Organic foods: Antioxidants are involved in prevention of cellular damage. Free radicals and other terms. Research suggests that including organic foods in your diet increases the amount of antioxidants in your diet.

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Organic Food and Organics

Antioxidants and Organic Foods 
 The Organic Web

By DH Owens with additions by CyberParent Staff

Does eating organic foods increase the antioxidants in your diet? Research strongly suggests that including organic foods in your diet increases the amount of antioxidants in your nutritional intake.

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Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. They are involved in the prevention of cellular damage which is the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons. They can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Free radicals promote beneficial oxidation that produces energy and kills bacterial invaders. The body uses free radicals to destroy foreign or unwanted objects, such as in an infection or cancer in some cases. However, in excess they produce harmful oxidation that can damage cell membranes and cell contents.

Once formed, these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage done when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. Should the damage occur to DNA, moreover, the result could increase the possibility of cancer. 

To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. An antioxidant acts as a reducing agent in free-radical reactions. Antioxidants decrease the damage done to cells by reducing oxidants before they can damage the cell.

External toxins, example,  air pollution, generate free radicals. This triggers a damaging chain reaction.

These external attacks can overwhelm the body's natural free-radical defense system. In time, and with repeated free radical attacks, that damage can lead to a host of chronic lifestyle diseases, including cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and possibly even Alzheimer's disease.

Organic foods for health of people, animals, and planet earth.

Research strongly suggests that including organic foods in your diet increases the amount of antioxidants in your nutritional intake.

The Oxidant Stress Theory explains why fruit and vegetable consumption appearss to protect against almost every disease.

Additional information about organic food and organics.

Transition into Organic Foods
Interested in changing your eating habits? This educational and fact-filled book is a simple read with easy to understand differences between conventional, organic, and natural foods.

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