These days it can feel like you need a science degree to understand what products you are shopping for, even what food you are buying! We live in an ever-expanding world, full of information and with that comes choices!
So let’s simplify some of the jargon that has crept into the food world, so that we can make better and more importantly EASIER choices when buying food!
Firstly, what are antioxidants? Our bodies generate their own antioxidants, as do plants and other animals. Antioxidants are molecules that defend the body against free radicals, so they are very important….which leads me to the next commonly asked question, what are FREE RADICALS?!
Free radicals are a little more complicated to describe. They are compounds which are natural by-products of chemical processes that take place in our bodies, such as metabolism.
Whilst natural, they can easily get out of balance, due to the food we eat, the medicine we take and even the air we breathe. It’s a delicate balance and just as things like fast food, alcohol and chemicals can increase free radicals, food such as good quality meat, vegetables and fruits can maintain a healthy balance.
So, let’s recap. Antioxidants keep free radicals in check which means antioxidants are essential for our survival. Our diets are an the main source of antioxidants and we can find them easily in things like berries, green tea and dark chocolate.
We’ll demystify more food jargon as we go along so that we can make some healthy food tweaks to our diet.
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