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We continue our series of Wellness Pathways on the vital balances that make for
optimal well-being by turning our attention to the antioxidants that are so
frequently touted as the key to good health. And, indeed, they are important.
But large doses of synthetic antioxidants can tip the balance of the body's
oxidation process in the opposite direction, doing more harm than good.
First, a description of what we are talking about here. Oxidation is an
inevitable and continuous part of life. The process stops when we die. Before
that time, our continuous inhalation and absorption of oxygen creates toxic
molecules known as "free radicals." They are called "free" because
they are missing an electron, making them highly reactive with any other molecule from which
they can
take an electron.
Lest these "free radicals" damage biologically essential molecules, such as fat,
protein, or DNA molecules, the body has devised a way of neutralizing these
"free radicals," the byproducts of oxidation, with antioxidants that occur
naturally in the body and in certain foods. The more antioxidant foods we eat,
the easier it is for the body to protect itself against the ravages of
oxidation. Too few antioxidants and the body will suffer the ravages of
premature aging and certain diseases.
So it behooves everyone to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. Want to know how?
Last year the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report on the "Total
Antioxidant Capacity" or TAC of 100 common foods. Of the foods they studied,
here are the 21 with the highest TAC value per serving, shown in descending order:
Small Red Beans (13,727), Wild Blueberries (13,427), Red Kidney Beans (13,259),
Pinto Beans (11,864), Cultivated Blueberries (9,019), Cranberries (8,983),
Artichokes (7,904), Blackberries (7,701), Dried Plums or Prunes (7,291),
Raspberries (6,058), Strawberries (5,938), Red Delicious Apple (5900), Granny
Smith Apple (5,381), Pecans (5,095), Sweet Cherries (4,873), Black Plums
(4,844), Russet Potato (4,649), Black Beans (4,181), Plums (4,118), Gala Apple
(3,903), and Walnuts (3,846).
If you are not eating these foods on a regular basis, then you may want to modify
your diet. Substituting beans for conventional meat while eating large
quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables are important, health-promoting
behaviors. Many people, however, decide to get their antioxidants through
vitamins (such as C, E, and the carotenoids) and minerals (such as selenium and
zinc) which are often synthesized from chemical sources and isolated from
natural food complexes.
In study after study, artificial supplementation has proved to be inferior to natural
foods and whole food supplements. At high, "mega" doses, made possible by the synthetic
production of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants can end up reacting against
the cells they are meant to protect. In other words, at very high doses they do more
harm than good.
Fortunately, antioxidants derived from natural foods and whole food supplements,
such as those from First Organics,
have no demonstrated toxicity (as long as you don't eat so much that you start
gaining weight). So eat, drink, and be merry -- with
antioxidant-rich foods, that is -- because tomorrow you may live.
Coaching Inquiries: Do you maintain a healthy antioxidant balance? Do you eat
enough beans, fruits, vegetables, and nuts? Do you supplement with high doses of
artificial and synthetic vitamins? What do you know about their quality? How
could strike a better balance with the foods you eat and the supplements you
take?
 To reply to this Pathway, use our
Feedback Form. To learn more about our
Wellness Coaching programs and to arrange for a complimentary wellness coaching
session, use our Contact Form or
Email Bob.
May you be filled with goodness, peace, and joy.
Bob Tschannen-Moran
LifeTrek Coaching International
121 Will Scarlet Lane
Williamsburg, VA 23185-5043
U.S.A.
Telephone: 757-345-3452
Fax: 772-382-3258
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