One of the greatest enemies of the human body is a group of noxious substances called free radicals. These are produced in the body from environmental toxins, additives, pesticides, and foods cooked in high temperature. Free radical damage is systemic, and it works its way from the inside out. It accelerates aging at the cellular level, resulting in wrinkles and a host of other aesthetic complaints.
Antioxidants are compounds that arrest and reverse Related Site free radical damage in the body, which, aside from faster aging, is a large contributing factor to serious diseases like cancer. Since oxidative damage takes place at the cellular level, the most commonsensical way to fight it is through super-nutrition via antioxidants found in raw food. Free radicals get inactivated through the abundant amounts of antioxidants present in raw fruits and vegetables. Think of the proverbial lemon juice sprinkled on browned, cut-up apples. Antioxidants do the same thing to us. They protect our cells from rapid oxidation. Antioxidants combat free radicals that eat up collagen and elastin, the fibrous materials that support skin structure, thus making the skin firmer, smoother, and softer, with a highly improved tone and texture. They are also powerful keys to longevity, no matter what recent studies have claimed.
Phytochemicals are natural biologically active compounds found in plant foods. They work synergistically with other nutrients and fiber found in vegetables and fruits to fight deadly diseases and to slow down the aging process. Far, more than 900 phytochemicals have been identified, and more shall be added to this list in the future. Phytochemicals have a lot to do with plant pigment, so generally, the brighter the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more phytochemicals and nutrients it contains. Phytochemicals have been known to have antioxidant properties, protecting us from disease and rejuvenating us inside-out.
Amino acids, otherwise known as the building blocks of protein, are greatly needed by the body to repair and form new cells, tissue, skin, hair, teeth, and bones.
The following is a list of nutrients needed by the body to build a healthier, better-looking you:
Glutathione is by far the most powerful antioxidant that can be produced by the human body. Animal flesh contains the highest concentration of this very potent nutrient, but the rub is that you 'd have to consume it raw since glutathione is an antioxidant enzyme. The other natural and more palatable raw sources of this antioxidant are spinach, broccoli, walnuts, tomatoes, carrots, grapefruit, asparagus, garlic, avocado, purslane, squash, okra, potatoes, walnuts, and apples.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an anti-aging enzyme that scavenges for free radicals with revitalizing Suggested Web page and protective properties. SOD can be found in broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and most green vegetables, as well as in superfoods such as barley grass and wheat grass.
Catalase is another antioxidant enzyme that is needed by the body to put free radical activities in check. Leeks, onion, broccoli, bananas, parsnip, zucchini, spinach, carrots, radish, cucumbers, cherries, red cabbage, apricot, and cherries are good sources of catalase.
Coenzyme Q10, a potent anti-aging nutrient, plays an important role in tissue oxygenation. Get your dose of this antioxidant from spinach, peanuts, and fish.
Vitamin A is an antioxidant vitamin that regulates oil balance in the skin and helps prevent and treat acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It is necessary for growth of new cells and helps lessen the appearance of wrinkles. It can be obtained from carrots, egg yolks, dark leafy greens, parsley, arugula, mangoes, watermelon, nettle leaves, watercress, and sweet potatoes. Super foods such as chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass, barley grass, and kelp also have high concentrations of vitamin A.
Vitamin B7, also known as biotin, forms the basis of healthy skin, hair, and nail cells. Biotin is abundant in nuts, soybeans, egg yolks, swiss chard, fish, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, cabbage, onion, almonds, cucumber, cauliflower, and carrots.
Vitamin C is needed by the body to maintain healthy skin, bones, gums, and teeth. This vitamin is invaluable in the replacement and generation of tissue. Best food sources of this toxin-neutralizing antioxidant are citrus fruits, acerola berries, strawberries, rosehips, broccoli, parsley, nettles, and superfoods such as acai, goji berries, camu-camu, and raw cacao.
Vitamin D promotes the use and assimilation of calcium and magnesium for healthy bones and teeth. Very few foods contain enough amounts of this vitamin so exposure to sunlight is needed to help the body create its own vitamin D. Mushrooms, salmon, cod, and certain types of milk fortified with vitamin D are some food sources of this vitamin.
Vitamin E has been known to diminish the appearance of fine lines on the face, repair connective tissue, and, along with vitamin C, increase your skin's protection against sun damage. It also protects vitamins A and C from destruction. Food sources of this powerful antioxidant are goji berries, nuts, berries, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, wheat germ, soy, and vegetable oils such as olive oil.
Calcium is needed by the body to maintain healthy bones and teeth. Spinach, broccoli, kale, lima beans, apples, bananas, oranges, blackberries, kiwifruit, tomatoes, sardines, dairy, peas, soy products, salmon, seaweed, artichoke, kale, avocado, peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, cashew, pistachio, sunflower seeds, strawberries, lemons, and grapes all have ample amounts of calcium.
Copper works in conjunction with zinc and vitamin C to produce elastin. Kiwifruit, apples, lima beans, artichoke, avocado, broccoli, bananas, carrots, cauliflower, cantaloupe, grapes, and cucumber all contain copper.
Magnesium is necessary for the production of new cells and for healthy bones and teeth. Good sources of this mineral are raw cacao, kelp, kiwi, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, avocado, summer squash, artichoke, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, almonds, corn, potatoes, peas, kale, and cashew.
Phosphorous promotes healthy teeth and bones and is needed for the acid-alkaline balance in the body. Kiwi, tomatoes, blackberries, asparagus, mushrooms, lima beans, bananas, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, peanuts, walnuts, potatoes, kale, avocado, artichoke, lime, cantaloupe, strawberries, and oranges all contain phosphorus.
Silicon increases bone, hair, nail, and skin strength. It improves wrinkles, skin thickness, skeletal health, and teeth formation. High-silicon content foods include bell pepper, cucumber (with skin), spinach, tomatoes, apples, strawberries, oranges, beets, carrots, radish, romaine lettuce, burdock root, horsetail, and marjoram, which is considered by natural health experts as a super herb.
Sulfur is required by the body for collagen production and maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and nails. Sulfur can be found in broccoli, kale, pumpkin seeds, asparagus, hemp seeds, garlic, onion, watercress, and red peppers. If you feel hard-pressed to eat a lot of natural foods to keep your sulfur levels optimal, you might want to consider taking the supplement MSM or methylsulfonylmethane, which contains high amounts of sulfur per gram.
Selenium enables the body to efficiently use oxygen. This mineral helps maintain healthy skin due to its high protein component. Brazil nuts, mushrooms, onion, garlic, asparagus, tomatoes, broccoli, whole grains, parsley, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, sesame seeds, poultry, fish and eggs are especially high in selenium.
Zinc maintains and builds healthy collagen, assists in wound and tissue healing, and prevents the formation of stretch marks. Good zinc sources include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts, parsley, wheat germ, oatmeal, and eggs.
Essential fatty acids prevent skin dryness and inflammation as well as the formation of white heads and black heads. The body needs EFAs but can not manufacture it; it is therefore important to get your omega fatty acids from food.
Chlorophyll is an excellent blood builder and purifier. This phytochemical produces in the body an unfavorable environment for bad bacteria. It draws out toxins stored in cells and tissue, dumping them into the bloodstream for proper elimination. Chlorophyll is also highly alkalinizing. Get the benefits of this powerful cleanser by eating green leafy vegetables and seaweeds, and superfoods such as chlorella, wheat spirulina, grass, and barley grass.
Green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and spinach are also great sources of beta-carotene. Lutein can be obtained by eating green vegetables such as kale, collards, spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, and brussels sprouts. The highest amount of anti-aging and cancer-fighting lycopene can be found in raw sun-dried tomatoes, then in cooked tomato products such as tomato sauce and paste, followed by fresh, raw tomatoes.
Bioflavonoids are known to have chelating properties, binding to toxins and eliminating them safely out of the body. Like other antioxidants they have the ability to neutralize highly unstable and reactive molecules that are responsible for premature aging. They also help treat varicose veins, bleeding hemorrhoids, bruises, and gums. Get your medley of primary bioflavonoids such as rutin, resveratrol, hesperidin, quercetin, and anthocyanins from buckwheat groats and leaves, rosehips, broccoli, citrus fruits (lemon, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines) berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries), papaya, cantaloupe, cucumber, garlic, onion, cherries, plums, apples, tomatoes, kiwifruit, grapes, red wine, and green tea.
Pycnogenol is known to be fifty times more powerful than vitamin E and twenty times more effective than vitamin C. Pine bark and grape seeds are high in pycnogenol.
Alpha-lipoic acid increases the power of other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. This antioxidant is naturally present in peas, swiss chard, collards, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.
Alanine is an amino acid that aids in the development of hair, scalp, and skin. Like zinc and sulfur alanine speeds up wound healing. Alanine is available in apples, avocado, almonds, olives, and cucumber.
Arginine aids in the healing and repair of skin and connective tissue. It facilitates weight loss by helping your body increase muscle mass. Arginine is important in the formation of new bone and collagen. Dietary sources of this amino acid are cacao, carob, hemp seeds, celery, coconut, peanuts, wheat germ, soy, dairy, walnuts, almonds, cucumber, sunflower beets, oats, and seeds.
Aspartic acid helps build healthy bones and teeth. Find it in almonds, grapefruit, hemp seeds, lemon, sprouts, cucumber, and apples.
Cystine contains sulfur, a mineral that helps build strong nails, healthy skin and hair. It promotes skin elasticity and assists in the production of collagen. Because it destroys free radicals and binds to heavy metals so that they can be safely eliminated from the body, this amino acid is very important in detoxification. Poultry, egg yolks, red peppers, apples, yogurt, alfalfa, garlic, onion, hazel nuts, broccoli, brussels sprouts, oats, wheat germ, and cucumber all contain cystine.
Glutamine plays the biggest role in the body's metabolic processes among all the other amino acids. It is therefore no coincidence that glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body.
Glycine is needed by the body to build proteins and other amino acids, repair damaged tissue, and accelerate healing processes. Glycine can be found in fish, dairy, almonds, okra, figs, raspberries, lemon, oranges, and beans.
Lysine aids in building muscle mass, tissue repair, and collagen formation. Deficiency symptoms of lysine include hair loss, bloodshot eyes, and retarded growth. Increase your lysine intake by consuming lima beans, dairy products, fish, potatoes, yeast, soy products, and eggs.
Methionine is an essential amino acid that contains a high amount of sulfur, the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. This amino acid is vital in collagen formation and in building strong hair. Like glutathione, methionine is also a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and detoxifies the body from heavy metals. Get your dose of methionine by consuming more garlic, dairy, onions, fish, soybeans, lentils, and other seeds.
Proline helps in the breakdown of fats. Coconut, avocado, almonds, olives, and cucumber are good sources of proline.
Phenylalanine helps the body get rid of waste matter. Cacao, tomatoes, pineapple, cucumber, apples, carrots, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, nuts, millet, sweet potatoes, avocado, spinach, corn, millet, green peas, chards, and potatoes are all phenylalanine-rich foods.
Serine is needed for muscle growth and tissue detox. Eat pineapple, papaya, apples, cucumber, and radishes, which all contain serine.
Tryptophan helps the body generate new cells and tissue. Get your tryptophan from peanuts, soy, dairy, celery, beets, fennel, carrots, spring beans, fish, eggs, and oats.
Threonine is also an essential amino acid that plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, muscle tissue, and elastin. Soy, chickpeas, lentils, wheat germ, fish, egg yolks, flaxseed, and peanuts are all rich in threonine.
Tyrosine affects hair cell, color, and tissue growth. Apricots, cucumbers, bananas, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, almonds, green pepper, strawberries, fish, oats, avocado, and sesame seeds all contain tyrosine.
Valine, an essential amino acid, is needed by the body for proper muscle metabolism and tissue repair. Valine can be found in mushrooms, dairy, peanuts, soy, and grains.
