Application of Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention: Taming the unstable Free Radicles

The human health is always in danger of attacks from all manner of diseases. People literally spend more than half and sometimes all their lifetime saving on medication. This trend if not addressed may render economies of many states to a halt. For every state to be productive they need to produce and there will be no production without man power. When the citizens are sick the economy is also sick. Cancer is one of the major life threatening health conditions today that needs to be addressed. Therefore we want to help you in this article with some tips you can use to be safe and healthy. Our focus is going to be on the application of antioxidants for cancer prevention. This is a very interesting discussion that you don’t want to miss. The experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury gives the following attributes and definitions of antioxidants:

• Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer.
• Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals may have caused. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A and other substances.
• Antioxidants are chemicals that interact with and neutralize free radicals, thus preventing them from causing damage. Antioxidants are also known as “free radical scavengers.”
• Antioxidants are chemicals that block the activity of other chemicals known as free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and have the potential to cause damage to cells, including damages that may lead to cancer.
• Free radicals are formed naturally in the body. In addition, some environmental toxins may contain high levels of free radicals or stimulate the body’s cells to produce more free radicals.
• Some antioxidants are made naturally by the body. Others can only be obtained from external (exogenous) sources, including the diet and dietary supplements.
• Laboratory and animal research has shown that exogenous antioxidants can help prevent the free radical damage associated with the development of cancer.
• Research in humans has not demonstrated convincingly that taking antioxidant supplements can help reduce the risk of developing or dying from cancer, and some studies have even shown an increased risk of some cancers

From the briefs above it is evident that we deal expeditiously with free radicles if we are to be safe. Therefore in many cases the body will make some of the antioxidants it uses to neutralize the free radicals. These antioxidants are called endogenous antioxidants. However, the body relies on external (exogenous) sources, primarily the diet, to obtain the rest of the antioxidants it needs. These exogenous antioxidants are commonly called dietary antioxidants. Fruits, vegetables, and grains are rich sources of dietary antioxidants. Some dietary antioxidants are also available as dietary supplements. Examples of dietary antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and E (alpha-tocopherol). The mineral element selenium is often thought to be a dietary antioxidant, but the antioxidant effects of selenium are most likely due to the antioxidant activity of proteins that have this element as an essential component (i.e., selenium-containing proteins), and not to selenium itself.

Application of Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention: Can antioxidants prevent cancer?

The question that lingers in everybody’s mind is “can antioxidants prevent cancer?” Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture, and animal studies indicates that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer. However, the findings according to recent clinical trials were non-committal. Which then brings us to the next point of concern and that is “should people already diagnosed with cancer take antioxidant supplements?”

Application of Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention: Should people already diagnosed with cancer take antioxidant supplements?

Experts in several randomized controlled trials have investigated whether taking antioxidant supplements during cancer treatment alters the effectiveness or reduces the toxicity of specific therapies. Even though their findings were not consistent, there was evidence that people who took the antioxidant supplements during cancer therapy had worse outcomes. This result was very evident especially with those patients who were smoking. With the inconsistency it leaves room for more studies to be done to get the clear scientific evidence about the potential benefits or harms of taking antioxidant supplements during cancer treatment. In the meantime patients opting for the use of antioxidant supplement needs to consult with their doctors for direction.

Application of Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention: Which foods are rich in antioxidants?

As a matter of guidance, it is very important that you are aware of some of the food stuff that is rich in antioxidants. Most of such food stuff are in various kinds of fruits and vegetables besides other foods like nuts, grains and some meats, poultry and fish. The following are just but a small collection of such food:

Beta-carotene is found in many foods that are orange in color, including sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, squash, apricots, pumpkin, and mangos. Some green leafy vegetables including collard greens, spinach, and kale are also rich in beta-carotene.

Lutein, best known for its association with healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, and kale.

Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, pink grapefruit, blood oranges, and other foods. Estimates suggest 85 percent of American dietary intake of lycopene comes from tomatoes and tomato products.

Selenium is a mineral, not an antioxidant nutrient. However, it is a component of antioxidant enzymes. Plant foods like rice and wheat are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries. The amount of selenium in soil, which varies by region, determines the amount of selenium in the foods grown in that soil. Animals that eat grains or plants grown in selenium-rich soil have higher levels of selenium in their muscle. In the United States, meats and bread are common sources of dietary selenium. Brazil nuts also contain large quantities of selenium.

Vitamin A is found in three main forms: retinol (Vitamin A1), 3, 4-didehydroretinol (Vitamin A2), and 3-hydroxy-retinol (Vitamin A3). Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks and mozzarella cheese.

Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid, and can be found in high abundance in many fruits and vegetables and is also found in cereals, beef, poultry and fish.

Vitamin E, also known as alpha-tocopherol, is found in almonds, in many oils including wheat germ, safflower, corn and soybean oils, and also found in mangos, nuts, broccoli and other foods.

Finally cancer is not a disease you would want anywhere near you by all means. If you have never gone for checkup for cancer it is never too late to do it right now. Your health is worth the effort and for any pending concern you may have, you can call doctor Akoury today for assistance.

Application of Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention: Taming the unstable Free Radicles