants to my shopping list. I wanted to make sure I was getting the best antioxidants I could find. I found some information with foods rated for their oxygen radical absorbance capacity. This is how the National Institute of Health measures the amount of antioxidants found in foods.
After reading this list, I made sure to pick up juice with Acai berry, pecans, artichokes, and quite a few spices. I had no idea how many spices rated high for having antioxidant content. It is going to be fun experimenting with the new flavors. The list of foods is so long, I will be trying new things for a while.
I have been taking a super antioxidant supplement to combat free radicals occurring in the body. My energy has already improved. I seem to have less achiness than I used to, too.
There are quite a few different companies with super antioxidant supplements out. It was hard to know which one to pick. I did some searching and read consumer reviews to try to find the right one for me.
I can’t say that I’ve seen any anti aging benefits, but maybe I will! I do know I haven’t had a cold yet this season. That’s a new one for me.
When I go grocery shopping, I am always on the look out for antioxidant rich foods and juices. I agree that it is important to get antioxidants in our daily foods. I buy blueberries whenever they are in season. Pomegranates juice is also one of my favorite ways to get some extra antioxidants.
Getting kids to eat healthy foods can be a challenge. Since so many antioxidant rich foods are brightly colored, I find that my kids are more attracted to them. I try to make games at meal time involving the colors to encourage them.
Hopefully including these nutrients will help my family and me get and stay healthier. I think we can change and improve a lot just through diet.
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