The Antioxidant Vitamin Relationship Provided By: www.healthsenior.net   Antioxidants We hear the term “antioxidant” and it sounds really important to those of us who are at all health conscious. We hear about all these terrible diseases that we might not get if only we get enough antioxidants. But how many of us (without doing research first) even know what antioxidant vitamins are and why they are vital, that is VITAL, not merely important to our health and well-being? I’ll be the first to admit, until recently, I didn’t know an antioxidant from an oxidant. I still can’t give you a scientist’s definition but I can explain to you why from now on I will eat my fruits and vegetables. Let’s back up a moment and discuss the antioxidant vitamin relationship. While all antioxidants are not vitamins and all vitamins are not antioxidants there is a correlation between the two. Vitamins A, C, and E are the stars here. First of all, through the normal functioning of the cells in our body, oxygen comes along and just like our apples turn brown when the air hits them, so do our cells become damaged when exposed to oxygen. Through this process, “free radicals” are left behind to do further damage. No one can escape this process and probably wouldn’t want to as what is happening is simply a by-product of the vital processes our bodies need to perform. Once the cells are exposed to the oxygen, they become damaged and it is these damaged cells, which by the way, if left alone will multiply, that lead to such diseases as cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, cataracts, macular degeneration, and other age-related diseases. Without antioxidants, our damaged cells are hung out to dry so to speak. Some will go on to suffer from these terrible diseases and some won’t. Thankfully, because of antioxidants, we have a chance to either prevent this damage or to repair it once it occurs. Antioxidant Vitamins Although all the vitamins are important to our overall health, the antioxidant vitamins have as part of their duties cellular prevention and/or reparation. Beta carotene, which the liver will eventually turn into vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E are going to save us from those free radicals. Vitamin C will remove free radicals from the cells, and beta carotene and vitamin E both work to protect cell membranes. When the three work together, they perform a much needed service in the prevention and repair of free radical damage. Although these disease-fighting antioxidants can be found in legumes, cereals, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables have the highest concentration of antioxidant vitamins. Of those, berries have the greatest amount of the free radical fighters. By eating the recommended number of fruits, vegetables and other foods listed on the food pyramid, we can not only benefit from all the antioxidant vitamin teamwork but we will have given our bodies the best chance of obtaining all the required nutrients without having to resort to supplements which cannot precisely replicate the processes occurring naturally inside our bodies. IMPORTANT: If you’d like more information on Antioxidant Vitamin Click Here