Benefits and Risks of Soy Protein

By Phil Ruth

Soy and Whey manufacturers did a superb job of confusing the public. For 5 years now the health and fitness community has been drinking up whey.

Then research showed that due to its fast gastric emptying properties most of the protein taken in via whey protein is metabolized and burned up in the liver. The soy manufacturers first responded by increasing the number of grams per serving. Why not? More protein would have to be consumed, thus more protein is sold.

Soy found its popularity primarily among vegetarians. The Soy manufacturers watched as whey protein sales skyrocketed, thus, in order to grab their own position, they capitalized within a "health" marketplace, primarily targeting women. Some of the referenced studies are valid, but are not representative of "the whole picture."

In one particular study published in France, two groups of apparently healthy men were fed isocaloric diets with one group using soy protein, the other using animal products as a protein source. The goal was to see if there was a reduced propensity for gallstones if animal proteins are replaced by soy. Since gallstone accumulation can be linked with crystallization of cholesterol, at its conclusion the study examined cholesterol levels.

The study showed that cholesterol crystallization was slightly retarded in the soy group extrapolating that soy can help in preventing gallstones. Here's what the study did not seem to address. There wasn't any control over fruit and vegetable intake. Soy is a vegetable, and it does happen to fall into the group of veggies that are high in isoflavones.

There are many benefits associated with the consumption of isoflavones, including a lowering of cholesterol levels. Contrarily, research has shown that the ingestion of meat is associated with an elevated cholesterol levels. This is not to say that people who eat soy will be healthier and have a better cholesterol profile than those who consume meat and vegetables. This just goes to show you that extrapolations drawn from research is often taken out of context and overemphasized.

Scientific studies indicate that there are cancer fighting benefits of a meal plan rich in vegetables like soy. Most people would not assume that people who ingest soy instead of milk, egg-whites, and lean protein will demonstrate improved health, if a physical activity ingredient is included, the study would be invalidated.

Most of the research information promoted specific to soy is publicized by organizations with a vested interest in Soy Protein sales, such as The United Soybean Board. This does not mean that soy is not a good source of protein, but rather that the health benefits, as is commonplace, have been taken out of context and overblown to sell products.

From a metabolic benefit standpoint, it appears based on the most recent and applicable studies, that you are best off getting your supplemental protein from a mix of whey and casein. Watch as the newest protein supplements to hit the market feature this mix. Unless you are vegetarian, I'd suggest you're best off including as wide a variety of foods as possible in your complete dietary regimen. If this includes a daily soy protein supplement I believe you'll do quite well. - 17269

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Using Arthroscopy to Diagnose & Treat Knee Problems

By Dr. Richard Edelson

Arthroscopy is the use of a miniature camera to view the interior of a joint. It is particularly useful when diagnosing and treating damaged or diseased knees. Using an arthroscope, an orthopedic surgeon can get a clear view of the inside of the knee and make a definite decision as to how to treat the condition.

Modern arthroscopes and high resolution cameras make this hi-tech solution a very effective method for diagnosis and treatment of ailing knees.

The Parts of the Knee

The knee is made up of three bones: The patella, the tibia, and the femur. The juncture of these bones is cushioned by articular cartilage, which allows them to move easily.

Synovial membrane is a thin, smooth membrane that coats the interior surfaces of the knee. In a healthy knee, the synovial membrane produces a lubricant that allows the knee to function comfortably and smoothly.

The three bones that make up the largest joint in the body are the shin bone (tibia), thigh bone (femur) and knee cap (patella). The entire structure is held together by ligaments that run between the tibia and femur. The patella moves along a groove in the end of the femur. The strong muscle of the thigh provides support and stability.

Click here for more on knee arthroscopy .

Problems With the Knees

Properly functioning knees operate smoothly; however, most knees wear out eventually. The knee is in almost constant use in most of the activities of daily living. Over time sports, injuries, weakening tissues, work, aging and arthritis begin to wear the knee down. When this happens, the result is loss of function along with a fair measure of pain.

This is where arthroscopy comes in handy to diagnose and treat:

When the articular cartilage is softened and/or the surfaces of the joints are damaged, it is called chondromalacia.

Crystalline arthropathy: Gouty arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflamed synovial membranes.

Patellar instability and misalignment.

Arthroscopy can locate these problems.

Damage to meniscal cartilage can be visualized.

Loose and fragmented cartilage and bone.

The posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments can become torn.

Arthroscopy is extremely useful to the orthopedic surgeon in locating and assessing all of these knee problems. The use of the modern technology helps todays orthopedic surgeon deliver efficient and effective treatment. - 17269

About the Author:

Dr. Edelson is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinic, Sports Medicine Oregon, focuses on athletes of all ages. Click here to learn more about Dr. Edelson, Portland ACL Reconstruction and Portland Bicep Injuries.

How To Get The Most Out Of An Antioxidant Supplement

By Kerry Welsh

It can be hard to get enough antioxidants through the day, because you need to make sure that you are eating all the right foods. For people who are very busy, or those who otherwise just want to make sure that they are getting enough of these antioxidants so that they can reap the full benefits, such as prevent fine lines and other signs of aging, and the prevention of various health problems, then there is always the option of just taking an antioxidant dietary supplement.

A lot of people wonder if taking an antioxidant supplement is just as effective as actually eating foods that are high in antioxidants and getting antioxidants in other ways and there are a few different things to think about here.

To take or not to take

A supplement will be much easier to take than to try and eat all the foods you require on a daily basis to gain the full benefit offered by antioxidants. Busy people that rarely find time to eat, find it much easier to take a supplement than sitting down for five servings of vegetables and fruits every day.

The problem with replacing food with supplements is that whilst you are getting enough of the nutrient that you are replacing. You are missing out on all the other nutrients that food contain, nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

The best thing to do is to take an antioxidant supplement and maintain a healthy diet. This is not always possible but unarguably the best thing to do. By adding the supplement to your healthy diet you will also not have to eat as much food as you would have had to if you were not taking the supplement.

Now it is just a matter of you taking the time to find the right supplement, and there are more than enough to choose from today. You can talk to your doctor more about this and see what they have to say about it. They are going to be able to get more detailed about this with you and offer you more advice on this. - 17269

About the Author:

Kerry Welsh writes the blog Vitamins Buy Online and prides himself for helping his readers find the absolute best sites on the web for buying vitamins online. Visit his site to find out where to go, or information on issues such as how to slow the aging process and what do antioxidants do?

How To Look Taller Right Now

By Shaun Davids

Have you always wondered how to look taller? You will be shocked how a simple change in attitude and your clothing can make you gain height. These are not the only techniques to make you taller - getting the right nutrients and straightening your posture can also protect you from bones diseases and from shrinking in your old age.

Let us first talk about your wardrobe. You already be dressing to make you biggest assets stand out, but did you know you could use your clothes to make you look taller too? You could do this by wearing clothes of a similar color, particularly darker ones. And for even more of a height enhancer you could add thin vertical stripes to give you more length.

By wearing two-toned clothing-such as dark pants with a white shirt-you draw a line across your waist where the two colors meet, which makes you look shorter, especially if your pants are high on your waist. For how to look taller, avoid patterns such as plaid or polka dots. Most of all, try to choose clothing that fits you well and makes your limbs and torso seem long rather than short.

To become taller, also try wear the right shoes. Height increasing insoles and high heels work well at making you look taller. Also, wearing bigger shoes, such as boots or tennis shoes help your feet appear bigger.

Also when learning how to look taller, your hair cut makes a big difference. It is best to have shorter hair, as opposed to longer hair that "shortens" your neck and torso.

Your posture is very important, and not just for appearances. Sitting with your back straight and your shoulders back does make your body look taller, but it's also very important for your bones and muscles as well, particularly your back.

How you feel about yourself can also help you gain height. Although us short people do not have the strongest self esteems, if we can show more confidence, it will actually make us look bigger. When you are happy, upbeat and friendly, people pick up on this and respect you more.

In contrast, if you are miserable, uncertain, and negative, those you interact with will notice this as well, and it will affect your appearance of how to look taller. - 17269

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Discover how to look taller now, and increase your height by 2 to 4 inches in 6 weeks - with long-lasting effects! Otherwise, here is another article on how to get taller.

Bodybuilding Tips, The Importance Of Back Exercises In Bodybuilding

By Ricardo d Argence

There are two primary reasons for getting into a bodybuilding program: Trying to increase muscle mass, or trying to increase functional strength. Key to both of these is building core strength, which lies in the abdominal muscles, and, just as importantly, and often neglected, the muscles of the upper, middle and lower back.

Most people who suffer from back injuries get them from having very little back strength. Exercising to strengthen your back is something that needs to be done, but you must take it slowly. This is because your back is put together like a puzzle and is comprised of your spine, ribs, ligaments and the scapula.

There are so many different injuries that are affiliated with the back, and most of it is from lifting heavy things, compression, or rotating the wrong way. Keeping the muscles around the spine strong will make it easier for good posture while lifting, leaving less chance of getting hurt.

Muscle groups that you need to work on in the back are your traps, lats and deltoids, and you need to take them slowly. Yes, you can get a ripped looking back by overdoing it, but it's better to focus on practical strength increases over physical appearance and muscle building when dealing with your back.

The trapezius muscles (traps) are the ones that form the bulk of your back; the basic exercise for them is a shrug motion, where you take a pair of dumbbells, one in each hand, and shrug your shoulders as high as they will go (don't roll them, go straight up) and hold them for a breath, then let them down slowly.

A related motion, which helps the traps a bit, but mostly works on your deltoids, is a straight-arm lift. Hold a dumbbell in your hand with your elbow at your side, and your forearm out level with the map. Extend your arm until it's at shoulder height, in one fluid motion, and look down your arm at the dumbbell, like you're sitting on a pistol range. Then bring it down slowly. This will work on your deltoids and the yoke of muscle linking your shoulders.

To build up the lower trapezius muscle (the part of the trap that runs down your ribs), you're going to want a sitting down 'V-bar pull down', where you're pulling down against resistance; this is better than a straight pull up because it isolates the muscle thoroughly.

Building definition, and most importantly, strength, in the lower back requires shoulder arches. Hold a light dumb-bell over the back of your neck and lay down on your front. With your hands clasped, arch your back, lift, and hold for a count of three, then lower slowly. Do these sparingly; it's very easy to overdo them.

Before doing any weight lifting you should always make sure that you do various stretches to prevent any muscle strains or injuries. - 17269

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Muscle Building Articles

The Importance of Getting a Healthy Breakfast

By Juan Valdez

A lot of people skip breakfast. This is a really bad habit to get into, since a healthy breakfast is the best way to start off the day. Even if you are trying to cut calories or don't have a lot of time in the morning, you should still try to fit in this important meal.

After sleeping the night, your body needs a healthy breakfast to help fuel it so it can get through the day. Think how long it has been since your last meal; that is a long time to go without food. It is better to eat something healthy so you don't end up eating junk a little later because you are starving.

Studies continue to show that skipping meals just sets you up to binge at later meals, and doesn't really save you any calories. In fact, people who eat a healthy breakfast eat less over the course of the day than people who skip breakfast. They are less likely to binge later in the day.

Eating breakfast will make you healthier. You will be able to do a better job at work or school since you will be have better concentration, and you will also get more minerals and vitamins. People who eat a healthy breakfast also tend to have lower cholesterol.

For a good breakfast, you should opt for a meal containing fruits or vegetables, low fat dairy, lean protein, and whole grains. Try to include two or more of these groups so you will get plenty of nutrients and feel full until it is time for the next meal.

If you are in a time crunch, there are a lot of things you can either eat quickly or take with you to eat on your way or once you get to work or school. Healthy breakfast options include an apple and a whole grain bagel spread with peanut butter. Add a glass of milk for even more nutritional benefit.

People who tend to be rushed in the morning should plan ahead the night before. That way they can have breakfast all ready to go in no time at all. Breakfast can be cooked the night before and just quickly heated in the morning for the ultimate time saver.

For those who don't like typical breakfast foods, there are lots of other healthy options available. You can eat leftovers from dinner, a sandwich made from whole wheat bread, or even leftover vegetable pizza. - 17269

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If you want to kick off the day off right it is vital to eat a healthy breakfast. A good pancake mix could be the perfect focus for your breakfast, accompanied by fruit, eggs, and milk.

How to Lose Weight Fast

By Curt Joel

Many people want to lose weight quickly and safely. However evidence shows that in order to keep the weight off permanently you should strive to lose, at most, about 1-2 pounds of fat per week.

The biggest downfall for people striving to burn fat is that they see it as being something they only need to do once, when in fact they should be considering a complete change of lifestyle.

Essentially, most all fat loss plans which aim for permanent fat loss are based upon the very same basic principle. Generally speaking, such plans focus on reducing calorie intake in order to create a calorie deficit. What many people seem to be unaware of, is that one pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories.

So to lose 1-2 pounds per week you would need to consume 500-1000 fewer calories than you currently take in - assuming that your weight has stabilized.

Alternatively, you could also opt for increasing the amount of physical exercise you do so that your body will be burning 1,000 calories more each day than it's doing at present. Both of these approaches would result in you shedding 2lbs. of fat each week.

Unfortunately, while both these approaches are incredibly simple to understand, they fail to take into account certain other factors such as hormone production, and also a person's individuality, to name just a few.

But for someone who is looking to burn fat fast, without regard to long term fat loss, this is all that you need to know.

Of course, in order for the results to be permanent, it's crucial that you acknowledge the fact that it requires a change of lifestyle rather than a one time effort.

Those people who have made noticeable changes to their lifestyle by including exercise in the daily routines, are in fact the ones who are most successful regarding weight loss. This is essentially because they no longer view exercise as being a chore, but instead, they see it as an opportunity to escape the daily pressures they encounter in their lives.

Instead, these people don't see exercise as being a chore but rather as something which they can enjoy. Apart from weight loss, a daily exercise program has far too many health benefits to list here.

It goes on and on.

The truth of the matter is; if you want to experience what it feels like to be your ideal weight and have more energy, then you should be thinking more about changing the way you live, rather than focusing on how to lose weight quickly. - 17269

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Features Of Massage Chairs

By Monty Flora

There are many new features being added to massage chairs every year. Most of the features being added are therapeutic and provide good health benefits. Other features however may be more gimmicky and not provide the extra health value. Many new technologies are being integrated which provide some interesting types of therapeutic treatments. We take a look at some of the great features of massage chairs.

Massage chairs come with a remote control. The remote control allows you to using a particular technique. Normally there are buttons dedicated to automatic programs. You can also find LCD screens now being used on the remote or massage chairs.

An LCD screen usually uses an icon of a person. Different symbols are then used to show different massage techniques and areas of coverage. The LCD displays this information in real-time as the massage progresses.

Massage chairs use body scanning technology. The massage chair has various sensors which are used to locate key points of the body. Some sensors will detect acupoints, location of the neck and shoulders and other relevant parts of the body.

The integrated sensors which perform the body scan give the user a custom massage based on their body shape. These advanced sensors will feed their readings into the computer of the massage chair. The program will then be modified based on the input of the user's body coordinates.

One of the wonderful benefits of technology is the variety of massage techniques available in massage chairs. It is amazing that one can receive a Swedish, shiatsu, deep tissue, reflexology or acupressure massage on demand.

Imagine getting a full body deep tissue massage by pushing a single button. This is the power of a massage chair. Unlike a masseuse, a massage chair works in parallel. In other words, it can perform massages in multiple parts of the body simultaneously.

A massage chair has a couple of advantages over a masseuse. One is that it can massage many different parts of your body at the same time. The other is the massage chair never gets tired. If you want to focus on a given area over and over, then this is not a problem.

One of the features that I particularly like is a good foot massage. Many massage chair manufacturers have integrated reflexology foot massage. This is a great way to relieve tension in the feet and to help relax the entire body.

Many massage chairs use a combination of air compression and the triggering of reflexology points in the feet. The air compression provides for a gentle squeezing action. This helps to relieve tight muscles in the feet.

Massage chairs that deliver reflexology foot massage normally use specially designed foot wells. There may be either specially designed airbags or reflexology plate. These are located beneath the feet. These gently push up into the feet to provide stimulation to the trigger points.

One feature that I find important is music. Unfortunately, most massage chairs do not incorporate music into their chairs. Music is normally used to help relax the mind. This is important for helping to relieve tension in the body due to stress.

It is exciting to see how technology is starting to bring about many different benefits. It is amazing the absolute variety of massage techniques contained in massage chairs. I remember when massage chairs can only vibrate. Now they can massage you from head to toe with an arsenal of massage techniques. Massage chairs are tremendously convenient and fit around your busy schedule. Find out more how a massage chair can benefit you. - 17269

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It is amazingly exciting to watch the rapid advance of technology and the quickness in which they are adding Massage Chair Features. These massage recliners are fast becoming complete massage therapy environments. We carry the best massage chair brands with Great Massage Chairs. See how a massage chair can deliver on demand massage therapy any time you want.

6 Misconceptions About Arm Fat And Dietary Fat

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

If you want to lose loose arm fat you have to eat fat. Ironic, but true.

Dietary fat plays too much of an important role in the female body for it to be excluded from any effective arm toning nutrition plan. It's that important.

And here are 6 all too common misconceptions about arm fat and dietary fat:

1. Consuming a pile of fish oil pills is very healthy. If you have more than 3 grams of fish oil per day, you run the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Not good.

2. Small amounts of trans fat are fine. Major mistake. Trans fat will mess up your metabolism like nothing else. And Harvard researchers have clearly demonstrated that NO amount of trans fat is healthy.

3. Plant saturated fat is just as bad as animal saturated fat. There is a huge difference between the two. And plant saturated fat is very healthy for you. Coconut, for instance, does wonders for the female body.

4. Omega-3 fat can be stored at room temperature. Keep the walnuts and flax seeds in the refrigerator. Omega-3 fats, critical for arm fat burning, become rancid very quickly when stored at room temperature.

5. Omega-3 enhanced eggs are healthy. They are NOT healthy because they are still loaded with saturated fat. Increasing the amount of healthy omega-3 in the egg doesn't cancel out the unhealthy effect of saturated fat.

6. Fat intake should be kept at 10%. Doing this is a sure-fire way to shut down the production of arm-fat burning hormones in your body. Your body needs a hefty amount of dietary fat to produce hormones.

Avoid the above misconceptions to optimize your fat intake. And remember that dietary fat is your best friend for losing loose arm fat. So the next time somebody tells you to cut out fat from your diet, ignore them! Only then will you be able to get sexy and lean arms. - 17269

About the Author:

Get free and valuable information on the best toning movement upper arm exercise immediately by going to Katherine Crawford's M.S. website Sleeveless in 7. And learn how to get toned and lean arms in no time by visiting her blog about how to get rid of loose arm fat immediately!

Best Anti Gout Diet Tips

By Rashel Dan

If you want to prevent gout for life, start with your diet. This is not such an impossible task. Diet does play a large role in controlling and preventing gout, so depending on your daily intake, you can either increase or reduce your risk of gout.

A person can suffer from gout if he is born with it, it is present in his family or he is obese. It is also more prevalent among men and those who are 40 to 60 years of age. If you can relate to any of these then you may want to focus on preventive measures.

An anti gout diet primarily consists of low-purine foods.

Purines are highly associated with foods high in fats and proteins. Vegetable oils, greasy burgers and fatty fish are all high in purines, so you should avoid fried foods and naturally fatty produce. Basically, high purine content is found in almost all kinds of food: pork, beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, oysters, scallops, creams, eggs, peas and beans. But there are ways to have a low-purine diet and are illustrated below:

Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet.

A lot of vegetables and fruits are rich in potassium. Potassium regulates electrolytes in the body and has the ability to get rid of uric acid crystals from the blood. Potassium-rich fruits are bananas, avocados, apricots and cantaloupe. High-potassium vegetables include spinach, potatoes, asparagus, beets and pumpkin.

Start your diet now.

For breakfast, take low-fat protein foods. For example, drink low-fat milk and utilize only egg whites when cooking. Add onions and garlic for taste and use low-fat butter or margarine. High-protein foods that are low in fat have been found to be safe. Quench your thirst with vegetable juice or concentrated blackberry juice.

Include lemon juice at lunch for cleansing. Lemon juice is filled with vitamin C and antioxidants to help flush your body from unwanted uric acids. Couple the drink with a hearty salad and meal using tofu to replace red meat or chicken, finely chopped fresh garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

For dinner, go for baked or grilled lean meat in a foil to retain moisture. Pair with potatoes and steamed spinach. After dinners make sure to have a bowl of cherries, berries or grapes on the side.

Other tips for your anti gout diet:

Be careful about your weight. Gout has been linked with health problems such as diabetes and obesity. Slowly restrict calories by introducing more of the gout preventing foods mentioned earlier. Avoid crash diets as these can actually trigger gout flare-ups. A good anti gout diet is always a balanced diet.

Drink several glasses of water everyday. 8-10 glasses daily is ideal. Water dilutes uric acid (a cause of gout) and rids them from the body. Cloudy urine means you have high acid content in your body and this is not a healthy sign. Clear urine suggests that you are properly hydrated and well on your way to good health. - 17269

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If you want to prevent gout in foot, make sure you have the healthiest anti gout diet. Read more about the condition and how to stop it.

Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) and Nerve Regeneration

By Dr. Markho Rafael

Out of the kitchen, into the pharmacy, the gourmet mushroom Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) with its unique flavor resembling lobster or shrimp appears to also possess likewise unique medicinal properties. It has been found to stimulate nerve and myelin regeneration, which may be beneficial in many neurological conditions. World renowned medicinal mushroom expert Paul Stamets suggests its potential application in conditions such as Alzheimer's, dementia, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. [134]

Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) is known to grow in Europe, North America, Japan and China. It can be found on many broad leaf trees, from oaks, maples and sycamores to beeches and walnuts.

"Erinacines" is the name of the medicinal compounds from Hericium erinaceus that are being researched for their neurological health benefits. They are small enough to pass through the blood brain barrier, which or course is a requirement in order to effect any healing on the myelin sheaths or neurons. [152, 153, 154]

There are currently two Japanese patents on different extracts of Hericium erinaceus. One was filed in the 1990's for an extract named "Nerve Growth Stimulant Factor." [150, 151] The other, filed in 2004, is for a water extraction process, yielding a product that is likewise used for nerve and myelin healing. [155]

In addition to its effect on nerve regeneration, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) also prescribes Hericium erinaceus extract for stomach and digestive conditions, as well as cancers of the digestive tract and related organs.

Modern science has provided some support for this traditional use of Hericium erinaceus extract. One study conducted in 1985 reported positive results for treating atrophic gastritis. Another, published in 1995, presented findings that Hericium erinaceus helped extend the average life expectancy for patients with hepatoma. [156]

To conclude, some additional areas where modern medical research has indicated that Hericium erinaceus extract may have a therapeutic effect include: Immune support [157]; inflammation [134]; antimicrobial against Aspergillus and Candida [158]; anti-tumoral [159]; stomach cancer. [134]

Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never use any herb (or mushroom) except as advised by a licensed medical practitioner.

Credit: Thank you to Paul Stamets for source material. - 17269

About the Author:

Dr. Markho Rafael has been engaged with herbal medicine since finishing Chiropractic College in the mid-90's. His current focus is medicinal fungi, including Hericium erinaceus extract, in partnership with the U.S. company Cordyceps Reishi Extracts, LLC. To view scientific references for this article, go to the Lions Mane Supplement page and click on any number indicating a reference.

What Do You Know About Antioxidants?

By Tina Peters

The term, 'antioxidants' will be familiar to anyone who spends time reading up on their health and ways in which to preserve youth and looks. They will also have heard of another well used term, 'free radicals.' which are implicated in the degeneration of health and the structural breakdown of our physical form.

Scientific research shows that the body works in different ways during the course of its lifetime. While we are young, our bodies are growing and utilize nutrients from food and the environment to construct and renew itself. Puberty and young adulthood indicate that the body is preparing itself for the tasks it expects to undertake in life such as producing offspring and working to provide a living for a family.

When we reach our early to mid twenties, our bodies reach a peak in rejuvenating capabilities. From this point onwards the process of decline through aging begins. There is no static point at which aging starts neither is there a hard and fast rule as to how quickly or slowly the aging process takes place. It is possible to use antioxidants to delay the onset of aging and to maintain the optimum performance of youth. Antioxidants confront free radicals in the system and reduce or prevent their degenerative effect on the body.

We may be able to stay fitter and younger looking for longer if we avail ourselves in a diet that is rich in antioxidants. We should also refrain from a lifestyle that promotes the destructive activity of free radicals. The body has the ability to produce its own antioxidants but as we get older this capability gradually deteriorates. Fortunately, we can take in antioxidants from external sources. This is primarily from food and from exposure to health giving elements in the natural environment.

If you want to benefit from a diet that is richest in antioxidants, there are a few measures you can take. The bulk of your intake should be brightly cooked fruits and vegetables. Wherever possible, ensure that this food is raw or lightly cooked at best. This will ensure that you get good supplies of vitamins A,C and E which are all active sources of antioxidants. It is also important to reduce exposure to free radical promoting elements. These include foods with refined starches and sugars and over reliance on de-hulled wheat products. Smoking, caffeine and alcohol are also implicated. - 17269

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