The Truth about Antioxidants and Cancer
People are frequently discussing the benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants work to slow down the process of cancer and sometimes even prevent it. Yes, the underlying truth regarding antioxidants and cancer simply is that antioxidants really work to prevent the development of cancer in your body.
They work in your body by protecting the molecular cells from undergoing any damage from free radicals. Different types of cancer are said to be caused by free radical damage. The vitamins found in antioxidants are extensive and include, Vitamins A, C and E as well as beta-carotene and lycopene. These vitamins, minerals and nutrients work to stop these free radicals from doing any more harm to your cells and work to get rid of them.
There has been a lot of laboratory studies conducted that show not only that they work to slow down cancer but that they may even possibly prevent cancer development. In fact, many cancer patients load up on antioxidants to slow down the cancer process.
While fruits and vegetables are the best sources of antioxidants, they can also be found in other foods including certain meat products, poultry, fish, and nuts. Common anti-oxidants that are most useful in combating free radicals in the body are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, selenium, and Vitamins A, C, and E. If you don’t act to repair the free radicals already found in your body, they will only grow more in number as by stealing electrons from other atoms, these in turn, will become free radicals too. The more free radicals are presents in one’s body, the greater the possibility of cell damage, until eventually you may develop cancer-ridden cells.
Antioxidants work to flush free radicals out of the body and they work on repairing the damage already caused by the free radicals. So you may wonder where free radicals come from and why your body has so many to fight against. The answer is that the free radicals are formed because of numerous causes. The process of breathing in oxygen causes free radicals. You will also get free radical formation from pollution, exposure to sunlight, cigarette smoking and food digestion.
No matter whether you are genetically inclined to get cancer or you are just worried about the number of free radicals in your body that may lead to cancer, you should start consuming more fruits and leafy veggies, as well as other veggies that have antioxidants. Pick nuts and grains that are packed full of them.
There’s also another way of increasing your supply of antioxidants in the body without having to consume large amounts of fruits and leafy vegetables. This is by regularly taking a supplement that contains a high level of antioxidants, thereby boosting your body’s immune system. A high-quality supplement, a diet that incorporates antioxidant-rich foods, and a healthy lifestyle is your perfect defense against cancer.