Antioxidant Herbs

Antioxidants Sources

Antioxidants from food - The five best sources

 Cells need oxygen to metabolize minerals and vitamins to survive and thrive. When cells cannot use oxygen to metabolize, they resort to fermenting glucose for their energy.

That's what cancer cells are about. That's why anything that oxygenates cells works to cure cancer, and that's why cancer patients should avoid sugar.

The paradox of cellular oxidation is that incompletely utilized oxygen can cause cellular damage. What happens is oxygen molecules can form free radicals when interacting with certain problematic molecules, such as heavy metals and toxins.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with unpaired or odd numbers of electrons that become reactive trouble makers, causing cellular and DNA damage.

This sudden rush of free radicals can start a chain reaction of damage to healthy cells causing them to function poorly or even die. A chain reaction of cellular oxidative stress in a particular organ can cause that organ to not function properly or become cancerous.

Fortunately, the body comes equipped with an antioxidant defense system. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and stop the chain reaction from continuing or even starting. There are many enzymes that can be part of an antioxidant defense system.

But when too many of those problematic molecules from our toxic environment overwhelm our naturally existing antioxidants, oxidative stress chain reactions will break through the overwhelmed antioxidant defense system.

Many of those protective free radical scavenging enzymes depend on support from micronutrient minerals such as selenium and vitamins E, C, and beta-carotene. Those nutrients are not manufactured by the body, so they must be supplied by food and/or supplements.

The fact that we live in a toxic environment requires more antioxidants now than over a century ago. If you exercise regularly, you do increase the potential for oxidative stress, making consumption of antioxidants even more important.

ORAC daily consumption up to 50,000 units is recommended if you're physically active.

Five excellent food sources for antioxidants

The level of antioxidant capacity in a food is measured as Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). ORAC values are measured per 100 grams of weight, or 3.5 ounces. Here are five high ORAC food types, which are best eaten fresh from organic sources.

Fruits and Berries: The Himalayan goji berry and tropical Acai berries rank highest with ORAC ratings of 25,000 and 18,000 units respectively. Blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, pomegranates, and strawberries have high ORAC ratings.

Almost any berry will provide a good amount of antioxidants. Cherries and apples are top ORAC providers also. Deeper colors indicate richer antioxidant bioflavonoid content.

Dried fruits rank high as well. Raisins (dried grapes) come in with a 10,000 unit ORAC rating with prunes close behind at 8,000.

Vegetables: Cooked veggies that have greens leading, especially spinach, kale, and broccoli. Artichokes have the highest ORAC rating, between 9,000 and 10,000. A surprise entry is the Russet potato.

Legumes: Black beans and kidney beans have the highest ORAC ratings. It's best to buy them dry from bulk organic bins, soak them overnight and cook the next day. Legumes also provide a good deal of fiber to help your digestion.

Nuts and grains: Pecans have the highest ORAC rating at 18,000, with walnuts and almonds following. Steel cut oats are high in antioxidants along with quinoa and whole grains.

Miscellaneous: Chocolate and coffee lovers rejoice, they are both high ORAC foods. Chocolate should be unprocessed, dark and high in cacao content. Cacao, the basis of chocolate, has an ORAC rating over 50,000 per 100 grams. Coffee is between 15,000 and 18,000 ORAC units .

The master internal antioxidant glutathione recycles and rejuvenates most antioxidants. (http://www.naturalnews.com/027114_glutathione_antioxidant_GSH.html)

Antioxidants

Importance of Glutathione

Glutathione (GSH) an Important Line of Defense Against Diseases, Toxins, Viruses, Pollutants, Radiation and Oxidative Stress.

Low glutathione levels are linked to diseases such as Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Atherosclerosis, pregnancy complications, male infertility and Cataracts. A Glutathione deficiency can cause a lack of coordination, mental disorders, tremors, and difficulty maintaining balance. Every moment Glutathione is defending our body against attacks from disease, toxins, poisons, viruses, pollutants, radiation and oxidative stress. Without Glutathione our liver would soon become overwhelmed with the accumulation of toxins, resulting in organ failure and death. The level of Glutathione in our cells is predictive of how long we will live. more...

Ways to naturally increase your Glutathione levels

·         Eating Sulfur rich vegetables- broccoli, Cauliflower, garlic & onions

·         Selenium-rich foods- Oats, Brazil nuts, tuna

·         Supplements- Milk thistle 200mg/day (extremely powerful in protecting liver), Vitamin B6- 1.5mg daily

·         Regular moderate exercise- increases Glutathione and increases blood flow to kidneys and liver to filter toxins

Why is glutathione important?

Glutathione is an essential component of your cells, with low glutathione levels, cells cannot perform many of their functions properly. Although glutathione functions in dozens of roles in our metabolism, the major functions can be summarized in four areas:

1. It is the major antioxidant produced by the body. Antioxidants such as vitamins C or E cannot be made by your body and in fact could not work properly if glutathione were not present.
2. Our immune systems depend on a steady supply of glutathione. Without it, our immune defenses become weakened.
3. It is important in detoxifying many substances including heavy metals, breakdown products of cigarettes and automobile exhaust, many cancer-causing agents, and a multitude of pollutants and toxins we encounter on a daily basis.
4. The major source of energy produced in our cells is derived from tiny structures called mitochondria. These mitochondria would literally burn up without the presence of glutathione.

Watch about Glutathione on Dr. Oz show- http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/superhero-antioxidants-pt-1

 A supplement option

Immunocal, A Natural Source of the Glutathione GSH Building Block 

What is Immunocal- http://www.immunocal.com/       http://www.whatisimmunocal.com/

 

What does Immunocal do?

Immunocal acts in two ways – it is a very high quality protein that provides all the amino acids your body needs, and, more critically, it raises a substance in your body called “glutathione”. Glutathione plays many roles in your body, the four most important of which can be summarized by the acronym: AID = E²

A – Antioxidant: Glutathione is the body’s “Master Antioxidant”
I – Immune System: Glutathione is critical for immune function
D – Detoxification: Glutathione is your cell's key detoxification enzyme
E²– Glutathione contributes to your overall energy at many levels