Antioxidant Vitamins

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause
of death for African-American men and women? This disease
claims the lives of over 100,000 annually. Perhaps due to this
alarming number, many of the scientific researches recently
conducted in the US have been focused on how antioxidant
vitamins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin
E, vitamin C, and beta carotene (a form of vitamin A), have
potential health-promoting properties. The data on antioxidant
vitamins is incomplete, but up to 30 percent of Americans are
already taking some form of antioxidant vitamin supplement
along with their diet.

Due to the lack of sufficient data to support the success of
antioxidant supplements versus cardiovascular and other
degenerative illnesses, the American Heart Association does not
yet recommend using antioxidant vitamins supplements. That does
not mean, however, that we should cut back on our intake of
antioxidants.

Some of the basic food groups that prove to be rich sources of
antioxidant vitamins are the following:

* Breads, cereals, pasta, and starchy vegetables (such as
potatoes, yam, squash, etc.)
* Fruits and vegetables
* Fat-free milk and low-fat dairy products
* Lean meat, fish, and poultry

Eating these foods not only allows you to ingest a high level
of natural antioxidant vitamins, but keeps you from gaining
weight. Eating a variety of foods low in saturated fat and
cholesterol provides a rich natural source of antioxidant
vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

But what exactly do antioxidant vitamins do?

Because we live in an atmosphere that contains oxygen, oxygen
radicals are everywhere. Oxidation is a process that occurs
naturally in the body. A natural consequence of it are the
radical particles that have been dubbed "free radicals."

Scientists point to these so-called free radicals as the
culprits when it comes to most degenerative diseases. Free
radicals are blamed for even the simplest of illnesses, such as
colds. There is an increasing body of evidence that oxidative
stress is linked to many diseases such as cardiovascular
disease, cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, cataracts,
and arthritis. Our strongest defenses against these harmful
free radicals are antioxidant vitamins which are contained in
the foods that we eat.

About The Author: David Williams writes for several popular web
sites, including http://depek.com and http://becid.com