Jumat, 21 November 2008

Food With Vitamins and Antioxidants

Antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E and selenium essentially deactivate the harmful free radicals of the human system and prevent them from causing cell damage and development of harmful medical conditions like cancer, heart diseases and stroke. This is important as these diseases are gradually on a steep rise in America, irrespective of age.

Food ingredients containing antioxidants like organic wheat grass powder, organic alfalfa powder and organic oat grass powder and those with functional ingredients like organic barley grass powder and spirulina fine powder are some of the commonest derivatives obtained from different types of green leaves and grassy plants which along with providing the body with natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids also reduce cellular and tissue damages faced due to exposure to harsh radiations. While some food bars are enriched with food ingredients containing antioxidants, today, different types of antioxidants are richly included in the preparation of numerous health snacks, beverages and powders.

Enzymes present in organic barley grass powder catalyze the body’s essential chemical reactions, provide cellular energy and aid in proper digestion and antioxidant production. While organic oat grass powder supplies the body with beta-carotene, vitamin K, folic acid, calcium, proteins, iron, fibers and vitamins B and C, Organic alfalfa powder, by containing the eight essential amino acids provides the body with vitamin B12 and natural provides. By repairing tissue damage and maintaining healthy cells, Organic alfalfa powder can also contribute significantly in repairing the damage already faced by the body-cells due to oxidation of free radicals. Organic alfalfa powder and spirulina fine powder, by neutralizing acidity caused by excess consumption of food ingredients like meats, sugar, drugs, tobacco, alcohol or coffee and by being alkalizing, help in the restoration of the acid-base balance within the body.

Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots are rich in carotenoids and Vitamin A, citrus fruits like lime, oranges, strawberries and tomatoes are enriched with vitamin C. Whereas, whole grains, nuts and seeds generally have high concentration of vitamin E, seafood, fish, shellfish, red meats, chicken and garlic are some of the best sources of selenium. Among phytochemicals, flavonoids present in products like soy, red wine, pomegranate, red grapes, tea and cranberries and lycopene present in tomato products, pink grapefruits and watermelon are some of the chief sources of antioxidants. Modern medical research has proven that eating food products rich in Antioxidants like lycopene (red fruits, tomatoes, watermelons) can effectively ward off different types of cancer as those of lung, prostate, cervical, breast and digestive tract. While shopping for daily groceries, selecting brightly colored fruits and vegetables like corn, squash, mangos, oranges, tomatoes and watermelons helps one to obtain food products rich in Antioxidants. While fresh vegetables like tomatoes are rich in lycopene themselves, concentrated products derived from them like tomato soups and pizza sauces have even richer lycopene content. For these reasons, many dieticians today prescribe their clients to include more tomato and antioxidant containing food products in the various meals consumed during the day.