Antioxidants
What food source is the nutrient found in?
Foods high in beta-carotene include most red, dark orange, and deep yellow fruits, such as:
carrots
sweet potatoes
pumpkins
apricots
cantaloupe
peaches
broccoli
Foods high in vitamin C include:
citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, oranges, and tangerines
asparagus
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
bell peppers
kiwi
strawberries
tomatoes
potatoes with skin
Foods high in vitamin E include:
nuts
seeds
almonds
wheat germ
vegetable oils
whole grains
Foods high in selenium include:
seafood
organ meats
lean meats
poultry
low-fat dairy products
whole grains
How does the nutrient affect the body?
Oxidation is the reason why a cut-up apple turns brown, or why vegetable oil turns rancid.
Oxidation is caused by chemicals called free radicals. Just as in the apple and oil, when oxidation occurs
in the body can lead to the onset of problems. The following events can lead to the creation of free
radicals in your body or expose you to them in the environment.
breathing
the break down of protein that you've eaten
inhaling cigarette smoke
exposure to air pollution
UV radiation
A healthy body can usually break down free radicals before they become harmful. If free
radicals form faster than the body can break them down, damage to cells and tissues can occur.
Antioxidants help counteract the damage caused by free radicals in two ways.
They help the body prevent the formation of free radicals in the first place.
They can reduce the effect that free radicals have on the body.
Then the free radicals cannot damage cells and tissues or cause health problems.
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