by Vic Shayne, PhD

We hear the word but what the heck does it mean? Antioxidant? In the simplest of terms, there are substances called free radicals that rob our cells of oxygen. Since cells must have oxygen to be healthy and to work to defend and support us at every level, then an oxygen-robber can cause diseases from heart disease to cancer. But fortunately, nature’s real, whole foods contain ingredients that keep cells from losing oxygen, called antioxidants.

• Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation.
• Several of the major vitamins (when you consume them within their original, natural foods) are antioxidants, including vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and F
• Antioxidants are found in flavonoids and carotenoids that exist within nature’s foods, including beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, etc.
• Many enzymes are antioxidants. Enzymes exist naturally within whole uncooked foods
• Antioxidants in your diet can reduce the chance of eye disease (such as macular degeneration), heart disease, cancer, arthritis, lung problems, skin cancer, and more
• A major source of free radicals comes from the sprays that go on crops and end up on your dinner plate, including pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides.
• Another major source of free radicals comes from bad, overheated, poor oils and fats, including transfats, canola oil, margarine and others. Good oils include organic, cold pressed olive oil, coconut oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil, butter and fish oils.

Antioxidants are in several of the supplements we offer, including NutriPlex SuperGreens PhytoFood, FlavoC, CellPower, DetoxFormula, CaroC and ImmuneSupport.

Researchers continue to discover the power of antioxidants in foods to prevent and even cure diseases. But you should know that a great deal of studies also show that antioxidant supplements (vitamin supplements) do not protect you from any diseases. How can this be? There’s a big difference between eating real, whole, raw foods with antioxidants, vs taking vitamin pills manufactured in a laboratory. This is why we only offer NutriPlex Formulas’ whole food supplements.

Foods are the best sources of antioxidants. In fact, several researchers argue that antioxidant pills do not achieve the effective results of food antioxidants:

With one possible exception, many antioxidants in pill form do not appear to protect against cancer, according to pooled data from some of the most rigorous studies ever to examine the issue.

There was some evidence linking the mineral selenium to a reduced risk of cancer in men, but not in women. But the findings are not yet conclusive enough to recommend that men take selenium supplements, says Mayo Clinic physician Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH.

Many health groups, including the American Cancer Society (ACS), recommend consuming antioxidants through foods instead of supplements.

“It is an old-fashioned message but it is important to eat a variety of foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables,” ACS nutritional epidemiologist Marjorie McCullough, ScD, tells WebMD. “If people really would do this it would go a long way to ensuring that they get the nutrients and phytochemicals that may be important for reducing their cancer risk.”2

Again, this is why we use NutriPlex Formulas’ whole food products. They are not vitamin pills. They are foods.

Another term that has come into popular use in the natural health care field is “super food.” Essentially, this is a food that contains a greater than average number of antioxidant properties. These include foods such as grape seeds, grape skins, certain berries, and a number of herbs. The more of these kinds of foods you eat, while at the same time avoiding oxygen-robbing foods (junk foods, overcooked foods, most barbecue foods, packaged foods, and foods with artificial ingredients and bad oils), the greater your chance to avoid major diseases.

Moral of the story? Oxygen-robbing food particles (free radicals) cause disease. Antioxidant foods can cure and help you avoid disease.

Sources:

1. United States National Library of Health, National Institutes of Health, medline plus, 2008
2. Boyles, Salynn, Antioxidant Pills Don’t Cut Cancer Risk, WebMD Medical News, Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD; Jan. 24, 2008

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