Food Pyramids | Brain foods | Calculators | Fatty Acids | Nutrients | Nutrition and India | Nutrition Profiles | Vitamin Supplements

Antioxidants

Antioxidants consist of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Beta Carotene. Anti oxidants reduce oxidative stress and help with degenerative diseases. The Phytonutrients (part of antioxidants) remove oxygen molecules (also called free radicals). The free radicals play a role in heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. With age, we wind up with too many free radicals, and inflammation of the cells. Anti oxidants are believed to minimize this effect.

The foods may be categorized as pro-inflammatory, neutral, and anti-inflammatory.

Anti oxidant foods that are anti-inflammatory include: cold-water high fat fish, fruits, and colorful vegetables.

Pro inflammatory foods to avoid include: saturated and trans fats, sugars and starches.

Some of the experts believe that effects of ageing can be somewhat reversed by eating anti oxidant foods that are inflammatory, while pro inflammatory foods accelerate the ageing process.