The terms ‘antioxidants’ and ‘free radicals’ have become increasingly common when talking about cancer, heart disease and general health. But do we really understand what is going on inside our bodies with these two things at play?
Think of free radicals as unstable molecules, unstable because they are missing one or more electrons. These problematic molecules are produced, in part, during the normal process of converting food to energy. The body will also create its own free radicals to destroy viruses or bacteria. But other environmental factors like pollution, cigarette smoke, plastics, pesticides and synthetic chemicals also create free radicals that can go unchecked within the body. So why do these free radicals matter?
Electrons prefer to move about in pairs. Consequently, these free radical molecules will take electrons from healthy cells, leaving single, unpaired electrons behind. Typically, healthy cells repair this damage on their own. But over time, the process of losing and repairing electrons can wear cells down. This type of wear-and-tear can eventually cause damage to cell proteins, membranes and internal organelles and genetic material contained within the cells. For this reason, free radicals and their effects are usually linked to heart disease, diabetes, aging, stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer. In this ongoing process of stealing and repairing electrons, antioxidants are the peacemakers. Antioxidants help prevent disease by stopping communication between damaged and defective cells, and they work to minimize and eliminate free radicals within the body
A balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables can provide the body with antioxidants. These colorful foods are packed with powerful antioxidants that can help lower the risk of heart disease and cancer. It may even help slow the body’s natural aging process. Essentially, antioxidants are nature’s way of warding off and cleaning up dangerous molecules inside the body.
The human body is designed to produce a number of antioxidants as well, but it can only make so many. It needs help to fend off an ever-growing number of environmental toxins, and the body is usually incapable of fighting the harmful molecules alone. Getting a daily dose of fruits and vegetables loaded with antioxidants will help your body fight free radicals. On the other hand, when free radicals are left unchecked, they may spread and eventually lead to stroke, heart disease, cancer and a host of other chronic problems.
The moral of the story: Load up your plate with leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and collard greens. Add a wide variety of color with bell peppers, mangoes, nuts, berries, carrots, oranges, grapes and melons. If it’s not white, it’s a color, so throw it in the shopping cart!