Antioxidants are your body’s secret weapon

It’s flu season and everywhere you go it seems people are coughing and sneezing. It might feel like your body is constantly under attack from germs and viruses but the truth is even more serious than that. Your body is in a constant battle against infection, diseases, oxidative stress and the formation of free radicals.

 What are free radicals?

Oxygen in the body splits into single atoms with unpaired electrons. Electrons like to be in pairs, so these atoms, called free radicals, scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair. This causes damage to cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and many others. They also may have a link to aging.

The Baddies

Some free radicals are formed as natural byproducts of your body’s processes, including eating and breathing, and you are exposed to free radicals from environmental toxins, household chemicals and cigarette smoke. Many lifestyle choices can play a big part in creating free radicals. Here are some of the biggest culprits.

Fats and oils can become oxidized during storage as a result of exposure to light, air or heat. This creates free radicals and causes the unpleasant odors that you associate with rancidity. When fats or oils are heated to high temperatures, as they are with deep-frying, they can become oxidized, creating free radicals. Saturated fats are less likely than unsaturated fats to become oxidized. When cooking fats are reused, they become more oxidized and produce even more free radicals.

 Cooked and processed meats can also contribute to creating free radicals. Meat contains fats and those fats can also become oxidized when cooked at high temperatures. The iron found in meat, especially red meat, can also become oxidized. Preservatives used in processed meats — including sausages, bacon, ham, pepperoni, hotdogs, salami, corned beef and many deli meats — may also create free radicals. Consider limiting saturated fats – which are found in butter, cheese, red meat and other animal-based foods.

 Alcoholic beverages have been identified as a human carcinogen. The National Cancer Institute says that one way that alcohol increases the risk of cancer is by creating free radicals in the body. If you drink alcohol, the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends limiting your intake to no more than two drinks a day if you are a man and one drink a day if you are a woman. While moderate alcohol intake may have some heart health benefits, these should be weighed against the additional cancer risk.

Smoking cigarettes is a known carcinogen but did you know that every puff of a cigarette contains about 4,700 different chemicals and 100 trillion free radical molecules. These reactive substances damage lung tissue by chemically reacting with DNA, cell membranes and other molecules in the lung. Smoking also introduces free radicals into your body and accelerates the aging process.

The Goodies

The good news is that the body has it’s own built in mechanism to fight the damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants are substances that help prevent the damaging effects of oxidation on cells throughout your body and are plentiful in many foods, primarily fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants benefit your health by cleaning free radicals out of your bloodstream. They have a range of health benefits including anti-inflammatory effects, immune and anti-aging benefits. Some studies have shown that antioxidants reduce the signs of aging by minimizing wrinkles and preserving the texture of the skin. They can even protect your skin from sun damage, and reduce the incidence of sunburn.

The human body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to counteract their damaging effects. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. In order to maintain the balance, a continual supply of external sources of antioxidants is necessary in order to obtain the maximum benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants benefit the body by neutralizing and removing the free radicals from the bloodstream.

Molecular Hydrogen

Hydrogen-rich or H2 water has been proven to be an excellent source of antioxidants with many other healing properties. But some people may wonder how H2 water compares to antioxidants found in foods. Although it’s literally an “apples and oranges” discussion, here are a few comparisons.

The similarities

• They are both natural to the body.
• They are both neither artificial nor synthetic.
• They are both potential keys to longevity.
• They both promote health and wellness.

The differences

• Molecular hydrogen only scavenges the bad free radicals.
• Molecular hydrogen leaves no waste product after neutralizing a free radical.
• Molecular hydrogen also increases our body’s own antioxidant systems.
• Molecular hydrogen also acts as a signaling molecule, thus having many other benefits.
• Molecular hydrogen is the smallest molecule, and can easily enter the cells.
• Molecular hydrogen has no known toxic effects, even at high intakes.
• Molecular hydrogen is easily consumed with no additional calories.

Many vegetables, fruits, and other types of foods are excellent sources of antioxidant compounds. Research suggests that when it comes to longevity and overall health, some of the benefits of consuming antioxidant foods, herbs, teas and supplements include:

• Slower signs of aging, including of the skin, eyes, tissue, joints, heart and brain
• Healthier, more youthful, glowing skin
• Reduced cancer risk
• Detoxification support
• Longer life span
• Protection against heart disease and stroke
• Less risk for cognitive problems, such as dementia
• Reduced risk for vision loss or disorders like macular degeneration and cataracts

The 20 best antioxidant foods

According to a reportpublished in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2004, the report’s authors found the following items to be the best food sources of antioxidants:

Food, Serving Size, Antioxidant Capacity Per Serving

Small red bean (dried), 1/2 cup, 13,727

Wild blueberries, 1 cup, 13,427

Red kidney beans (dried), 1/2 cup, 13,259

Pinto beans, 1/2 cup, 11,864

Blueberries (cultivated), 1 cup, 9,019

Cranberries, 1 cup (whole), 8,983

Artichoke hearts, 1 cup, 7,904

Blackberries, 1 cup, 7,701

Prunes, 1/2 cup, 7,291

Raspberries, 1 cup, 6,058

Strawberries, 1 cup, 5,938

Red delicious apples, 1, 5,900

Granny Smith apples, 1, 5,381

Pecans, 1 ounce, 5,095

Sweet cherries, 1 cup, 4,873

Black plums, 1, 4,844

Russet potatoes, 1 cooked, 4,649

Black beans (dried), 1/2 cup, 4,181

Plums, 1, 4,118

Gala apples, 1, 3,903

The bottom line is that it’s still important to eat your fruits and veggies in addition to consuming hydrogen rich water. Hydrogen water works in conjunction with antioxidant foods and also provides additional health benefits.

It’s easy to boost your consumption of antioxidants without eating massive amounts of vegetables or expensive supplements. Check out our many H2 water filters and ionizers and enjoy H2 water every day! www.waterionizer.org

Not sure which product is best for your needs? Contact one of our water experts and they’ll be happy to assist you. 1-888- 770-5247