| Antioxidants: The Anti-Ageing Antidote |
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By: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Because it has the highest levels of antioxidants than any other fruit, the Scottish Crop Research Institute has tagged blackcurrant Superfruit No. 1. Life@work gives you the skinny on antioxidants, which can reverse ageing, repair your skin and reduce risks of heart disease, cancer and diabetes
Deterioration of bone, joints and connective tissue Wearing out of organs Decline of the immune system Rapid advance of the visible effects of ageing, like wrinkles and sagging skin, puffy eyes et al What can I do? There is no way to stop exposure to free radicals. Every human being is exposed to them on a daily basis. The best way out is to make antioxidants a part of your daily diet, no matter how healthy your lifestyle is. The antioxidant process Antioxidants block the process of oxidation by neutralising free radicals. In doing so, the antioxidants themselves become oxidised. That's why you need to constantly replenish your antioxidant resources. They work in 2 ways: Chain-breaking When a free radical releases or steals an electron, a second radical is formed. This molecule then turns around and does the same thing to a third molecule, continuing to generate more unstable products. The process continues until termination - either the radical is stabilised by a chain-breaking antioxidant such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, or it simply decays into a harmless product. Preventive Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase prevent oxidation by reducing the rate of chain initiation. That is, by scavenging initiating radicals, such antioxidants can thwart an oxidation chain from ever setting in motion. They can also prevent oxidation by stabilising transition metal radicals such as copper and iron. What can antioxidants do for me? Besides giving you younger, firmer skin, a diet high in natural antioxidants can reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and certain cancers. A recent study by researchers from London found that 5 servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of stroke by 25%. They also enhance immune defence and therefore lower risk of infection.  Article source: http://www.mid-day.com/life-at-work/2007/june/159904.htm |