It’s flu season and everywhere you go it seems people are coughing and sneezing. It might feel like your body is constantly under attack from germs and viruses but the truth is even more serious than that. Your body is in a constant battle against infection, diseases, oxidative stress and the formation of free radicals.

 What are free radicals?

Oxygen in the body splits into single atoms with unpaired electrons. Electrons like to be in pairs, so these atoms, called free radicals, scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair. This causes damage to cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and many others. They also may have a link to aging.

The Baddies

Some free radicals are formed as natural byproducts of your body’s processes, including eating and breathing, and you are exposed to free radicals from environmental toxins, household chemicals and cigarette smoke. Many lifestyle choices can play a big part in creating free radicals. Here are some of the biggest culprits. Fats and oils can become oxidized during storage as a result of exposure to light, air or heat. This creates free radicals and causes the unpleasant odors that you associate with rancidity. When fats or oils are heated to high temperatures, as they are with deep-frying, they can become oxidized, creating free radicals. Saturated fats are less likely than unsaturated fats to become oxidized. When cooking fats are reused, they become more oxidized and produce even more free radicals.  Cooked and processed meats can also contribute to creating free radicals. Meat contains fats and those fats can also become oxidized when cooked at high temperatures. The iron found in meat, especially red meat, can also become oxidized. Preservatives used in processed meats -- including sausages, bacon, ham, pepperoni, hotdogs, salami, corned beef and many deli meats -- may also create free radicals. Consider limiting saturated fats – which are found in butter, cheese, red meat and other animal-based foods.  Alcoholic beverages have been identified as a human carcinogen. The National Cancer Institute says that one way that alcohol increases the risk of cancer is by creating free radicals in the body. If you drink alcohol, the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends limiting your intake to no more than two drinks a day if you are a man and one drink a day if you are a woman. While moderate alcohol intake may have some heart health benefits, these should be weighed against the additional cancer risk. Smoking cigarettes is a known carcinogen but did you know that every puff of a cigarette contains about 4,700 different chemicals and 100 trillion free radical molecules. These reactive substances damage lung tissue by chemically reacting with DNA, cell membranes and other molecules in the lung. Smoking also introduces free radicals into your body and accelerates the aging process.

The Goodies

The good news is that the body has it’s own built in mechanism to fight the damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants are substances that help prevent the damaging effects of oxidation on cells throughout your body and are plentiful in many foods, primarily fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants benefit your health by cleaning free radicals out of your bloodstream. They have a range of health benefits including anti-inflammatory effects, immune and anti-aging benefits. Some studies have shown that antioxidants reduce the signs of aging by minimizing wrinkles and preserving the texture of the skin. They can even protect your skin from sun damage, and reduce the incidence of sunburn. The human body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to counteract their damaging effects. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. In order to maintain the balance, a continual supply of external sources of antioxidants is necessary in order to obtain the maximum benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants benefit the body by neutralizing and removing the free radicals from the bloodstream.

Molecular Hydrogen

Hydrogen-rich or H2 water has been proven to be an excellent source of antioxidants with many other healing properties. But some people may wonder how H2 water compares to antioxidants found in foods. Although it’s literally an “apples and oranges” discussion, here are a few comparisons.

The similarities

The differences

Many vegetables, fruits, and other types of foods are excellent sources of antioxidant compounds. Research suggests that when it comes to longevity and overall health, some of the benefits of consuming antioxidant foods, herbs, teas and supplements include:

The 20 best antioxidant foods

According to a reportpublished in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2004, the report's authors found the following items to be the best food sources of antioxidants: Food, Serving Size, Antioxidant Capacity Per Serving Small red bean (dried), 1/2 cup, 13,727 Wild blueberries, 1 cup, 13,427 Red kidney beans (dried), 1/2 cup, 13,259 Pinto beans, 1/2 cup, 11,864 Blueberries (cultivated), 1 cup, 9,019 Cranberries, 1 cup (whole), 8,983 Artichoke hearts, 1 cup, 7,904 Blackberries, 1 cup, 7,701 Prunes, 1/2 cup, 7,291 Raspberries, 1 cup, 6,058 Strawberries, 1 cup, 5,938 Red delicious apples, 1, 5,900 Granny Smith apples, 1, 5,381 Pecans, 1 ounce, 5,095 Sweet cherries, 1 cup, 4,873 Black plums, 1, 4,844 Russet potatoes, 1 cooked, 4,649 Black beans (dried), 1/2 cup, 4,181 Plums, 1, 4,118 Gala apples, 1, 3,903 The bottom line is that it’s still important to eat your fruits and veggies in addition to consuming hydrogen rich water. Hydrogen water works in conjunction with antioxidant foods and also provides additional health benefits. It’s easy to boost your consumption of antioxidants without eating massive amounts of vegetables or expensive supplements. Check out our many H2 water filters and ionizers and enjoy H2 water every day! www.waterionizer.org Not sure which product is best for your needs? Contact one of our water experts and they’ll be happy to assist you. 1-888- 770-5247      
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