Entries Tagged as 'Antioxidants'
Centuries-old Beverage Contains Super Antioxidant More Powerful Than Vitamins C & E
“If we do not find time to take care of our health, we will reluctantly have to find time for our illness”
-Hippocrates
Lately there’s a lot of buzz in the news and online about green tea and its’ health benefits, particularly the role of polyphenols in green tea.
Polyphenols are chemical compounds found in fruits, vegetables and green tea and further divided into sub groups called catechins. There are 4 major catechins in green tea of which EGCG ((-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most potent and found in abundance in green tea.
This compound is dubbed the “super antioxidant” because it’s more powerful than the popular antioxidants Vitamin E & Vitamin C. This super antioxidant eliminates free radicals, the unstable molecules in the body that are the major cause of both aging and disease, which continually attack the body and leave the body vulnerable to disease.
Free radicals disrupt the biochemical processes within cells, and our body’s natural defenses become compromised leading to illness. Free radicals indiscriminately kill cells, destroy enzymes and produce toxic chemicals which cause damage to cellular functions. They are highly reactive molecules; their activities cause damage to critical structures such as DNA, lipids and proteins. All of which are vital for normal cellular function.
Free radicals in the body are toxic forms of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM). It’s ironic that on one hand oxygen sustains us and on the other hand oxygen can be responsible for much of the destruction and aging of our cells. Free radicals are responsible for many ailments including but not limited to aging, cancer, heart disease, stroke and arthritis.
Without an antioxidant line of defense, your cells oxidize or breakdown faster thus speeding up the aging process, it’s the free radicals oxidative damage that makes us age.
Since EGCG contained in green tea is a potent antioxidant it neutralizes free radicals and hence is responsible for the health promoting benefits listed below.
Lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad)-cholesterol levels
Increase HDL (good)-cholesterol levels
Reduce the risk of cancer
Reduce the risk of heart attack
Decrease the risk of stroke
Decrease the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis
Enhance immune function
Act as an antibacterial and antiviral agent
Help in weight loss
Boost longevity due to potent antioxidant properties
One cup of green tea usually provides 100-300 mg of polyphenols and contains EGCG in high concentrations. As mentioned above EGCG is believed to possess 100 times more potency as an antioxidant than Vitamin C and at least 25 times more potency than Vitamin E and protects cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to cancer, heart disease and other potentially fatal illnesses.
Green tea has been used for centuries in China for the health benefits it provides. We’re just now scratching the surface of what green tea has to offer, new studies come out constantly that provide data on the effectiveness of green tea against various ailments.
The latest research indicates that green tea may help in Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing the production of a protein which in large amounts causes nerve damage and memory loss. All of the benefits of green tea can be attributed to polyphenols, particularly EGCG.
Green tea comes in various dosage forms but the more popular versions are the liquid forms and the patch. The patch seems to be gaining in popularity due to the convenience factor and delivery of the same amount of the active ingredient of green tea at a constant rate. Place the patch on the skin and wear it for 48 hours and replace it every other day. It can’t get any simpler than that :-)
As you can see EGCG is an important component of green tea responsible for all of the health benefits listed above. Recent studies also indicate green tea as being effective in promoting weight loss.
Green tea is truly a ‘wonder compound’ with a large array of benefits for improving health. It’s been around for thousands of years and now it has finally been re-discovered for our benefit.
By: Mayur Vibhakar
This article was posted at iReprint.info on 2003-12-29. Webmasters and publishers are free to reprint this article as long as the resource box and all the links remain intact.
Tags: Antioxidants
How to Neutralize the Terrorists Within Your Body
Did you know that there are free radical biochemical “terrorists” systematically attacking your cells and the DNA of your cells everyday, on an average of 10,000 hits per day?
These internal weapons of mass destruction are abnormal (free radical) oxygen molecules that are destroying your health and accelerating the aging process. 73% of all diseases are caused by these free radical biochemical “terrorists” molecules.
A Free Radical Oxidant molecule is a molecule of oxygen that is MISSING an electron. Because it is so out of balance, it is very dangerous and extremely destructive. So it STEALS electrons from other molecules in your cells, destroying cells and your precious DNA in the process. Often the DNA is mutated, leading to cancer and other deadly diseases.
How often does this happen? Scientists estimate that EACH cell in your body takes over 10,000 HITS per day from these oxidant free radicals “terrorists”!
You can observe this oxidative process outside your body in several ways. Remember the last time you saw a fire? Didn’t it destroy the material it burned? Fire is a rapid oxidative process. One antioxidant for a literal fire is water-it stops the oxidation process, if you have enough.
We have a wild fire burning us up on the inside on a cellular basis, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to get enough antioxidants from our food to control this wild fire.
Rust is a slower oxidative process. We are “rusting” on the inside because of these free radical oxidants. The ONLY way to slow down the process is with Antioxidants.
Have you ever observed what happens to an apple after you cut it? It starts to turn an ugly brown. That is oxidation in process. Without the protection of the apple skin, it begins immediately. Without the protection of antioxidants in our body, we are “turning an ugly brown” inside (accelerated aging and disease development).
So where do these terrorist Free Radicals Oxidants come from?
They come primarily from the oxygen we breathe. Our bodies use this precious oxygen, and in the process continuously generates oxygen by-products called Free Radical (FR) Oxidants. 98% of these FR Oxidants are exhaled, but the 2% that remain must be deactivated or neutralized by ANTI-Oxidants that we are supposed to get from fresh fruit and vegetables.
In addition to self generated FR Oxidants from normal body functions, we generate even more FR Oxidants from stress. Plus we take in even more FR Oxidants from other unavoidable sources of toxins and chemicals from the environment including our air.
Since it is IMPOSSIBLE to get enough antioxidants from our food, we MUST get extra antioxidants from supplements if we want to be healthy and slow down the aging process. A new generation of Anti-Oxidants has been developed that contains a clinically tested, synergistic blend of nutrients that is literally TEN TIMES superior to the average anti-oxidant product on the market and THREE TIMES more potent than the closest competitor per unit per gram of antioxidant activity!
Virtually every known antioxidant product was tested for actual anti-oxidant activity-in fact 90 of them (70 were from retail and 20 from MLM companies). The TOP antioxidant product tested at 5674 units (in thousands) per gram using the ORAC-O test for water and fat soluble antioxidant activity.
Vitamin C is a common antioxidant. Ester C was ranked #11 at 3363 units of antioxidant activity. Three other Vitamin C products ranked at #4, #8 and #9 at 5337, 4017 and 3389 units of antioxidant activity. Green Tea was ranked #18 at 2206 units of antioxidant activity.
In sharp contrast, this special blend, also containing glyconutrients, tested at 17,254 units of antioxidant activity, ranking it as the number one tested (ORAC-O) product in the world.
So just why are antioxidants so important?
Antioxidants are what your body uses to maintain health and slow down the aging process. The five cultures in the world that have the greatest longevity (well over a hundred years of age) all consume large amounts of foods high in antioxidants! National Geographic quotes a 123 years old man: “Oh to be 15 years younger again!” 15 years younger would make him 108!
The researchers who formulated this antioxidant blend selected food extracts from these five cultures to create the most potent and unique antioxidant product on planet earth!
How well does it actually work?
The US government recently released results of a study that found that eating five daily servings of the five foods highest in antioxidant activity raised antioxidants in the blood level by 13%.
In a dramatic contrast, just TWO capsules a day of this wonderful antioxidant product raised antioxidant levels in the blood by 37%!
Of course no product can directly cure, mitigate of prevent any disease. But what antioxidants do is to support your body’s natural ability to defend, protect and repair against stress and premature aging. So why not empower YOUR body to defend, protect and repair? When you consider what is at stake, your health and longevity, why wouldn’t you do what whatever it takes to maintain the best possible health and maximum longevity?
If you care about your health and longevity, GET THIS NEW PRODUCT NOW for as little as 3.5 cents a day! A family of four can benefit from this important product for less than $1 a day per person. Isn’t preserving your good health worth a dollar a day?
So why not empower your body to defend, protect and repair? When you consider what is at stake, your health and longevity, why wouldn’t you do what whatever it takes to maintain the best possible health and longevity? It’s your life!
Ray Gebauer is a M.D. of a different sort–he is Mission Driven to save lives with a revolutionary technology that even MIT claims can “change the world.” As the author of the popular groundbreaking book, How to Cure and Prevent Any Disease, his passion is to educate people as to how to escape the invisible and socially acceptable trap of degenerative diseases that needlessly kill 90% of Americans.
To get your FREE report entitled, “The Ten Deadly Health Myths of the 21st Century” go to: http://www.living.well.myglycostore.com
Tags: Antioxidants
Toast Of The Town: Wine As A Preventative Medicine
By: Jason Flintstone
While not many of us look forward to taking our daily medication, some remedies are more palatably pleasing than others. Among these, some preventative medicines for heart disease and some cancers, including red wine.
And while many are cheering the benefits of the robust beverage others are wondering if it’s really the toast of the town. And, according to experts, the answer is an unresounding yes and no.
They note that although wine offers many preventative powers against heart disease, some cancers, and inflammation cause by arthritis, these qualities are not intrinsic to the fruit of the vine.
Experts assert that while red wine (in moderation) “does” have health benefits, they are not any greater than those they can obtain via a hearty diet of antioxidants including fresh fruits such as red grapes, fresh squeezed grape juice, grape seed oil, deep green veggies, melons, pumpkin, squash, blueberries, peppers and other brightly-colored fruits and foods.
However, they “do,” note that the antioxidants in red wine may be more concentrated than in other foods due to the fermentation process. Yet, the concentrated levels may not be significant enough to make daily consumption recommended.
Also, health and nutrition experts note that there is also evidence that moderate amounts of other alcohol may be just as effective in boosting HDL (good) cholesterol. Still, they (the experts) assert that they remain reluctant to encourage people to start drinking in an effort to stay healthy (against heart disease and some cancers) because alcohol consumption may raise other risks and concerns. Among these, weight gain and addiction problems. Excessive drinking can also increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and also estrogen levels in women, which has been linked to increased risk of breast cancer.
For women who fancy white wine, beer and other types of alcohol, the “bad” news is that none possess the same preventative and protective powers as red wine, since all the antioxidants are found in the skin and seeds of the grapes. White wine is fermented without the skins of the grapes.
Women wine drinkers say experts can enjoy two to three ounces a day for the added antioxidant and benefits, but remember not to use it as an excuse to drink or in place of a healthy and balanced diet rich in preventative properties.
About the Author:
LIFamilies.com - Community resource for Long Island
Source: www.isnare.com
Tags: Miscellaneous · Antioxidants · Heart Health · Alcohol
Cranberries Can Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer And Heart Disease
Terry Lowery
When is the last time you ate cranberries? Was it with a turkey
dinner? With all the research pointing to the amazing health
benefits of this simple berry, shouldn’t cranberries be more
than a once a year side dish?
How Cranberries Are Proving Their Strength:
The Cranberry Institute provides the results of studies and
research that highlight the fantastic health benefits of the
humble cranberry.
Cranberries have been used for thousands of years by Native
Americans as a source of food and to extend the shelf life of
dried meats. Colonial sailors also made use of the natural
preservatives in cranberries (from benzoic acid) which allowed
them to last through long sea voyages, and the high Vitamin C
content which prevented scurvy.
Perhaps they were on to something since new research suggests
that cranberries may prevent the adhesion of the e.coli
bacteria - a common cause of food poisoning from contaminated
meat - to the urinary tract. This ‘anti-adhesion’ effect may
also help in preventing bacteria from causing stomach ulcers
and gum disease.
Vitamin C is also a known powerful antioxidant and is being
widely accepted as a means of combating the effects of free
radicals in the body which can cause cancer, heart disease and
other health problems. Antioxidants from cranberries are being
researched for prevention of kidney stones and lowering
cholesterol.
While many fruits contain antioxidants, according to research
cranberries have more antioxidants than 19 commonly eaten
fruits. With this news it makes sense to include cranberries
into a balanced diet throughout the year.
How Can You Include Cranberries Into Your Diet?
Fresh, frozen or dried, cranberries can be eaten anytime of the
year.
Adding dried cranberries to baking (such as scones, breads and
cookies) is an easy way to enjoy their tart sweetness. Adding
frozen cranberries to smoothies or soups can lend a mild tang
to your creations. Fresh cranberries make excellent garnishes
and dressings.
The easiest way to add cranberries to your diet is to drink
cranberry juice. While sweetened juices have less antioxidants
than unsweetened, the benefits of adding cranberry to your diet
are still there. If you add unsweetened juice to sparkling water
you can enjoy a refreshing spritzer.
While studies are still being conducted on the health benefits
of cranberries there is no doubt that increasing the intake of
fruits and vegetables in your diet will lead to a healthier
body. Choosing to use a variety of berries, citrus and other
fruits will ensure you are giving your body everything it needs
for optimum health.
About The Author: This article provided courtesy of
http://www.low-cholesterol-tips.com
Tags: Vitamins and Supplements · Antioxidants
