Many diseases and disorders are caused due to the damage in the body created by oxidation. The free radicals (FRs) that are produced every day in the body are known to cause oxidative damage in the body which is one of the reasons for aging process. Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin C behave as antioxidants to clean up the FRs and prevent the body from the damage. Free radicals are molecules that are unstable by nature. They tend to disturb other molecules and snatch away certain particles from them in order to become stable. During the process of taking away the necessary particles for their stability free radicals are known to damage the body cells and generate some more free radicals. Antioxidants are specialized molecules which are said to be perfect. They donate some part of their molecules to free radicals while they still remain stable. The FRs retrieve their necessary particle from the antioxidant and get stabilized. The stabilized FR does not cause any damage to the body. Hence, antioxidants are found to be very much necessary for keeping the body healthy from free radicals.
If the body does not possess sufficient quantities of antioxidants, then the FRs that are produced from the metabolic activities in the body, from the environmental activities like sunlight, from pollution and from mental stress can cause damage to the body. If the cell membrane, cell structures and DNA are damaged, it can affect the functioning of the cell as well as reproduction of cell. The extensive destruction of cells might result in initiation of cancer, can cause Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular diseases.
The antioxidants which are found to be reducing the damaging effect of FR are classified as water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble antioxidant is vitamin C. This cannot be stored in the body and hence has to be obtained from the diet. The fat soluble antioxidants are vitamin A and E which have to be consumed along with some amount of fat in order to make them soluble. They will be stored in liver. Some of the sources of Vitamin C are green vegetables, citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, cantaloupe, guava, mango, pineapple, Broccoli and so on. Some of the sources of vitamin E are olive oil, wheat, wheat germ, brown rice, oat meal, sweet potato, green peppers, Broccoli, water cress and many more. Some of the natural sources of vitamin A are carrots, spinach, red and yellow pepper, sweet potato, apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe and so on. These antioxidants are known to protect the human body from FRs.
Recently, in the year 2000, the reports of a research study conducted by Dr. David Golde MD, physician-in-chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer center in New York, revealed that cancer cells are unable to respond to cancer therapy due to vitamin C. He says that, though vitamin C eats away the free radicals and protects the body, extensive consumption of vitamin C might prevent the cancer cells to positively respond to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Research studies have proved that Vitamin E does not prevent the cancer cells from positively responding to radiation. Many interesting studies are still going on to know the effect of these vitamins on cancer therapies. The report related to this subject is provided by Subhuti Dharmananda.
If the body does not possess sufficient quantities of antioxidants, then the FRs that are produced from the metabolic activities in the body, from the environmental activities like sunlight, from pollution and from mental stress can cause damage to the body. If the cell membrane, cell structures and DNA are damaged, it can affect the functioning of the cell as well as reproduction of cell. The extensive destruction of cells might result in initiation of cancer, can cause Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular diseases.
The antioxidants which are found to be reducing the damaging effect of FR are classified as water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble antioxidant is vitamin C. This cannot be stored in the body and hence has to be obtained from the diet. The fat soluble antioxidants are vitamin A and E which have to be consumed along with some amount of fat in order to make them soluble. They will be stored in liver. Some of the sources of Vitamin C are green vegetables, citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, cantaloupe, guava, mango, pineapple, Broccoli and so on. Some of the sources of vitamin E are olive oil, wheat, wheat germ, brown rice, oat meal, sweet potato, green peppers, Broccoli, water cress and many more. Some of the natural sources of vitamin A are carrots, spinach, red and yellow pepper, sweet potato, apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe and so on. These antioxidants are known to protect the human body from FRs.
Recently, in the year 2000, the reports of a research study conducted by Dr. David Golde MD, physician-in-chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer center in New York, revealed that cancer cells are unable to respond to cancer therapy due to vitamin C. He says that, though vitamin C eats away the free radicals and protects the body, extensive consumption of vitamin C might prevent the cancer cells to positively respond to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Research studies have proved that Vitamin E does not prevent the cancer cells from positively responding to radiation. Many interesting studies are still going on to know the effect of these vitamins on cancer therapies. The report related to this subject is provided by Subhuti Dharmananda.