Anti-Oxidants

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals and enzymes that protect the body's cells and tissues from the damaging effects of toxic molecules called free radicals.

 

How do Antioxidants Work?

Antioxidants work by stabilizing free radicals. They stabilize free radicals by donating some of their components to the free radical.

Free radicals are damaged molecules that are produced as a result of the body's cells normal work. Free radicals are highly unstable and steal components from other cellular molecules and cause damage to them. Some of the cellular molecules they steal are fat, protein, or DNA.

When there are not enough antioxidants to stabilize the free radicals, the free radicals begin to attack and damage healthy cells. Damaged cells can lead to health problems.

 

 

Antioxidants in Food

Food

Folic Acid (mcg)

Vitamin C

(mg)

Vitamin E

(mg)

Vitamin A

(mg)

Almonds 3/4 cup

64

n/a

2.1

n/a

Brocolli
1 cup cooked

110

100

2.1

1.5

Cantaloupe
1 Cubed

27

68

.3

3.1

Carrot
2 medium

21

15

.6

25

Kale
1 Cup Cooked

19

60

8.3

6.3

Mango
1 medium

31

57

2.3

4.8

Orange
1 medium

34

70

n/a

12

Papaya
1 Cup

49

80

n/a

n/a

Pumpkin
1/2 Cup

15

5

1.1

10.5

Red Bell Pepper
1/2 Cup Raw

8

95

.03

1.7

Spinach
1/2 Cup Cooked

131

9

2.0

4.4

Sweet Potato
1 medium cooked

26

28

5.5

14.9

 

 

 

 

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