Aging is big business, and today's market is flooded with products that blur the lines between healthcare, beauty and simple fads. Many of these products contain antioxidants to fight aging and promote wellness. We've learned about the benefits of antioxidants from marketing, but it's also important to understand what antioxidants are, and how they work.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring nutrients that are present in the human body and in many plants including fruits and vegetables. Our bodies require antioxidants to function properly. These important nutrients act as cell protectors and they maintain good health by slowing the destructive aging of cellular molecules.
With normal cellular function, cells produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals can cause further damage to the body by stealing vital components from other cellular molecules including protein, fat and DNA. When left unchecked, free radicals can cause a multitude of serious health concerns including cataracts, heart damage, cancer and a weak immune system.
One of the main benefits of antioxidants is found in their ability to stabilize free radicals. By providing these stabilizing components, antioxidants can help to prevent widespread cellular destruction and reduce further damage to the system. Antioxidants return to the surface level and steady the cells, rather than causing damage to other components.
Although there are some contradictions in the research, several studies have shown that antioxidants have the ability to improve immune responses and vaccine recognitions in cats and dogs. This can be particularly useful when vaccinating young animals that lack fully developed immune systems.
Antioxidants are significant in older animals too, as they reverse the reduction of immune cell functions. Studies have also revealed that a combination of many different antioxidants, when given in average amounts, can be more effective than high level doses of a single antioxidant.
Naturally occurring antioxidants in humans and plants appear in different forms. Familiar natural antioxidant sources are carotenoids including beta-carotene and lutein, and Vitamins A, C and E. These are considered to be the basis of good health, beneficial in the prevention of heart disease through blocking the spread of free radicals.
Vitamin E, in particular, is a common form of antioxidant that can protect against cardiovascular disease by defending against the LDL oxidation and artery-clogging plague development. Numerous studies have shown that the benefits of antioxidants also include a reduced risk of cancer. Vitamin C has been shown to lower rates of mouth, larynx and esophagus cancers.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious options for boosting your antioxidant intake. Eat foods with bright and deep pigments, like tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and spinach. These foods provide the highest concentrations of this essential health booster.
There is no question that antioxidants provide many health benefits. But it's still not clear how, or if, antioxidant supplements should be taken. There is also a lack of proof of long-term consequences from taking mega-doses of antioxidants. While antioxidants occur naturally, they are chemicals and should caution must be used.
Speak with your doctor if you're thinking about boosting your body with the benefits of antioxidants.
The Qur'an (2:155) says, "Give glad tidings to those who exercise patiencewhen struck with adversity and say, 'Indeed, we belong to God and to Him is ourreturn.' Such ones receive [the] blessings and mercy of their Lord, and suchare the guided ones." According to the findings of modern science, itappears that this mercy may often come in the form of improved health.
Bernard Jensen says, in his book The Science and Practice of Iridology,"The doctor of the new day will recognize that a man's most importantworkshop is not the physical body, but the mind that controls it." Dr. TedM. Morter confirms this in his book, Your Health... Your Choice, when he saysthat "negative thoughts are the number one acid producer in the body (andhigh body acidity levels are a major cause of disease)? because your bodyreacts to negative mental and emotional stress brought about by thought thesame way it reacts to 'real' threats of physical harm."
In fact, hospital studies show that, of all the patients who consult outpatientclinical facilities in the United States, an astounding seventypercent are found to have no organic basis for their complaint. That figure isamazingly high. However, although medically these patients are not found tohave an obvious organic source for their complaints, there actually is aphysical basis for this phenomenon. Since Freud popularized the idea ofpsychoanalysis, people have often focused exclusively on the mental realm tosolve certain problems, forgetting that we cannot separate the physical andmental realms. The mind is in the brain, and the brain is an organ. Like allother organs, it feeds from the same pool of nutrients that other body organsfeed from and is susceptible to all of the same problems. Ultimately, the brainis just a part of our body like all of the other parts and is completelydependent on the body. It requires sugar to develop energy unlike other tissuesthat can develop it from potassium and fats. Consequently, it is the firstorgan to suffer from low blood sugar and it reacts most severely. Freud himselfsaid that psychoanalysis was not suitable for treating diseases such asschizophrenia, and he postulated that their causes eventually would be found tobe biochemical.
If we keep in mind that the brain is an organ and that it works in harmony withthe other organs and feeds from the same bloodstream, we can understand howvarious mental events can affect us physically. For example, simply using ourbrains to think and study burns up nutrients in our system, particularlyphosphorus. Heavily exercising the brain can cause us to suffer from aphosphorus deficiency. And we find that the reverse is also true in thisrelationship. People who have high intellectual capacity usually have highlevels of phosphorus in their system.
There is much wisdom in the Prophet's (SAW) statement (narrated by AbuHuraira), "The strong [person] is not the one who overcomes the people byhis strength, but the strong [person] is the one who controls himself while inanger." In fact, staying patient and calm is key to physical strength.
Phosphorus is not the only nutrient that can be depleted by mental stress and alack of spiritual calm. If the thyroid gland, the primary organ to handle ouremotions, works overtime, we can suffer from a deficiency in iodine. Stressfrom a demanding job, a divorce or relocating can cause a loss of potassium andsodium in the body because it effects the adrenal glands creating more of aneed for these minerals.
Even hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be caused by excitement. The prophet(SAW) recommended our taking the more moderate path in life; however, we oftenengage in or expose ourselves to intense excitement by yelling, excessivelywatching television, and going to the mall, movies, parties, amusement parks,etc. When we see something exciting, our adrenal cortex is stimulated and thereis an increase in our blood sugar. This, in turn, stimulates the pancreas tosecrete insulin into the blood to lower the sugar level, causing us to thenfeel tired or weak.
It produces calm and health to practice saying, "Alhamdulillah" forwhat we have and for what we are faced with. We should try to keep our home andwork environments peaceful and as free from stress as possible. One way we cancounteract the effects of stress are to simply be aware of the stress we areencountering, and to consume sufficient nutrients and supplements such asherbs.
For instance, if a person is up late praying or reading Qur'an during Ramadan,they can eat phosphorus rich foods and those that will help them maintain theirphosphorus intake. If a person is moving, traveling or making Hajj or Umra,they may want to increase their intake of foods high in potassium and sodium aswell as vitamin B complex.
If we completely ignore the relationship between mental and physical health, weare missing an important detail in the picture of personal health. And, as inmost health problems, practicing prevention is superior to finding a cure.Therefore, the best manner to avoid having negative attitudes and emotionscontrol our bodies is simply to practice the wisdoms that we have been giventhroughout the Qur'an and Hadith. We should say, "Alhamdullilah" forwhat we have; "Insha'Allah" for what we intend; and, "Subhana'Allah" when we see something exciting or amazing. We should remember tosay, Astaghfir'Allah" when we lose our tempers or become weak, and mostimportantly, "Allahu Akbar" when we are faced with the challenges oflife. These five phrases, said regularly, are like taking a multi-vitamin forholistic health.
Both Myron Huett & Sajjad are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Myron Huett has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vegetarian Diet, Anti Oxidant and Yoga. Contributor Myron Huett writes for a variety of web sites, on and . Myron Huett's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
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