Coffee
& Wellness
Antioxidants versus free-radicals: A constant battle in our body
By JARDINE DAVIES R. TORNO
August 2007
RECENT medical research indicate that coffee plays an important role in supplying our bodies with antioxidants, which help neutralize the free radicals that cause what is collectively known as oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress has been suggested to cause premature ageing and degenerative diseases of the cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems.
Antioxidants and free radicals
As its name suggests, antioxidants counter oxidation, a natural process that occurs inside the body, leading to the production of free radicals.
The body’s immune system naturally produces free radicals, which help neutralize viruses and bacteria. Environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, stress, toxins, smoking and herbicides, however, likewise produce them.
Let us imagine free radicals as rogue chemicals that roam inside the body, indiscriminately smashing cell walls and making DNA strands brittle and unstable.
As the damages they cause increase, cells lose their ability to function properly. The consequent meltdown of tissues, in turn, results in the development of diseases.
Antioxidants help counter this problem by neutralizing the free radicals. They swoop down on them and donate their own electrons to stabilize volatile cells.
Good antioxidant sources
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While our bodies produce their own antioxidants, they are not enough. If there is an excessive amount of free radicals in the body, for one, a breakdown in our systems may occur.
So to keep our body healthy, we need additional antioxidants. Coffee, a beverage that most number of people consume everyday, contains an abundant supply of polyphenol.
This antioxidant is associated with lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease, among others.
Fruits, vegetables, nuts and certain meat products are likewise good sources.
Green leafy vegetables contain lutein, which is best associated with healthy eyes. Tomatoes, guavas, watermelons, and papayas are rich in lycopene, while carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, peaches and apricots contain beta-carotene. Selenium found in fish, shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and garlic is said to help protect against cancer.
Vitamins C and E are also good sources of antioxidants. Vitamin C sources include citrus fruits, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, raw cabbages and potatoes. Vitamin E may be found in wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and fish liver.
Anthocyanins, known as brain boosters, meanwhile, are found in blueberries and strawberries.
It is important to remember, though, that no single type of antioxidant can do the entire job of fighting free radicals. Our bodies need a complex mix of beneficial antioxidants working together. So the key to maintaining our bodies in a state of wellness is by including food and beverages in our diets that are rich in antioxidants.
Coffee, being the most convenient and accessible beverage for us, provides us with the most number of antioxidants daily. So boost your antioxidant levels by having another cup! |
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