What Are Antioxidants?

Exactly what are antioxdants and what do they do for us? Antioxidants fight the damage caused by free radicals. We get antioxidant enzymes naturally from the food we eat. Fresh, raw foods that have minimal processing supply these enzymes in only minute quantities. For most of us, we need to supplement. Let's examine what are some of the antioxidants the body uses for fighting free radical damage and what are antioxidants that our bodies need.

1. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH) � reduces hydrogen peroxide to water. The body manufacturers GSH from nutrients like amino acid glutamine for which the best sources are citrus fruits, melons and colorful vegetables.

2. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase - are 2 enzymes the body produces naturally. SOD transforms the superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide. Catalase then changes the hydrogen peroxide into hydrogen and water.

3. Vitamin A � is an antixodiant nutrient that comes directly from foods and is not manufactured by the body. It is also called retinol and necessary for healthy skin, eyes and growth of new cells. Beta-carotene, also called provitamin A, can be converted to vitamin A by the body and is a safer form of this vitamin for the body. Colorful fruits and vegetables like carrots, apricots, dark green leafy vegetables, red peppers, sweet potatotes and blue-green algae are good sources for Vitamin A and beta-carotene.

4. Vitamin C � is needed for the immune system for function properly. It is an important antioxidant because it is water soluble which allows it to pass through all the fluids in the body. Good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, tomatoes, rose hips and dark green vegetables like broccoli and kale.

5. Vitamin E � is fat soluble and is able to prevent oxidative damage in the body's fatty areas like cell membranes. Vitamin E can be obtained from eating nuts, whole grains, vegetable oils and small amounts in fruits in vegetables.

6. Trace minerals (selenium, manganese, zinc, copper, and chromium � Whereas these are not true antioxidants, these minerals are important for effective functioning of antioxidant enzymes.

Other foods that have antioxidant properties include Hawthorn, Pine bark extract, cereal grasses, milk thistle, grapeseed extract, garlic, bilberry, soy, ginkgo, turmeric and green tea. When you do need to supplement your diet with antioxidants you can turn to Simplexity Health for help. What are antioxidant products that Simplexity offers? Here is a list and how they provide you with antioxidant protection:

• Super Sprouts and Algae offer a balanced proportion of antioxidant-A in an easy to assimilate for, helps the body fight the damage of free radicals, nourishes the central nervous system and supplies a superior blend of custom-grown wheat sprouts, Super Blue Green� Alpha Sun� Algae and red beta algae (Dunaliella salina).
• One of Simplexity's newest products, plaHARD Reflex, combines the nutrients vitamin A, enzymes and antioxidants found in Super Blue Green� Algae with gluten-free wheatgrass juice, Hawaiian noni, bee pollen, eleuthero, ginkgo, and turmeric.
• plaHARD Juiced, another new product from Simplexity, has nutrients vitamin A, enzymes, and antioxidant-rich polyphenols found in Super Blue Green� Algae with gluten-free wheatgrass juice, Hawaiian noni, bee pollen, turmeric, and green tea powder.
• Stemplex is a unique blend of natural ingredients that include green tea extract, wild blueberry, the antioxidant amino acid carnosine, blueberry extract and vitamin D. These ingredients provide nutrition for stem cells to reproduce as well as provide antioxidant protection for fighting free radicals.
• Freggies, another of the newer products from Simplexity, offer a phytonutrient concentrate with 12 organic berries, wholefood vegetables such as spinach, kale, tomatoes, carrots, and beets and organic blue-green microalgae and an antioxidant blend that includes betacarotene, lutein (for overall eye health), Lycopene (promotes cardiovascular health), and EGCG (found in green tea).
• Super Q 10 contains 82% of the daily value of antioxidant vitamin A (beta-carotene).It promotes health and vitality through a powerful combination of antioxidants, Coenzyme Q10 and Super Blue Green� Alpha Sun� Algae and contains a full spectrum of carotenoids (natural antioxidants) found in red beta Algae (Dunaliella salina) and Super Blue Green� Alpha Sun� Algae.

As you can see when it comes to supplementing your body with antioxidant protection, Simplexity has a solution for everyone. If you'd like to find which Simplexity products are right for you, ask us for a free product consultation by filling out the form on our website.

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