Antioxidant Vitamins
Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African-American men
and women? The disease claims the lives of over 100,000 annually. Perhaps due to this alarming number, much of
scientific researches conducted in the US today have recently been focused on how antioxidant
vitamins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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.
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