Eat Till Your Heart is Content
Ahhhh, summer is finally here and the delicious tastes of freshness are within our grasp. Eat the taste of the season, they weren’t just put there for no reason. Fruits and vegetables of the season not only taste great but they are filled with things that not only boost our health, but they taste awesome! These awesome fruits and vegetables are filled with antioxidants that can lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease, cancer and even slow down the aging process.
So, what are antioxidants and why the heck do we need them? Nature is great at providing natural ways to ward off potentially dangerous molecules in the body. Antioxidants ward off free radicals which can come at us as pesticides, plastics, genetically modified or engineered foods, or even chlorine by products. What are free radicals? They are unstable molecules that are missing an electron and will steal it from another molecule. Antioxidants, however, have just what they need and freely give it to the unstable molecule. Without an antioxidant cell damage can lead to chronic and degenerative diseases if left unchecked.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. Fruits and vegetables provide the body with an extra source of antioxidants. Although the body sometimes creates its own free radicals in order to destroy viruses or bacteria, it can only create so much so giving it more antioxidants to combat the free radicals is just a very smart thing to do to help your body remain strong and healthy.
Adding antioxidants to your daily diet provides your body with an extra army to fight against the war on free radicals. The benefits are many including, vitamin E which is great for your heart. It an can suck up the LDL (Lousy) cholesterol in your veins which will keep your heart pumping and free from plaque build-up. That is great news because plaque buildup can cause a heart attack or stroke. When your body has enough vitamin E it has the necessary antioxidants to prevent your LDL (lousy) cholesterol from getting out of control.
In the case of diabetes where free radicals thrive, antioxidants which are in fruits and vegetables can cause these free radicals to neutralize which protects kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and even your heart from damage. Where cancer is concerned, free radicals cause cancer cells to grow. Eating foods full of antioxidants can help neutralize these cells before they turn into a tumor or mass. A recent study from Harvard found that men who consumed tomato-based foods which are rich in antioxidants had a 35% lower risk of developing prostate cancer.
Want to look younger? Antioxidants actually slow the effects of aging. Those free radicals cause damage to the cells within our bodies that are vital to great health and looking youthful. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables can actually slow down the loss of elasticity that leads to those fine lines and wrinkles. They also give a boost to you your immune system, help with memory, and protect your kidneys.
If you find that you cannot eat enough antioxidants, they are available in supplements. One of my favorites is astaxanthin. Full of antioxidants and carotenoids that are good for you on the inside and out. Eating the colors of the rainbow will be a tremendous benefit. Foods rich in beta-carotene such as mangos, oranges, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes or carrots and leafy vegetables are amazing for you.
Because much of our food has been genetically modified and engineered choose the organic section when shopping in the grocery store. Also, depletion of minerals and overuse of the soil along with pesticides makes the commercially grown food filling but not full of the antioxidants that our bodies so desperately need. Organic produce contains nearly thirty percent more nutrients than non-organic. Non-organic foods contain pesticides that filter into your body and create more free radical exposure in your body.
Summer is a great time to visit organic roadside stands and feast on the flavor of locally grown fruits and vegetables. When the food is in abundance it will also be less expensive to buy extra and learn how to can and freeze so that you can enjoy it in the winter months. Think not only of the health benefits that you are getting, but you will also save money and time shopping because it will be stored in your own home. You will know how it was prepared and won’t have to be concerned about the food recall. Your family will truly benefit from this. Make it a family project. Choose food that is ripe but not overripe, and fresh. You will be amazed at how great it tastes!
I believe that knowledge is power. It is something that no one can take away from you. Simply learning what antioxidants and free radicals are can really be life-giving. Stay away from processed foods, what I have noticed is that people think that they are quick and easy to prepare but very often that is not true. Learn to enjoy cooking you have to eat to live so you may as well enjoy it. Stay away from sugar it is addictive and has no nutritional value at all. Enjoy the fresh, organic foods of the summer. This is a great time to begin new healthy habits that your family will love and it is true in a way, and organic apple a day can keep the doctor away. Here’s to new healthy habits.
