Antioxidant Chart

Are you suffering from antioxidant deficiency? With a simple blood test, you can in a few minutes find out whether you need to add in a little extra fruit and vegetables. The method comes from Italy and is now available in most countries.

The test is easy – a blood test, the drop of blood sucked up with a pipette and allowed to react with a reagent liquid in a test tube. The tube is then inserted into a reader and after six minutes the result printed out. If the value is above the threshold, the trick is putting in a little extra fruit and vegetables, possibly including any supplements. Then, just after a few months take the test and see if the value has improved. Previously there has only been able to do these kinds of measurements with large and expensive laboratory analysis.
- This is a simple and secure method when it comes to reading the balance between free radicals and antioxidants, says a biophysicist which has brought the method from Italy.

Available in several countries
The method is called FRAS (Free Radical Analytical System) and has begun to be used in health care, except in Italy, also in Germany, England, Spain and the United States. In Sweden one year ago, several doctors, dentists and nutritional therapists started testing the antioxidants in their patients. Although the Hospital, purchased a machine. It will be used for research purposes in asthma patients and patients who are cared for in heart-lung machine.

The antioxidants protect us from free radicals
That we all should be eating plenty of antioxidants are nutritional experts agree. The antioxidant that protects the body against malicious oxygen free radicals, such as oxygen that is formed is burned in the body. To avoid oxygen radicals totally do not go – new come with each new breath. Without the radicals nor could we get by. They are essential including the immune system.
However, this is to keep the radicals at a comfortable level. We can do this by eating plenty of antioxidants that neutralize some of the radicals before they attack us. We also need constant replenishment, because the antioxidants themselves succumb to this process.

Strong defense against oxygen radicals are important
An elevated radical value need not mean, however, that one is ill. But the increase may be a warning sign. If the free radicals may cause havoc for a long period without any major resistance from anti-oxidants, is in fact likely to damage the cells. In the case of muscle cells can result in pain. Although asthma, rheumatic diseases and cardiovascular diseases are taking increasingly be associated with high levels of oxygen free radicals. If the attack goes as far as the genetic material, DNA, is attacked, the risk of cancer. There is therefore every reason to prevent these destructive attacks with healthy antioxidants.

Some people need more than others
Some diseases also makes the formation of extra radicals. Patients with diabetes, heart disease, rheumatic diseases, dementia and cancer do you need extra amounts of antioxidants, says researchers. Even older people who may not eat as much as before, may have a lack of antioxidants. Some drugs also disrupt the balance, such as iron tablets containing iron salts. Pregnant women, for example, eating iron tablets, therefore need extra antioxidants. It has also been shown that there is a relationship between periodontal disease and free radicals, were also to chronic stress increase the level of oxygen free radicals. Athletes and people who exercise, which burns a lot of oxygen, is another group that needs plenty of antioxidants.

Most antioxidants in fruits and vegetables

How the antioxidants interact with each other and how they work in the defense against oxygen radicals, researchers know so far is not so much about. There are a hundred different varieties, many more than will fit in the regular supplements. In fruit and vegetables, cooked as well as fresh, there are however many more are represented. How much we can then take up, due in large part on how nutrient uptake in the gut works.

Plenty of antioxidants in tomatoes and green tea
The most important antioxidants include carotenoids and flavonoids. Carotenoids are yellow and red plant dyes, the most famous is the carotene in carrots and lycopene in tomatoes. In order for us to assimilate lycopene is necessary that the tomatoes first heated. Flavonoids found in vegetables and fruits but also in tea and red wine. Other important antioxidants are vitamin C, E, several B-vitamins and CoQ10.
- Lycopene is an antioxidant twice as effective as beta-carotene, explains Mr. Carlson Mark. And green tea has six times more antioxidant power than black tea, probably because the fermentation process affects the flavonoids in black tea is negative.

Avoid tobacco smoke and exhaust fumes
It is also possible to avoid a certain amount of oxygen radicals. Exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke and highly chlorinated water contains high levels of oxygen radicals. Fresh air, pure spring water are preferable.

Patients are motivated to improve their own health
- All patients who initially had high readings have improved their antioxidant protection since they started eating more antioxidants. Second, they received help in choosing better food, and they have taken a dietary supplement, often only a typical multivitamin.