Food - Eating For Health
Increasingly, research indicates the road to wellness may be paved with phytonutrients. The No.1 reason we love phytonutrients is because of their powerful antioxidant properties. Different phytonutrients will act on the body in different ways, and different fruits and vegetables are diverse in their blend of various compounds.
You don’t always eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day , do you ? Eating the right foods in the correct portions all the time can be expensive , time consuming and , let’s face it , inconvenient. But whine though we may, the fact remains that this tier of the food pyramid is extremely important. What is it about fruits and vegetables that make them so advantageous to our health ?
In a word - phytonutrients ;a broad term that encompasses the plant-derived compounds we ingest to maintain our health. Phytonutrients have powerful antioxidant properties and fruits and vegetables contain the most phytonutrients.
What are antioxidents ? - Antioxidants are agents that inhibit harmful compounds known as free radicals. Free radicals cause damage to your cells through the process of oxidation. By donating an electron to unstable free radicals, antioxidants neutralise their harmful effects. Obtaining a variety of antioxidants through diet or supplementation is essential to maintaining your good health.
What are free radicals ?- Free radicals are atoms with at least one unpaired electron. In excess, free radicals produce harmful oxidation that can damage cell membranes. Free radicals are analogous to cattle let loose on a field of crops. Uncontrolled the cattle would destroy the crops. Ranch hands are hired to make sure the cattle stay in place. Antioxidants act as the ranch hands for our bodies . Antioxidants prevent free radicals from potentially damaging millions of healthy, functioning cells.
What causes excess free radicals ? - Tobacco smoke ,alcohol, pollution, insecticides, radiation, chemicals in the home or at work and excessive amounts of sunlight are prolific contributors to free radicals. Other causes include a high-fat diet, stress, insufficient sleep and strenuous exercise.
Different phytonutrients will act on the body in different ways and fruits and vegetables are diverse in their blend of various compounds. to ensure a healthy diet , it is important to vary the fruits and vegetables you eat to gain full advantage of their wealth of healthy ingredients. A number of phytonutrients have been identified, and their power of protection against such chronic diseases as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases and even certain form of cancer has been impressive.
So eating the types and assortment of fruits and vegetables is just as critical as the amount. It’s important to mix up your daily intake. A particular vegetable or fruit alone , regardless of the quantity , will not give you all the nutrients you need to get healthy, be healthy , stay healthy .
Remember ….variety is the spice of life.!
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