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Antioxidants good for health, diet, life by Ana Harris Dietetic Intern Antioxidants fight disease. They can lengthen your life. Beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E; zinc, lycopene, lutein, flavonoids and selenium are just a few antioxidants that have been mentioned in the news. So, what is the big deal with antioxidants and why should we care about them? What do we need to know?   To explain antioxidants, the National Institute of Health defines antioxidants as “substances that inhibit oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen … to protect the living body from the deleterious effects of free radicals.”   In other words, your body naturally breaks down cells and tissues everyday. This is the process known as oxidation. The natural breakdown of these cells and tissues leads to aging and may promote certain diseases. Antioxidants can help prevent this process.   Antioxidants are substances that may help prevent oxidation. They work in the body to slow down the body’s natural breakdown process. In this way, antioxidants keep cells and tissues healthy.   The American Dietetic Association explains antioxidant action like this: “Take an apple for example. When you cut apart an apple and the inside hits the air, it begins to turn brown. This is the process of oxidation. However, if you dip the apple slice in some lemon or orange juice, the apple will not turn brown. Lemon and orange juices are both sources of antioxidants, and the antioxidants in these juices prevent the oxidation process from occurring and protect the apple.”   In this same way antioxidants protect our bodies.   Antioxidants can be abundant in the human diet. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of antioxidants. Nuts and beans are also good sources. Recently, studies have shown that coffee also is an unexpected source of antioxidants. The antioxidant in coffee actually comes from the coffee bean, so this gives coffee a good vibe as long as it is consumed in moderation and with no high-calorie additions like cream or sugar. Here is a small list of some sources of antioxidants: grapes, bananas, walnuts, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, pecans, artichokes and spinach.   Of course, many more great sources of antioxidants are not listed here. The best way to make sure that you are getting enough antioxidants to keep you healthy is to eat a well-balanced diet that incorporates all the food groups.   Judging from the list above, it is especially important to choose a variety of fruits and vegetables each day.     Friday, April 6, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.