Polyphenols, Antioxidants, Free Radicals
Latest research is revealing greater and greater benefits of polyphenol consumption.
First of All: What Are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are plant chemicals that help the body form antioxidants. Antioxidants are free radical fighters. Free radicals are dangerous particles that damage cells. Antioxidants inhibit the formation of free radicals and neutralize them before they can cause damage.
Ingesting plant polyphenols may be more important than taking antioxidants alone. Why is that? This is probably because it is actually the metabolites of polyphenol absorption rather than the polyphenols alone that have the most beneficial effects.
This means that your body processes polyphenols and uses the byproducts to fight off disease and cell destruction.
There are no proven studies that indicate that antioxidants alone cause this same metabolite formation.
Therefore, taking fresh, raw polyphenols may be far healthier than taking concentrated or isolated antioxidant supplements.
As Mom always said, “Eat your fruits and vegetables.” Preferably fresh, raw and organic.
Today’s Mom might add, “Be sure to eat your polyphenols!”
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Articles:
http://www.ajcn.org/content/81/1/215S.full
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