Battling Free Radicals
Free radicals are damaging our cells every day. These molecules include an unpaired valence electron in them, which makes the free radical chemically reactive when it comes into contact with other substances. This includes cells in the human body. When a free radical hits one of these cells, it can damage it, even to the point that it damages the DNA carried within the cell. Some studies have drawn lines between free radical damage and diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and arthritis.
Where do they Come From?
Where do free radicals come from? A wide variety of places. Smoking or inhaling cigarette smoke can introduce free radicals to the body in addition to the many other harmful things smoking causes. Inhaling pesticides or even eating foods that have been covered in pesticides and not properly cleaned can lead to free radical formation. Even exercising can cause free radicals to form!
Antioxidants
Fortunately, antioxidants can be found in a number of different vegetables and fruits. They help destroy free radicals and protect cells from damage. Unfortunately, most foods don’t have a lot of antioxidants in them. The ORAC level, which stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, determines how many antioxidants a food has. The two most common foods people eat that have a good amount of antioxidants in them are apples, with a ORAC of 14, and blueberries, with an ORAC of 32.
The Acai Berry
But neither of these foods even comes close to the ORAC score of the acai berry, which is 167! Acai berries are very high in antioxidants, specifically polyphenois and anthocyanins. These antioxidants destroy free radicals, thus preventing the cells from undergoing oxidation. Oxidation damages the cells and can even lead to DNA mutating. While a handful of acai berries can help increase your antioxidant levels, that’s still not very much. It’s also very difficult to find actual acai berries due to how quickly they go bad.
The acai berry also contains large amounts of both Vitamins A and C. These two vitamins both function as antioxidants, but they do so much more as well. Without Vitamin A, our nails, skin, hair, and vision all start to deteriorate. Without Vitamin C, the immune system starts to degrade, and the body falls into general disrepair. Both are absolutely essential.
You may also want to start taking a supplement that contains graviola. Research has shown that a graviola supplement may be able to provide you with a number of benefits.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any diseases.