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Optimal Natural Health with AntioxidantsFrom the holistic medicine and nutrition viewpoint, if you are not well nourished, you cannot think clearly and function at your best. Your relationships suffer and spiritual distress can occur. Your body, mind,and spirit are inter-related. An impact on any one part (the body in this case) impacts every other part. 
Optimal Natural Health with Antioxidants
Our bodies require oxygen. This is nothing new, of course. Without it, energy from our food could not be used and without that energy from our food, we couldn't live. Also, our immune system uses some of the products from oxidation to protect our body. So far so good- our body needs oxygen and the by-products of the oxidation process is also used.
So, what is the problem, then? Well, it just so happens that oxygen is just volatile enough that it not oxidizes what it is supposed to, it also does a number on the nearby cells. Think about a fire out of the control. It doesn't just burn in one place. 
During all normal body reactions (and there are many), oxygen reacts to readily oxidize the molecules in it's vicinity. These oxidized molecules become 'free radicals' and can be quite unstable. Our body responds by sending in an army of antioxidants to limit damage damage. Antioxidants are natural health resources. Antioxidant enzymes are in healthy tissue and many of the foods we eat, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and whole grains-provide antioxidant food to give our body's antioxidants a boost. Some of the antioxidants you may be familiar with are vitamin A in the form of beta carotene (found in orange and dark green fruits and vegetables), Vitamin E (found in cereals and seeds), and selenium and zinc (found in nuts, seeds and seafood). What's that? You don't eat many of these? Maybe you eat a little once in awhile, but certainly no where near 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables? Do you eat natural, nutrient packed cereal or the kind high in sugar? When was the last time you at fish? Was it broiled or baked or fried? Was the last time you saw seafood last summer on vacation? Oh, oh, I sense some room for improvement. Thankfully, there are some easy, yet very important things you can do to help yourself. Why you MUST take action! Research tells us that many common diseases are the result of low levels of antioxidants in the body tissues and/or in the diet. If you think about it, your body tissues can't possibly have enough antioxidants if you are not providing them. You may consider yourself well-nourished, but if you are not eating enough of the foods with rich in vitamins A, E and C and selenium and zinc, you may be malnourished and not realize it. Some diseases associated with low antioxidants (or too many free-radicals) include, but are not limited to: Heart Disease Alzheimer's Disease Infertility Respiratory Infections Rheumatoid Arthritis Some Cancers Mental Illness Premature aging (Although this is not a disease, it is certainly something most of us want to avoid.) Optimal Natural Health with Antioxidants In addition to antioxidants enzymes, our body also needs essential nutrients and water in order to minimize damage. Cell damage, premature aging and disease will follow if any of these components is missing. In the molecule below, you can see if any of the connections are damaged, the entire molecule would be altered. Our body strives to work as a whole-damage any one part impacts all others. See how naturally holistic you are already? Cancers are abnormal cells, so you can appreciate how important this concept is. The good news is it is easy to make a big impact with regard to antioxidants.
The result is enough damage to cause blood vessel damage and inflammation, cancer and speedy aging. Have you ever wondered why people who smoke seem to age faster than those who do not? I really can't just pick on smokers, because most of us make choices that give those pesky free radicals plenty of room to grow. Effects of Stress and Free Radicals All forms of stress in your body, whether it be chemical stress from polluted air, water and food, emotional stress or physical stress such as injury or illness, cause an overproduction of free radicals. There is a direct correlation between stress and health problems. These free radicals do even more damage than the original stress did. It is like a punch and a jab so fast we hardly saw it coming. Lucky you, though. You are reading this, so you can get ready! 
Optimal Natural Health with Antioxidants: Stress and Cell Damage
One of the first changes you can make is to eat more fruits and vegetables. I've tried many ways to do this because, like many of you, it is difficult to eat 5 or more servings a day of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Not only are they good sources of antioxidants, they also are packed with nutrients and have fiber. You will eventually crave fewer processed foods and concentrated sweets once you eat more fruits and vegetables. Really! Try to eat a variety of colors. Each one has something special to offer. As a general rule, the darker the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients. When choosing fruits and vegetables, this should be your criteria: First choose fresh and eat it raw or cook it only enough that it is still firm. Steaming is a good way. Boiling food will sometimes leave the best nutrients to go down the drain. Frying and microwaving does a lot of nutrient-destroying, so avoid this if you can. If you cannot eat fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen is another option. Canned is your next option, but watch for the salt in the packing. This is how it lasts so long. 
It is estimated that the nutrient value of fruits and vegetables we eat today is about 38% less potent nutritionally than it was decades before because our soil is depleted. Also, so many of the produce in our stores are grown in hot houses, picked 'green' and ripenned in boxes to be shipped. They might also be waxed to make them look better.
In 2002, the American Medical Association recommended that adults should take nutritional supplements daily to make up for this. This is probably because most of us do not come close to eating 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Even so, many healthcare providers really don't address nutrition with their patients. How can we not address this, though? Our nutrition is a building block of our health. I take supplements, and have tried a variety. There are a few that I believe have adequate supportive research AND are made by reputable companies. This is important with regard to supplementation because since they are not considered medications, they do not undergo the same scrutiny medications do. The supplements I recommend cost less than one fancy coffee drink a day. I've had to work real hard at getting enough of fruits and vegetables, and yet it is still a challenge. Here are a few ways I've discovered to make it work for me. Not every supplement is as helpful for everyone, but these certainly warrant a try. Remember, cell changes happen quickly (good and bad) but you may not feel it for awhile. Consider this, by the time someone is diagnosed with cancer, they've had it for months or even years many times. You don't feel one or two cells that have changed. Damage over time leads to symptoms. One of the first supplements I used and have used for over 10 years now is Juice Plus. There is alot of good research to support it. It is a whole food supplement and I am familiar with the manufacturer and trust that it is quality-made. This whole food supplement is made by flash freezing fruits and vegetables. The capsules have a variety of concentrated fruits and vegetables and so they are packed with nutrients and antioxidants. Because they are whole food, the components of that produce can still work synergistically or together. If you take a vitamin C supplement, that vitamin C was plucked out of something-say an orange. What about the other nutrients in that orange that help that vitamin C really do it's job? It isn't there. With a whole food supplement, you still get that benefit.
Learn more about making your own whole food smoothies and soups!
Have you lead a life that is filled with toxins-smoking, alcohol, air pollution, stress-filled, high sugar, low exercise and more? Do you think you might need a real jump start?
Whether you are looking for that jump start or not, Gogi juice might be something that interests you. It is a highly concentrated juice really packed with antioxidants.
Ready to learn more about a naturally holistic lifestyle?
Disclaimer: Material provided on Naturally-Holistic.net website is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Always take the advice of your doctor before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program. We will not be liable for any complications, or other medical accidents arising from the use of any information on this web site.
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