Carrots have long been touted as the vegetable of choice in order to save someone’s eye sight. This is due to the Beta-carotene, also found in beets, sweet potatoes and other orange vegetables. It has been found to help prevent macular degeneration. Research also points to the protection that Beta-carotene provides against cancer, heart disease and the progression of arthritis. (3,4)
You may not like it, but spinach is a nutritional jackpot. The antioxidant found in spinach is Lutein and is the main pigment located in the macula of the eye. People who eat spinach are less likely to develop cataracts. Lutein also works by shielding the retina from sun damage and can help prevent heart disease.
These are only a few of the foods, fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, that contain antioxidants necessary to fight free radical damage in our bodies. By getting enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis we help our bodies to fight the damage done by free radicals produced in our bodies but also acquired through toxins and waste products in the environment. We acquire free radicals through strenuous exercise, breathing and pollution, smoking and alcohol intake just to name a few.
Researchers now know that antioxidants are able to provide a level of protection and prevention against illnesses and diseases long thought to be a part of the aging process. By incorporating only a few things into our diet we are able to positively impact the long term effects of our health.
References:
(1) Bowling Green State University: Chapter 14 Radical Reactions
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/chem/faculty/pavel/Chem542/Chapter%2014%20-%20542.pdf
(2) National Cancer Institute: Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/antioxidants
(3) MedlinePlus: Beta-Carotene
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/999.html
(4) University of Maryland Medical Center: Beta-Carotene
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/beta-carotene-000286.htm
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