There is a lot of hype surrounding a group of compounds called antioxidants that are contained in food. They are said to do everything, ranging from being memory protectors to disease fighters as well as being an antidote to aging. Antioxidants happen to be natural ways of eliminating molecules in the body that are potentially dangerous. Such molecules appear in the form of synthetic chemicals like plastics, pesticides and chlorine byproducts. Here is a look at the importance of an antioxidant diet.

Antioxidants assist in fighting a normal chemical process known as oxidation that takes place every day in the body. It can be accelerated by stress, alcohol and cigarette smoking. In case a disruption in the natural process of oxidation occurs, molecules known as free radicals that are potentially damaging and highly unstable are created. The formation of such destructive little chemicals is triggered by oxygen, and is capable of causing damage to body cells if left uncontrolled.

Oxidative stress is likely to occur if free radicals production overwhelms the bodys protective defenses. This stress combined by cell damage caused by free radicals is likely to trigger the early stages of cancer and heart disease. Free radicals are also linked with development of diabetes, Alzheimers disease, cataracts, kidney disease as well as age related blindness.

The human body has its own defenses against such damage. It creates antioxidants for combating the free radicals as well as protecting the cells from being attacked by oxygen. They can safely interact with the radicals and halt the chain of damaging prior to the damage happening to the cells. These helpful molecules can be gained from the diet that a person consumes.

Some minerals like manganese and selenium together with particular vitamins like Vitamins C and E are antioxidants. In addition, plant compounds such as carotene and lycopene also contain antioxidants. Numerous food types are notable antioxidant sources and can be added to a diet. Although the above mentioned compounds are contained in seafood and meats in minimal amounts, plant foods offer the main antioxidants source.

There is a wide variety of antioxidants systems, but it has not yet been figured out how the different systems in human bodies work together to offer protection against free-radical damage. No single antioxidant is capable of providing the protection offered by the numerous antioxidants working together.

The best way of getting a variety of antioxidants in a diet is by consuming foods that represent all the rainbow colors. Every color provides its own one of a kind antioxidant effects. Deep yellow, bright orange vegetables and fruits such as sweet potatoes, carrots and apricots provide one kind of antioxidants, while red foods such as tomatoes provider the other. Green vegetables like cabbage and broccoli together with purple or blue foods like eggplant and blueberries each contain antioxidants packages.

Reducing the risks associated with certain diseases is what comprises the importance of an antioxidant diet. To come up with such diets, one has to incorporate vegetables, fruits and whole grains in large amounts. Failure to do will result in a higher likelihood of getting heart disease or cancer, which can be prevented easily.