Our body undergoes tremendous stress everyday due to our interactions with the environment, food that we eat, lifestyle choices, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.
Although oxidation is a normal and important process in our body, oxidative stress occurs when free radical agents overwhelm the body natural antioxidant functions. This can lead to infections, damage to DNA, and injury to normal body processes. More seriously, it leads to long-term inflammatory conditions, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's Disease), and other health issues!
Currently, we get most of our daily antioxidants through food. Fruits and vegetables such as berries, citrus fruits, dark leafy greens, and carrots are good sources. Other dietary foods include fish oil, garlic, herbs (such as turmeric), vitamins, and tea are also rich in antioxidants. However, these antioxidant sources might contain contaminants and toxins, which can further exacerbate free radicals. Also, the value of antioxidants varies greatly in different types of preparation - whether it is fresh, tinned, or cooked. Therefore, it is challenging to ensure we consume enough antioxidants every day and we need supplements.
■ Oxidation can lead to infections and long-term-inflammatory conditions including neurodegenerative diseases. Foods that are rich in antioxidants might contain contaminants, depending on the sources, and they have different antioxidant values due to different preparation methods.
