Cancers, eye health, cardiac vascular illness, skin, digestive system, pile, .....and many more other health issue can be benefited directly or indirectly by consuming food rich in antioxidants or antioxidant supplements. Its ability in fighting cancers has made it so popular amongst health-cautious people.
What are antioxidants and how it prevent cancers?
Antioxidants are substances that neutralise damage causing agent called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules which can cause damage to DNA and lead to irreversible diseases including cancers. Antioxidants are able to neutralised and stabilised free radicals which made it harmless.
Can antioxidants really prevent cancers?
There are considerable laboratory evidence that indicates antioxidants may slow or prevent the development of cancer. However, recent large-scale clinical trials are unable to achieve consistent conclusion.
Foods that rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, grain and some meats, poultry and fish. Here are the food sources of common antioxidants:
Beta-carotene - Sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots. pumpkin, mangoes, and green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, etc.
Lutein - Associate with healthy eyes, found in green leafy vegetables including collard green, spinach and kale.
Lycopene - Found d in tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, apricot, guava, oranges, grapefruit, etc.
selenium - is not an antioxidant. But it is a component of antioxidant enzymes. Rice and wheat are the main dietary sources of selenium in many countries.
Vitamin A - Foods rich in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, eggs and liver.
Vitamin C - Can be found in many fruits and vegetables and cereals, beef, poultry and fish.
Vitamin E - Found in almonds, mangoes, nuts, broccoli and many types of oil including wheat germ, corn and soybean oils.