Antioxidants And Nutraceuticals: Red Wine, Blueberries And Antioxidant Foods

There are many different types of nutraceuticals with different ways to benefit health. One of the most important nutraceuticals is antioxidants. Antioxidants can be found in many types of food and drinks, as well as dietary supplements. By adding them regularly to a balanced diet, it's easy to stay healthy and happy.

Antioxidants are molecules that can take the form of nutrients of enzymes. They counteract oxidation by neutralizing free radicals, which can damage the body's cells, proteins, and DNA. What this means in lay terms is that they help thwart harmful molecules from doing damage to the body. Thus, antioxidants maintain human health as well as preventing harmful effects of aging and diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease.

One of the most important areas affected is the brain. The human brain tends to react very positively to the nutraceuticals because it has a high metabolic rate and higher levels of polyunsaturated lipids. Antioxidants combat these problems, so doctors often use them to help treat patients with brain injury.

There are many different aspects of nutrition in which antioxidants reside. Nutrients such as vitamin A, C and E are antioxidants. Foods containing these nutrients are effective antioxidant foods. Many fruits and vegetables have antioxidants in them, including tomatoes, oranges, and carrots. This makes them a healthy to eat. Others include tea, coffee, vegetable oil, soy products, and chocolate. A diet high in antioxidants will help lower cholesterol and provide better brain functioning.

One of the most popular ways to obtain antioxidants is by drinking red wine. Scientists have found that red wine contains a high amount of antioxidants that can help cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They suggest that the average person drink one to two glasses of red wine each night to receive the health benefits.

Blueberries are the fruit with the most antioxidants, making them also one of the healthiest. Blueberries can be eaten in many different ways, such as in pies, waffles, and pancakes. They're also great alone or as an accent to a salad. A half a cup of blueberries eaten each day can have a dramatic effect on health. Blueberries have even been found to help urinary tract infections.

Antioxidants can also be found in the form of a dietary supplement. Many drug stores such as Walgreens, or larger stores like Target, carry a wide array of supplements. Since it's so easy to find antioxidants in the food people normally eat, supplements often aren't necessary. Plus, most of the food high in antioxidants are used in many recipes at restaurants and food kitchens alike.

Eating foods rich in antioxidants can have a lot of health benefits such as disease prevention and positive brain health. They can also help lower the bad cholesterol in the body. Because of this, eating a diet rich in this amazing nutraceutical can help people with high cholesterol problems. By drinking red wine and eating blueberries on a regular basis, anyone can receive the health benefits from this nutraceutical.


Sources:
Antioxidant. Wikipedia. 3 Mar. 2007. 6 Mar. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidants>.
Red Wine in Moderation Can Have a Positive Effect on Health. Red-Wine-and-Health. 24 Oct. 2006. Medical Editorial Board. 6 Mar. 2007 <http://www.red-wine-and-health.com/>.
Blueberries: The #1 Antioxidant Fruit. TrueBlue. 2006. Leading Brands, Inc. 6 Mar. 2007
<http://www.trueblueberry.com/en/blueberry/bl ueberry_antioxidants.asp>.