Antioxidant research is what's behind the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Though antioxidants aren't necessarily restricted to apples, antioxidant research has found that apples are one of the many rich sources of antioxidants found in fruits.

Antioxidant Research: Antioxidant-Rich Foods

So far, the largest and most advanced antioxidant research that has ever been tackled by the scientific community came up with the most unexpected sources of disease-fighting antioxidants. You might find it surprising to find that among those that's going to occupy the top spots of best antioxidant food sources are unlikely fruits and vegetables, such as beans, artichokes, and even the Russet potato.

Blueberries might have been heralded in recent years for their high antioxidant content but this current antioxidant research suggests that small red beans may contain more disease-fighting antioxidants than both wild and cultivated blueberries. In fact, three of the top five antioxidant rich foods studied in this antioxidant research were beans.

The antioxidant research study also included a selection of nuts and spices for their antioxidant capacity test. Among the nuts and spices, ground cloves, cinnamon, and oregano are rich in antioxidants. It might do you good to sprinkle some of these spices in your everyday food to boost your antioxidant levels in the body.

Antioxidant Research: The Harmful Effects of Oxidation

Oxidation is essential for survival. It is a natural bodily process which normally occurs every time we breathe or do something. It is our body's way of metabolizing nutrients, breaking them down to provide energy which we need in order to perform our normal functions. But as good and as important as oxidation is, it can likewise have negative ripple effect on our system.

During the process of oxidation, harmful byproducts such as free radicals are produced. These free radicals are highly reactive and they act by snatching away electrons from stable molecules, causing damage to cell membranes, cell nucleus, and the cell DNA they contain. Such destruction could lead to degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.

Recent antioxidant research has led to the belief that antioxidants may play a role in preventing the onset of such diseases. By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidants actually aid in the prevention and perhaps even cure of life-threatening diseases like cancer.

Related posts:

1. Antioxidant Rich Foods
2. Antioxidant Food Source
3. Antioxidant Supplement

Previous studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene (a from of vitamin A), have potential health-promoting properties. The data on antioxidant vitamins is incomplete for the most part but up to 30 percent of Americans are already taking some form of antioxidant vitamin supplement along with their diet.

Due to the lack of sufficient data to support the success of antioxidant vitamins supplement against cardiovascular diseases and other such degenerative illnesses, the American Heart Association does not recommend using antioxidant vitamins supplements. However, they do not want to put a stop to our continued taking of antioxidant vitamins, the ones found in nature and in the foods that we eat.

Some of the basic food groups that prove to be rich sources of antioxidant vitamins are the following:

Breads, cereals, pasta, and starchy vegetables (such as potatoes, yam, squash, etc.)
Fruits and vegetables
Fat-free milk and low-fat dairy products
Lean meat, fish, and poultry

Incidentally, if you pattern your diet after this basic food group, you not only ingest a high level of natural antioxidant vitamins, but you also keep fat buildup in your body. Eating a variety of foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol will provide a rich natural source of antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

But what exactly do antioxidant vitamins do?

Oxygen radicals are everywhere because we live in an atmosphere that contains oxygen. Oxidation is a process that naturally occurs in the body and a natural consequence of it are the radical particles that have since been dubbed as "free radicals."

Scientists point to these so-called free radicals as the culprits when it comes to most degenerative diseases. Free radicals are blamed for even the simplest of illnesses, such as colds. There is an increasing body of evidence that oxidative stress is linked to many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, cataracts, and arthritis. Our strongest defenses against these harmful free radicals are antioxidant vitamins which are contained in the foods that we eat.

Related posts:

1. Benefits of Antioxidant Vitamins
2. Antioxidant Dietary Supplement
3. Antioxidant Supplement

Antioxidants are substances that work on free radicals, or more particularly work to counteract the damaging effects of these harmful oxygen byproducts. Scientists have linked free radicals to the development of degenerative diseases, causing massive cell damage that ultimately results in various disorders, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and much, much more. By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidants actually prevent the onset of these diseases and at the same time keep the body healthy and strong.

Being natural substances, antioxidants are derived from various plants, including vegetables and fruits. Blueberries and cranberries are usually the fruits that are often touted by nutrition scientists as the top antioxidant rich foods. In the vegetable variety, russet potatoes, red beans, and red cabbage are topping the list as well. However, there are also other fruits and vegetables that may contain more essential benefits to our health. One such food product is flax seed where we get the beneficial flax oil.

What is Flax Oil?

Flax oil is the essential oil that is derived from flax seeds, which are a great source of fiber. Flax seed have been used long before as an herbal remedy that is good for digestion. But flax has certainly more benefits in store for us. Flax oil is said to contain a high amount of lignans, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Lignans especially is that substance in flax oil that has antioxidant properties.

The Benefits of Flax Oil Lignans

A natural plant chemical, lignans are antioxidant molecules with anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties. Flax oil is the richest source of lignans. Diets high in lignans can lead to a lower chance of getting colon, prostate, and breast cancer.

As an antioxidant, the flax oil's lignans can help boost the body's immune system, keeping harmful, disease-causing germs from damaging the cells. These plant hormones are also believed to block the formation of hormone-based tumors. Lignans also boost the productions of a substance attached to estrogen and carries it out of the body.

Researchers have found that flax oil has 75 to 800 percent more lignans than other vegetables and grains. This makes flax oil the best source of antioxidant-acting lignans.

Related posts:

1. Antioxidant Supplement
2. Antioxidant Food Source
3. Antioxidant Tablets

Free radicals are highly reactive chemical substances that bind with various compounds, often proteins, for removal or reuse. Often, this binding will lead to other molecules turning into free radicals as well. As a result, cell membranes become weakened, leading to the destruction of the cell nucleus' DNA.

Oxidative products, such as the body's most important antioxidant, glutathione, must be present in the body in order to stop the cells from deteriorating under the assault of free radicals. Many disease processes produce additional stress on the body's oxidative pathways. Even aging is now thought of as a process where the body begins to fail in its ability to produce sufficient amounts of its antioxidants, resulting in excessive cellular damage.

While all the rage is going on the health benefits of antioxidants on humans in the scientific community, there is also a furor over them on animals, though much more subdued. Among the labs that have focused much on the disease-fighting action of antioxidants is Thorne Veterinary. In fact, the lab has recently come up with a product which purports to supplement the antioxidant needs of your pet.

Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant – The Product

Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant is a combination of all the beneficial antioxidants which your pets need to fight off the harmful effects of free radicals. Countless studies have already proven that oxidative damage is a major contributor to many of the chronic diseases in not only humans but pets as well. Antioxidant support from Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant may help with many disorders, including cancer, aging processes, autoimmune diseases, lupus, degenerative myelopathy, neurological damage, kidney disease, and liver disease.

Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant – The Ingredients

Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant combines the best natural antioxidants into one bottle. It contains 1800 IU of vitamin A (palmitate). Vitamin A has always been known to be a powerful antioxidant and a supported of the epithelial tissues of the body.

Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant also contains 1800 IU of carotenoids or sodium ascorbate. Carotenoids primarily act by inhibiting retinal degeneration, however, they may also include in their list of health benefits, brain function and growth and development.

Other ingredients contained in Thorne Small Animal Antioxidant are sodium ascorbate or vitamin C Source, d-alpha tocopherol or vitamin E, selenium (Picolinate), grape seed extract, milk thistle extract, and alpha lipoic acid.

Related posts:

1. Antioxidant Formula
2. Define Antioxidant
3. Natural Antioxidant

Recently, scientists have discovered the substance responsible for many of the health benefits we've been receiving from plants. Fruits and vegetables it seemed contain chemical substances that act on specific, harmful molecules inside our bodies to stop them from damaging our cells. Because these substances work on oxygen by-products called free radicals, they have since come to be known as natural antioxidants.

A natural antioxidant protects the body against free radicals. One of the many functions of natural antioxidants is to work against the formation of cellular damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive chemical substances which are produced whenever our body undergoes the process of oxidation, e.g. breathing.

When free radicals are released, they immediately latch unto other molecules, stealing their electrons and in so doing, turning them into unstable molecules like themselves. The result is a rapid chain reaction which when left unattended can lead to various degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, memory loss, etc.

Natural antioxidants are primarily derived from plants. The human body cannot produce its own supply of natural antioxidants; that is why we have to depend solely on our diet to get the amount of antioxidants our body needs.

Groups of well-known natural antioxidants include catechins, coumarins, indoles, and carotenoids. All these are complex compounds found in almost every plant. Carotenoids are the largest group of naturally occurring antioxidants, followed closely by indoles and coumarins. Catechins are the natural antioxidants found in the Camellia sinensis plant where we get our green tea, oolong tea, and black tea.

In the carotenoid group, beta-carotene is the most common natural antioxidant. Another name for beta-carotene is vitamin A, that essential vitamin that helps prevent eye damage. This natural antioxidant supports the immune system, might reduce the skin's risk to sun damage and DNA damage, supports healthy cholesterol levels and increases lung capacity. Some studies show that this natural antioxidant supports a healthy heart.

Catechins on the other hand are great weight loss inducers. But more than that, the natural antioxidants they contain help promote health by boosting the immune system in order to reduce the risk of infection.

Related posts:

1. Define Antioxidant
2. Antioxidant Supplement
3. Antioxidant Effects of Green Tea

During the process of oxidation, highly reactive byproducts called free radicals are produced. These free radicals act on other molecules, turning them into free radicals like themselves, thus disrupting their normal functioning. This could eventually lead to massive cell destruction, tissue damage, and even cause degenerative diseases, like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, etc.

Fortunately, the human body comes equipped with natural defenses against these harmful free radicals. Antioxidants are chemical substances found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants act on free radicals, hunting them down and neutralizing them in order to stop their rampaging on healthy cells of the body.

Antioxidant Effects of Plants

Among the many plants that contain disease-fighting antioxidants is the camellia sinensis, otherwise known as the tea plant. For centuries, tea has been served in Chinese households as a healthy beverage to promote health and general well-being. Green tea especially has been greatly favored due its many astounding health benefits.

Green tea has been consumed throughout the ages in India, China, Japan, and Thailand. In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, green tea has been used as a stimulant, diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart health.

Today, the benefits of green tea have been largely attributed to the presence of polycatechins with powerful antioxidant effects. But besides polycatechins, there are also other ingredients in green tea that contribute to its antioxidant effects.

Green Tea and its Antioxidant Effects

Among all flavonoids, catechin is ranked high for its antioxidant effects and properties. Catechin is that substance found in green tea which makes the beverage an excellent source of antioxidant effects. Besides tannin, vitamins such as vitamin A (carotene), C, and E, there are also other well-known substances in green tea that gives it its antioxidant effects.

Research aimed at finding the active compounds in green tea revealed that its protective and antioxidant effects are due chiefly to catechins which are powerful polyphenolic antioxidants. Green tea also has antioxidant effects that make them powerful anti-carcinogenic, cardioprotective, nueroprotective, and anti-microbial actions. A particularly bioactive catechin called epigallocatechin gallate has been singled out by many researchers as very important because of its antioxidant effects leading to cancer prevention.

Related posts:

1. Weight Loss from Green Tea Antioxidant
2. Best Antioxidant Ambrotose AO
3. Antioxidant Supplement

What is Liquid Antioxidant ORAC?

ORAC is the acronym for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity. It is a type of test developed by scientists to determine the antioxidant potency of a food. The higher the liquid antioxidant ORAC value is, the better the antioxidant's capacity to fight scavenging free radicals.

Sixteen hundred liquid antioxidant ORAC units are about equivalent to two servings of fruits and vegetables. There are a number of excellent sources of liquid antioxidant ORAC units and most of them you would hardly expect to contain so much of this beneficial substance.

The US Department of Agriculture recently released the new top 20 list of food sources that contain the highest concentration of liquid antioxidant ORAC. Top on the list is the small red bean, followed closely by the more popular wild blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries. A few nuts also made it to the list, such as pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Vegetables included russet potatoes, sprouts, and red cabbages.

Interestingly enough, it has been noted that fruits and vegetables with high liquid antioxidant ORAC units are those that have dark pigmentations in the fruit or the skin. Scientists attribute this to the presence of anthocyanin pigments. These pigments are responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors of many fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers. Anthocyanins generated much interest even long before the discovery that they can be quite effective liquid antioxidant ORAC substances.

Today, over 300 structurally distinct anthocyanins have been identified in nature. Researchers believe that these substances may have possible health benefits as dietary liquid antioxidant ORAC. Anthocyanins are one class of flavonoid compounds, which are widely distributed plant polyphenols. Flavonols, falva-3-ols, flavones, flavanones, and flavanonols are additional classes of flavonoids that differ in their oxidation state from the anthocyanins. Solutions of these compounds are colorless or pale yellow. Berries are said to contain the highest concentration of these beneficial substances and for this reason, many antioxidant dietary supplements today almost always contain some compound from berry fruits.

Related posts:

1. ORAC Score and Antioxidant for Aging
2. Antioxidant Food List
3. Dietary Antioxidant

Dr. Levine adds that out of the ten most frequently prescribed drugs; many hamper the optometric examination or cause erroneous findings such as cataracts and decreased accommodation (the inability of the eye to properly adjust to various distances) and may result in misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.

Even fluorescent light, electromagnetic stress, computer monitors, lack of sunlight and poorly lit work and school environments are potential hazards for the eyes. Dr. Swartout said this in one study involving 160,000 Texas schoolchildren.

There are also mental and emotional factors as well as physical factors that can lead to vision disorders. Fortunately, a new generation of optometrists is investing postgraduate years mastering programs designed to prevent and eliminate vision impairment and improve visual performance. Several research findings have made the possibility of reducing the dependency on prescription lenses much more tenable. The key apparently lies in diet and nutritional supplements.

Antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops are recently developed to help reduce stress to the eyes which could lead to vision disorders. Diet and nutrition also play a central role in the proper functioning of the eyes. It has been found that vision disorders, including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration may be traced back to nutritional deficiencies.

Antioxidants are known to fight disease-fighting free radicals. By using antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops, you increase your defenses against the harmful effects of free radicals on your vision. Antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops can neutralize free radicals, breaking off the chain reaction which leads to massive cellular damage.

Antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops aids in reducing the aggravating effects of smoking, drinking alcohol, and use of some prescription drugs. Your eyes are constant stressed by a lot of environmental factors which could damage its tissues. By using antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops, you can improve your vision. The beneficial substances found in the antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops boost your immune system, thus making your body less susceptible to any environmental factors which could irritate the eye.

Some of the nutrients that make up part of antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops include zinc, selenium, taurine, vitamin C or ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin A. Antioxidant anti-inflammatory eye drops may also contain riboflavin, N-acetyle-cysteine, ginkgo biloba, and flavonoids.

Related posts:

1. Anti Aging Antioxidant
2. Antioxidant
3. Antioxidant Antiaging

First isolated and identified in 1895 by Napoleon Cybulski, epinephrine was again "discovered in 1897 and in 1901 where two scientists, John Jacob Abel and Jokichi Takamine were not aware that it was the same hormone, and instead named it adrenaline. Epinephrine was first artificially synthesized in 1904 by Friedrich Stolz.

Epinephrine plays a central role in the short-term stress reaction. Such reaction is the physiological response of the body to threatening or exciting conditions. Thus, when you are excited or afraid, you feel that "adrenaline rush" in the body.

Epinephrine is often combined with antioxidant formulations for best results. Antioxidant formulations are, as you might already know, act primarily on neutralizing free radicals – oxygen byproducts that cause damages to cells. Epinephrine and antioxidant formulations are often injected into the human body to narrow blood vessels and open airways in the lungs. The epinephrine counteracts severe low blood pressure and wheezing while the antioxidant formulation contained help repair damages that might have already been incurred. Epinephrine and antioxidant formulations also help relieve itching and hives.

Injections of epinephrine and antioxidant formulations are used to treat severe allergic reactions, a condition called anaphylaxis. Such may be caused by anything from insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens as well as exercise-induced (idiopathic) anaphylaxis. Epinephrine and antioxidant formulation auto-injectors such as EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. are intended for immediate self-administration by a person with a history of anaphylactic reaction.

Things to Consider before Using Epinephrine and Antioxidant Formulations

Before any emergency occurs, talk to your doctor about using epinephrine and antioxidant formulations for injection. This holds especially true only in the case of the conditions highlighted in the following:

Heart disease or high blood pressure;
Medicines to treat a heart condition;
Diabetes; or
Thyroid problems

If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment with epinephrine and antioxidant formulations.

Epinephrine and antioxidant formulations are in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether epinephrine and antioxidant formulations will be harmful to the unborn baby. Before you take the injection during an emergency, talk to your doctor about its use and its possible effects on the baby. Also, before any emergency occurs, talk to your doctor about using epinephrine and antioxidant formulations if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How EpiPen Injection is used

Use EpiPen injection exactly as your doctor advised. Instructions will be given and if you do not understand them, ask your doctor, pharmacist, nurse to explain them to you. If any severe allergic reaction occurs, seek emergency medical attention. Generally, the effects of EpiPen and antioxidant formulations wear off after 10 to 20 minutes but it is always better to be safe, than sorry.

"Epinephrine" – 19 (density = 3.6%)

Related posts:

1. Herbal Formulations
2. Antioxidant Substance
3. Antioxidant Food

Just recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has come up with its top antioxidant food list. In this antioxidant food list, nutrient scientists rated the "total antioxidant capacity" of individual foods. The antioxidant rich foods contained in the antioxidant food list are those that score above 2,000 in terms of antioxidant capacity. Here are 12 of these foods that should make it to everyone's antioxidant food list.

Antioxidant Food List: The Fruit Category

In the antioxidant food list fruits category, among the fruits that topped the list are prunes or dried plums, blueberries, and cherries. These three fruits were said to contain the highest concentration of antioxidants out of all fruits tested.

"Summer is the best time to just load up on all these healthy foods that are in season," registered dietician Lauren Niemes said "and so good this peak season when they are locally grown."

Antioxidant Food List: The Vegetable Category

Lots of vegetables made it to the antioxidant food list but among those that crowded the top spot are artichokes, red cabbage, and russet potatoes. Beans and Brussels sprouts were also touted to have a large amount of antioxidant capacity.

Antioxidant Food List: The Nut Category

Out of all nuts, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts are the nuttiest. Pecans especially were said to contain the most number of antioxidant compounds and definitely made it to the top of the antioxidant food list.

Niemes said that scientists have recently discovered new sources of antioxidants. "While we think of a lot of antioxidants are found vitamins A, C, and E…scientists are discovering there are lots of other things in foods that have antioxidant properties," she said.

Before, our antioxidant food list only contained fruits and vegetables rich in the above-mentioned vitamins and some minerals, such as selenium. Now, the antioxidant food list ais admitting more and more fresh produce that didn't make it to the previous cut.

Oregano, cinnamon, and cloves are among the spices that are included in the antioxidant food list.

Antioxidants are said to act on free radicals that cause damage to the cells. By stopping free radicals from multiplying and turning other healthy molecules into free radicals themselves, antioxidants help prevent caused by massive free radical damage.

Antioxidants have been linked to treatment or prevention of cancer and heart disease. They are also said to reverse memory loss. Though studies are for the most part inconsistent with antioxidant supplements, there is no arguing the benefits of antioxidants found naturally in fruits and vegetables we eat everyday.

Related posts:

1. List of Antioxidant Foods
2. Antioxidant Rich Foods
3. Antioxidant Food