Antioxidants and Free Radicals

As you know I’ve just been on holiday, and as it’s November in UK, obviously it’s been a bit cool.  The weather was actually brilliant though, because  it only rained in the evening, or when we were doing something indoors.

However, a lot of people had colds and sore throats.

I didn’t and neither did my youngest son, who has autism.

Why?

Well, it could have something to do with the probiotics and antioxidants we take every day, which boost our immune systems.

You’ve probably heard about probiotics – those friendly bacteria we all need, and if you haven’t, you might like to read a few more of my blog posts because I’m a HUGE fan.

However, there are some other things which pop up pretty regularly these days, and I don’t know about you, but whilst I hear the words, “Free radicals” and “Antioxidants” a lot, rarely does anyone ever explain what they are or why we should be concerned about them.

Do you know why they’ve suddenly become the buzzwords in the health industry?

Well, apparently, it’s all to do with the atoms, which make up our bodies.

Each individual atom needs to have an outer shell of electrons to keep it ‘stable’, and if, for some reason, some of the electrons aren’t there, it’s considered ‘unstable’ and classed as a Free Radical.

Atoms don’t like to be considered ‘unstable’.   I don’t suppose you would either, so what these “free radicals” do is attempt to steal the electrons from the molecules surrounding them.

The problem with that is the molecules from which the electrons are “stolen” then become unstable, so they go off on the rampage to make themselves stable again, and the whole process of electron grabbing is perpetuated.

Apparently a few “free radicals” aren’t bad, BUT if you get too many, research indicates a link to numerous diseases and health issues, especially when you have “oxygen free  radicals”.

These are oxygen atoms, which have lost an electron, because they cause  “oxidative stress”  in the body.

So, what causes Free Radicals?

Well, just about anything connected with living really, which makes them a bit of a pain, to put it mildly.

However, there is something you can do about them.

Drum roll please for Antioxidants, and you might just notice a bit of a clue as to what they are in their name.

Yes, you’ve guessed it, they provide the extra electrons, all the ‘unstable’ molecules and atoms are seeking to complete their outer electron shells.

They prevent or slow down  the oxidation process.

I suppose you could think of Free Radicals and Antioxidants as the bad guys and the good guys.  The first cause oxidation, and the  second prevent it.

You get antioxidants from the food you eat and there is a lab test known as ORAC, which measures the antioxidant properties of various foods.

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, and the test measures the antioxidant activity of the substance.  Depending on its strength, the substance is given a number, and the higher the ORAC score, the more beneficial, the food.

The USDA recommend we consume between 3000 and 5000 ORAC units each day, but the reality is, unless we take additional antioxidants, even eating the recommended 5 fruits and vegetables a day, it’s unlikely we’ll reach that target.

Certainly, fruits and vegetables have the highest ORAC scores, and apparently fruits with bright pigmentation, which are exposed to lots of intense sun and ultra violet light contain the most.

The Acai berry undoubtedly contains one of the highest  ORAC scores, and ¾ cup will give you an amazing 5,500 ORAC score, which is 10 times more than grapes, and twice as much as blueberries.

It’s a lot of fruit to eat though, and they’re not cheap. 

That’s why some savvy marketers freeze dry the fruits and turn them into stable powders, which have all the health benefits of the original products. You can then make them up as a drink, and get your ORAC units in one serving.  That, to me, is a much better and easier option.

So, there you have it.  Now you know what free radicals and antioxidants are.

Don’t you feel better?

Take care.

Jean Shaw
 

If you want to know where to get an amazing antioxidant powder, which you can mix up to suit your taste, go to http://www.probioticsforhealth.com and check out Berry Radical.