Not all Antioxidants are Created Equal!
by Dan Ho The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more vibrant lives owe much to the efforts and research of certain pioneers who braved ridicule, for without them, many of us now wouldn't be aware of the general benefits of taking antioxidant supplements.
To take a particular notable example, great scientist and humanitarian Linus Pauling (the only man to win 2 unshared Nobel Prizes, one in Chemistry and one for Peace) urged people to supplement with Vitamin C after he became convinced of its myriad of benefits. Pauling personally used Vitamin C for the last three decades of his life, lived to the ripe old age of 93, and was instrumental in helping this vitamin become as popular as it is now.
Although we should remain forever grateful to luminaries like Pauling, we must continue to embrace advances in our collective knowledge.
While health conscious people now know what an antioxidant supplement is, and how it protects cells in the body from becoming the victim of widespread free radical damage, many of us still don't realize that there are wide variations in the potency and efficacy of antioxidants. In short, not all antioxidants are created equal!
Common vitamins like C and E have, in recent years, been shown to have very weak antioxidant properties compared to other substances.
For instance, researchers have discovered that green tea extract is an antioxidant a hundred times more powerful than Vitamin C, and over twenty times more so than Vitamin E! Current studies are showing that green tea may be beneficial in stopping certain types of cancers.
Did you know that grape seed extract is one of the few antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier, and, hence, also protect brain cells from free radical damage?
If you want to get more efficacy out of your Vitamin C and E, research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant supplement in its own right), can help "recycle" C and E, enhancing and prolonging their benefits. Moreover, alpha-lipoic acid is now being studied for its potential beneficial effects on such debilitating health conditions as: diabetes, cataracts, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
Have you heard about the so-called "paradox of the French?" This saying refers to the "puzzling" phenomenon that French people eat a great deal of fatty foods, smoke cigarettes, yet still suffer lower rates of cardiovascular disease than we do here in the Western world.
Some experts attribute this to the fact that the French consume a lot more wine than we do. Wine, in particular red wine, has been shown to contain a special antioxidant known as resveratrol. Besides its potent antioxidant supplement properties, resvertatrol has now been shown to help lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, and has even shown a great deal of preliminary promise in stopping the progression of cancer.
As a last example, research has revealed that N- Acetylcysteine is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to fortify the body by protecting it against various toxins -- toxins such as chemicals and byproducts found in such things as cigarette smoke and herbicides. It may also improve immune function and retard aging.
If you haven't heard of some of these antioxidant supplements, don't be surprised. The big money from the pharmaceutical companies have a strong incentive to suppress this kind of information from getting out to the public at large. After all, they make billions of dollars only when people get sick and need a prescription, not when people take care of themselves and avoid the major killers like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.
Truth seekers, however, should strive to emulate heros of the past like Linus Pauling and become the new torch bearers so that we can continue to improve the state of health for people everywhere with the latest breakthrough antioxidant supplements. Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, which offers unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keeping you abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our FREE newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Supplements Info Site Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Lower Cholesterol with Natural Foods
by P. Mehta
Blood cholesterol is mainly of two types: LDL and HDL cholesterol. Both the types of cholesterol are produced by our body to perform certain functions and are always present in our blood. A total blood cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol of less than 130 mg/dL and HDL cholesterol more than 35mg/dL are considered good for the health of our heart. The problem arises when our body produces more LDL and total cholesterol and less HDL cholesterol than the above mentioned figures.
What you should do if you have high cholesterol then what? It is not always necessary to take medication. In most cases, both LDL and HDL cholesterol can be improved with regular exercise and eating low fat cholesterol friendly foods.
The cholesterol friendly foods or super foods that actually lower cholesterol include apples, onions, lentils, legumes, oats, walnuts, and olive oil. Research has shown that phytochemicals in apples and onions could help cut the risk of death from heart disease or stroke in half. Phytochemicals found in these foods have potential for protection against heart diasease, stroke and cancer. Oats contain beta-glucans, a soluble fiber that has been shown to lower cholesterol. Walnuts contain linolenic acid which lowers cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Olive oil contains 77% of monounsaturated fat and has powerful antioxidants, which lowers LDL cholesterol without affecting HDL levels. Copyright 2005, P. Mehta http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/
[You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyright info.} P. Mehta This article has been written by http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/cholesterol/.
For more information on how to lower cholesterol naturally, visit the web site http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/lower-cholesterol.html.
Please note that this article is not a subsitute for medical advise
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