Fruit antioxidants benefits
It is hard to believe but one of the ways to help prevent certain cancers relies on the compounds found in a number of plants that are known to have antioxidant properties. These phytonutrients are able to protect us from other illnesses as well as many diseases. To date, scientists have managed to index almost a 1,000 of these unusual compounds; huge advances in preventative health care and nutrition are advancing at an almost daily rate. There has been a whole host of discoveries made into the properties of these phytonutrients; cherries for instance are able to reduce the pain in joints and blueberries have anti-aging properties.
Containing many different antioxidants, blueberries also have one of the lowest sugar contents of the fruits tested. For many people eating fruit does not come easily but drinking the juice is much more pleasant and an efficient way to get the goodness from the fruit into our systems; these frits have been shown to benefit the immune system and help improve the circulation. Infection is also reduced as are the chances of disease from the powerful antioxidants they contain. Apples are now coming under the spotlight as potential helpers in the struggle against heart illness.
Citrus fruits can be helpful because of the phytochemicals they contain. The combination of phytonutrients in cherries is proving to have properties that can help sufferers of joint pain and fibromyalgia. Other substances, vitamins and minerals for instance, are also being studied more carefully even though their benefits are well documented. Another group of antioxidants called Phytoalexins (resveratrol) found in many berries can prevent infection and have anti-viral properties.
Many aging conditions, including Alzheimer's, can be treated with some of these. Others found in tomatoes make this one super-food in the prevention of heart disease. The best way to concentrate these antioxidant properties has been found when we use tomato sauce, puree and juice. Even the humble water melon, so refreshing on a hot summer's day, has now been found to have some of the most important and powerful phytonutrients available naturally. We are told to eat more fruit and now there is a very good scientific reason to do this.
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