Antioxidants VS. Free Radicals

Antioxidants are natural compounds that help protect the body from free-radical damage. They act as scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue damage that could lead to cellular damage and disease. Normally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes too much for the body, damage can occur in the form of harm to the immune system, aging or worse they may lead to various degenerative diseases.
The bodies own biochemical processes can naturally lead to the formation of harmful free radicals. Sometimes the body’s immune system creates them to neutralize viruses and bacteria. Other times free radicals arise normally during metabolism, the process of breaking down fat molecules for energy. Even a diet high in fat will increase the activity of free radicals in the body. Yet, it is our own polluted environment that is really increasing the production of free radicals within our bodies. Exposure to pollution in our air and water, radiation, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, household chemicals such as cleaning supplies and beauty products, herbicides, pesticides, even the sun’s rays can all spawn free radicals.
It is no wonder that we hear so much in the media, from our doctors and probably from our own Mothers about the importance of antioxidants to our diets. In fact, it is recommended that we consume “5 – 9 fruits and vegetables a day” of differing colors. Try doing that on a regular basis. If your family is anything like mine, we are so busy, we have no idea what we had for lunch and convenience is what is really on our minds, not color.
What makes things even harder is that antioxidants come from a large variety of sources. This makes it difficult to get enough of them in the right combination to fight off and restore the damage free radicals cause. That’s why I believe it is so important to find a diet that includes antioxidants in its maintenance plan. This not to say that you should not go for it on your own with sprouted grains, fruits and vegetables, just be realistic with your food intake. Are you really consuming enough antioxidants on your own? The risks seem too high to leave it up in the air. Zrii really made it easy for my family to get the antioxidants we need everyday. My kids Love Zrii!