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Free Radicals & Cellular Damage -
Oxygen is essential for all human beings. Once taken into the body, oxygen triggers the burning of glucose and fat. Humans live on the energy produced through this oxidation process.
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However, stress, ultraviolet rays, cigarette smoke, and vigorous workouts tend to cause oxygen to change into free radicals affecting metabolism.
- Damage to genes leading to cancer.
- Oxidation of cholesterol, changing it into “bad” cholesterol which causes arterial sclerosis and high blood pressure.
- Narrowing of blood vessels which may cause thrombosis such as cerebral infarction (stroke) and cardiac infarction (heart attack), and deteriorates functions of tissues due to blockage of blood flow.
- Oxidation of cell walls deteriorating functions of organs and causing aging effects such as wrinkling.
- Ultraviolet rays also produce free radicals which create melanin, causing skin blotches and freckles.
Free radical atoms or groups of atoms can kill germs once they enter the body. However, they can also join readily with other compounds to attack cells and cause a great deal of damage to the body. An overabundance of free radicals in the body can lead to infections and various degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer. It alters the way cells code genetic material, and speeds up the aging process as well. If this occurs in one’s body, SOD (Superoxide Dismutase), a defending enzyme, removes oxygenic poison.
Free radicals cause the following damage:- Damage to genes leading to cancer.
- Oxidation of cholesterol, changing it into “bad” cholesterol which causes arterial sclerosis and high blood pressure.
- Narrowing of blood vessels which may cause thrombosis such as cerebral infarction (stroke) and cardiac infarction (heart attack), and deteriorates functions of tissues due to blockage of blood flow.
- Oxidation of cell walls deteriorating functions of organs and causing aging effects such as wrinkling.
- Ultraviolet rays also produce free radicals which create melanin, causing skin blotches and freckles.
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Catechin is ranked high for its antioxidant properties. Besides tannin, vitamins such as vitamin A (carotene), C, and E are well known for their antioxidant qualities. Green tea contains all of these in significant amounts and is the most powerful antioxidant beverage known today. Green tea is extremely beneficial in the elimination of free radicals.Research aimed at finding the active compounds in green tea revealed that its protective effects are due chiefly to catechins. Powerful polyphenolic antioxidants, catechins are astringent, water-soluble compounds that can be easily oxidized. Numerous recent studies continue to confirm that green tea polyphenols have powerful anti-carcinogenic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective and anti-microbial actions. A particularly bioactive catechin called epigallocatechin gallate has been singled out by many researchers as very important for cancer prevention.
Try our catechin green tea which is specifically grown and produced to maximize green tea the antioxidant effect due to the high level of catechin this tea contains. For those specifically interested in maximizing green teas health benefits.
Try our catechin green tea which is specifically grown and produced to maximize green tea the antioxidant effect due to the high level of catechin this tea contains. For those specifically interested in maximizing green teas health benefits.
Antioxidants in Food Items (SOD=Superoxide Dismutase) Food SOD (unit/g)
1. Green Tea leaves |
120,000 |
2. Coffee (Instant) |
28,000 |
3. Wheat Germ (fresh) |
4,900 |
4. Papaya (fresh) |
380 |
5. Green Pepper (fresh) |
310 |
6. Spinach (fresh) |
140 |
8. Lemon (juice) |
140 |
8. Gingko (fresh) |
94 |
9. Tomato (fresh) |
90 |
| 10. Carrot (fresh) | 26 |
