Dietary Health Benefits
The benefits of any dietary factors are very difficult to prove, and, to date, there is no hard evidence that any supplement protects against any major disease. Studies on population groups may not consider other lifestyle or genetic factors. They often rely on people self-reporting their own dietary habits and often such surveys only reflect short-term eating habits. Other studies are done in the laboratory on animals or blood samples, which may not reflect the effects of nutrients on humans. Nevertheless, it is never wrong to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, the primary sources of vitamins, carotenoids, and vitamins, as well as of fiber and important minerals.
Antioxidants: Pros and Cons
Description of Oxygen-Free Radicals (Oxidants)
Text Continues Below
Currently, the most important benefit claimed for vitamins A, C, E, and many of the carotenoids and phytochemicals is their role as antioxidants, which are scavengers of particles known as oxygen-free radicals (also sometimes called oxidants). These chemically active particles are by-products of many of the body's normal chemical processes. Their numbers are increased by environmental assaults, such as smoking, chemicals, toxins, and stress. In higher levels, oxidants can be very harmful in the following way:
- They can damage cell membranes and interact with genetic material, possibly contributing to the development of a number of disorders including cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and even the aging process itself.
- Oxygen-free radicals can also enhance the dangerous properties of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a major player in the development of atherosclerosis.
|
.gif)
