What is an antioxidant and what role does it play in the health of the body?

What is an antioxidant and what role does it play in the health of the body?

Pigments in plants, vegetables, and fruits that cause different colors are actually due to the presence of anthocyanin pigments.

For example, beta-carotene in carrots causes the orange color and chlorophyll in vegetables causes the green color But these are not the only properties of pigments, but also play a much more important role called antioxidants. In fact, their function is to prevent the oxidation of the body's molecules. So the important question is what happens if the body's molecules oxidize?

When the body's molecules are under oxidative stress, they release a toxic molecule called a "free radical."

This molecule is in fact one of the most important causes of damage to body tissues, which can cause diseases such as cancer or diabetes. So what is the solution?

Antioxidant types:

Antioxidants fall into two categories: endogenous and exogenous, antioxidants produced by the body and those derived from food.

External antioxidants

• • Vitamin A.
• • Vitamin C
• • Vitamin E.
• • B• Lutein
• • Selenium
• • Manganese
• • Zeaxanthin
• • eta-carotene
• • Lycopene

They are among the antioxidants that are all found in a variety of plant foods and fruits.

What are the antioxidants in different food?

Foods that contain antioxidants are usually included in the diet to advance the path of human health in a professional way.

• • Vitamin A (eggs, liver and dairy products)
• • Vitamin E (green vegetables, vegetable oils and nuts)
• • Vitamin C (a variety of fruits and vegetables such as oranges and bell peppers)
• • Beta-carotene (light-colored vegetables and fruits such as spinach, mango, carrots)
• • Lycopene (red vegetables and fruits such as watermelon and tomato)
• • Selenium (rice, corn, eggs, cheese and beans)

More antioxidants:

• • Add fruits or vegetables to meals (fruit salad or vegetable salad)
• Add matca tea or green tea to your daily diet (matca tea is rich in antioxidants and other nutritious vitamins derived from green tea)
• • Pay attention to the color of the food plate you want, if your plate is red or purple, it means more antioxidants, while beige or brown indicates less antioxidants (meaning the color plate of the food in the plate)
• • Spices with antioxidants that include; Ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin and oregano.
• • Dried fruits and nuts that are without salt. Sugar and

5 food that are rich in antioxidants

Cornelian cherry: The most antioxidant in coal

Cornelian cherry is not only rich in vitamins and minerals, but also a good source of anthocyanin, which are also very powerful antioxidants. As a result, Cornelian cherry is a fruit with a very high nutritional value, and its consumption improves brain function and maintains bone density, and reduces the risk of heart disease

Broccoli:

The first sign of antioxidants in cabbage is its green color. According to research, there is a very important substance in broccoli that reduces oxidative stress called phenolic, which is an antioxidant that can protect against inflammation and allergies in the body.

Slimming around the waist with walnuts:

Maybe it's not bad to know; Spain is one of the countries with the healthiest diet and in fact follows the Mediterranean diet. A diet rich in healthy nuts and fats such as vegetable oils and vegetables. Contrary to our Iranian diet, which is rich in red meat and excessive consumption of rice and carbohydrates, which has made us not even in the ranking of 56 healthy countries in the world. In this type of diet, consumption of nuts such as walnuts is seen to be very useful to some extent. Walnuts contain a significant amount of polyphenols, which prevent oxidative stress, which helps control weight and reduce inflammation.

Better eyesight with spinach:

Spinach is actually a low-calorie vegetable. The presence of a substance called lutein-carotenoid, which is also found in carrots and causes its orange color, acts as an antioxidant and not only increases visual acuity but also ensures heart health.

Reduce blood pressure with potatoes:

Potatoes, despite having a lot of carbohydrates, have other nutrients, which, of course, are found in greater amounts in colored varieties. The antioxidants in colored potatoes lower blood pressure and thus reduce the risk of heart disease.

According to what has been said about the very important effect of antioxidants. Including drinks that are rich in antioxidants in the diet can have a significant impact on the health of the body and increase the quality of function of the body organs.

Here are 10 drinks rich in antioxidants: :

• • Green cup
• • Matcha Tea
• • Cold brewed coffee
• • Beetroot juice
• • Pomegranate juice
• • Strawberry juice
• • Blueberry juice
• • Coconut water
• • Green juice
• • Dandelion herbal tea

Important points about drinks with antioxidants; Drinks that are offered in various supermarkets or shops as natural juices should always be checked, so keep in mind that the labels on the product contain how much chemicals and minerals they contain, and be careful as much as possible. Have the least amount of antioxidants and sugar In general, making natural juices at home using a professional juicer such as a Bishel juicer can ensure that it provides all the minerals and vitamins the body needs.