A number of medical experts are recommending vegetables and fruits to be included in a regular diet plan. There are many excellent reasons to the advice, but one of the reasons is antioxidants that most fruit and veggies provide. However exactly what are antioxidants? Why are they so important?

Oxidation process happens all around us from piece of potato turning brown to rust on a piece of metal. It is a common activity which also exists inside a human body. Human body system usually takes care of oxidation well, but occasionally it causes cell damage. The damaged cells are known as free radicals, molecules with unpaired electron. Since it is unpaired, it will attempt to steal an electron from other molecules. Anytime this action gets excessive, it can trigger a number of health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. Radiation, cigarette smoke and pollution also lead to the growth of free radicals. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals.

By providing an electron to free radicals, antioxidants prevent cell damage. It is crucial to have food items that supply antioxidants regularly to stay healthy. Lots of fruit and veggies are a fantastic source of antioxidants thanks to vitamins C and E. Vitamins are known to be one of the best antioxidants. Fruit and veggies such as strawberry, kiwi, papaya, spinach, bell pepper, and broccoli are a fantastic supply of vitamin E and C. However these vitamins are not the sole source of antioxidants and in fact they are not the finest source.

A lot more nutritionists agree Epigallocatechin or also known as EGCG could be a better provider of antioxidants than vitamins E and C. Many experts agree that EGCG is 100 times more beneficial than vitamin C and 25 times more beneficial compared to vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals. EGCG is a compound contained in green tea extract. Some of the acknowledged green tea health benefits are preventions against gaining weight, bad cholesterol, depressive disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

There have been a lot of lab studies concerning the impacts of green tea on cancer cells. The final results suggest the serving of 300mg of EGCG on a daily basis to be the ideal amount. One cup contains close to 100mg of EGCG. Additional scientific studies are on the way, yet for right now 3 cups a day looks like an ideal amount.

Presently there are quite a few ways to take in green tea. Traditional way is to brew and to drink the tea. This is great way particularly if taken with meals. One additional preferred method is to blend tea powder with citrus water. Mixing citrus juice with EGCG is actually identified to increase the benefits. A simple way is to take green tea capsules. This is wonderful for people not liking the flavor.