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Articles » Health-&-Fitness » Supplements >> View Article
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| What Are Antioxidants And Phytonutrients? |
By:
Carol Bell |
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Science has found that simple plants contain antioxidants which are powerful compounds able to help ward off cancer and heart disease for example. These compounds are found in fruits and vegetables we use regularly but can work with our own nutrients to provide help in protecting us from many illnesses, medical conditions and serious disease. Research into these fantastic compounds continues with over nine hundred compounds discovered already,with these discoveries (and more to come), scientists believe the face of health care is changing, hopefully forever. There has been a whole host of discoveries made into the properties of these phytonutrients,cherries for instance are able to reduce the pain in joints and blueberries have anti-aging properties.
But is doesn't stop there as blueberries also contain a lower sugar content than most other fruits as well as many antioxidants. For many people eating fruit does not come easily but drinking the juice is much more pleasant and an efficient way to get the goodness from the fruit into our systems,regular consumption can help our circulation and increase our ability to combat illness. The antioxidants are also efficient at fighting disease and dealing with infection. The health benefits of apples are now being researched with a reduced chance of coronary disease being one of these.
Now citrus fruits too are showing that they have a use with a number of beneficial phytochemicals contained in them. The particular combination of properties found in tart cherries offers an anti-inflammatory benefit, which is appreciated by those suffering from joint pain caused by arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia or over-exertion. Most of us have already heard about the benefits that certain minerals and vitamins like B, c and E provide which have now become widely used in products. The Phytoalexin (another antioxidant), resveratrol has many anti-viral and anti-infection properties used by plants, a number of these are helpful to people, they are found in blueberries, mulberries and blackberries.
These amazing compounds seem to benefit the elderly with many properties that help reduce conditions found in aging like Alzheimer's, heart disease, blood pressure and stoke. Tomatoes are another fruit that contains nutrients that can help prevent to the onset of certain cancers as well as heart conditions. However, it is now recognized that the best way to receive a sufficient quantity of the antioxidants contained in a tomato is by having it as a puree in a dish using tomato sauce or as a juice. More recently the refreshing watermelon has been discovered to contain some of the most beneficial phytonutrients yet seen. People have been advised to eat more fruit (more than they currently consume) for some time but now the science behind this advice is finally beginning to show through. |
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