Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention

Recently the word antioxidant has become so familiar in various commercial products, pharmaceutical ads and health promotion campaigns. The antioxidants are the molecules which can inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is one kind of chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. Free radicals are the ions, atoms or molecules that have unpaired valence electrons or an open electron shell. These free radicals will only become stable if they get their designated electron pair. If these unstable radicals freely roam in the human body damage cells and tissues including DNA by performing some chain reactions. Afterwards body will start to malfunction and degenerate. Some common reasons for forming free radicals are smoking, pollution and exposure to sunlight. Antioxidants are the substances that attach themselves to the unstable free radicals. Once these free radicals become stable the havoc occurring in the human body ends.

In recent laboratory works it has been observed that antioxidants can prevent cancer. Cancer develops when cells multiply in the presence of oxidation and other damages. The antioxidants ebb the oxidative damage and inhibit early benign cancer growth, preventing cancer from developing.

In some research works it has been proved that certain antioxidant substances like vitamin C are able to differentiate between cancer cells and healthy cells. They kill cancer cells while helping healthy cells. This type of substances may act either as antioxidant or pro-oxidants. In healthy cells, they act as protective antioxidant and in cancer cells they act as pro-oxidants, producing hydrogen peroxide that attacks the cancer. The dual nature of these substances is impressive because the traditional chemotherapy or radiation harms healthy cells almost as much as it does cancer cells.

For significant protection against cancer at least two antioxidant rich foods should be included in each meal.

· For breakfast people may include fruits and nuts with their favorite cereal. Fruits like blueberries, strawberries, mulberries, grapes and figs are the excellent sources of antioxidants. In nut category walnuts, pecans, almonds and cashews are included.

· At lunch dark green vegetables should be included as they contain different groups of cancer fighting properties which provide a broader range of protection. Beside dark green vegetables, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are handsome sources of antioxidants.

· At dinner those who prefer to take something light can take a vegetable salad includes carrots and tomatoes as these two vegetables are rich with antioxidants. The people who take regular menu in their dinner can also include this vegetable salad with regular ones.

· Those who like to take tea may take green tea. Green tea is a very good source of antioxidants. One should consume 3 cups of green tea every day. Green tea without sugar is more effective to protect cancer.

· An excellent option for some time is fresh vegetable juice containing lettuce, spinach, carrot and red beet. Apple can be added to amplify the taste. But the apples should be used with their antioxidant rich skins.

Though the word antioxidant is slightly tough to utter but the food sources of it is very easy and available. A little bit consciousness in the case of choosing the meal menu may save us from cancer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raunak_Ara_Parvin

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3 Acne Prevention Tips

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions. It is characterized by an outbreak of pimples or zits in, often in the person's face. Although it primarily affects teenagers, it can still occur even after the puberty stage. While some factors which are no longer in your control, there are still some things you can do to help prevent acne.

Wash Your Face Regularly

Washing one's face daily is an essential activity even if you don't have acne. Using your clean hands or a soft piece of cloth, you need to wash your face gently and thoroughly. This activity helps remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and other impurities from the surface of your skin. You need to remember that you need to use warm water, and make sure that it's not too hot. A mild facial cleanser also comes highly recommended. Avoid using a loofah and harsh soap when washing your face as this can lead to further skin irritation.

Weekly Exfoliation

Exfoliation is the process of wiping off the outer layer of your skin. This is so that your pores will be unclogged and so that your dead skin will be sloughed off. Remember that this only needs to be done once a week. Don't overdo it. You can either buy exfoliating products or make them yourself. When done correctly, this process will dramatically improve your complexion.

Regular Exercise

Exercise brings another unexpected health benefit other than keeping you in shape. When you exercise, you not only burn fat, but you also increase blood circulation to your skin. However, it is crucial to remember that you need to shower and wash your face immediately after every workout session. Sweat can clog up your pores. This is why it is imperative that you never forget to wash up afterwards.

Acne is surely a problem for anyone who has it. However, there is no need to be ashamed of your condition. It is completely normal. It is also important to point out that acne is something that most people have had to deal with, at a certain point in their lives.

You should also remember that acne is one skin condition that can be prevented. The tips presented here will help you prevent acne outbreak in the future. Just make sure that you follow these tips on a regular basis. Doing so will ensure that you will now be able to be comfortable in your own skin.

Jose Victor M. Jayme is a freelance writer. He has been working as such since 2010 and has written articles on a variety of topics.

He has a degree in the Social Sciences from the University of the Philippines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jose_Victor_M_Jayme

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Cancer, Caused By Bad Food - Can Be Cured By Good Food

We all know that our diet has changed over the last 50 years because most people in developed countries now shop in supermarkets. Our diet in the past was more natural but now day's people are consuming mostly factory food or processed food and this food exists because of profit. While cancer sometime has other contributing factors such as smoking, the food we eat is almost always the main cause.

Most processed foods contain additives; while a few might be from natural sources there are two that need to be avoided and they are sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite. These additives are in bacon, hot dogs, ham, salami and other processed meats, used to help preserve its colour and to make it look more natural. These additives are also used to inhibit botulism which will give these products a longer shelf life, therefore increasing profit. Nitrates and nitrites will increase your risk of cancer.

Cooking food by smoke is cancer causing as it irritates our digestive system and can cause cancer of the stomach and colon. Also pickle foods have been suspected to cause cancer probably because of the high amount of salt used in the process. Research has linked pickle food to a higher risk of stomach cancer.

Cooking meat especially on a barbecue is very high in carcinogens which are known to promote cancer and increase the progression of cancer. Also sugar, the refined stuff has been found to be the natural fuel for growing cancer cells and since our modern diets are laden with it then it's not surprising that there is so much cancer today.

If bad food weakens the immune system which produces a favorable condition for cancer to form then it makes sense that the only treatment worthy of serious consideration lies within the domain of good food. We have all heard that vegetarians and vegans have a much less incidents of the disease and that is because a plant based diet is very effective in both preventing and fighting these foreign invasive cells.

There are many foods in a plant based diet that have been proven to aid in the recovery of a cancer patient. Onions, garlic and ginger along with vegetables from the cruciferous family which are broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Vegetables which are rich in colour such as tomatoes, capsicum and carrots. Fruit is the same so choose a variety of different coloured fruit such as pip fruit, stone fruit and berries.

As you can see we have moved away from eating foods such as these to convenient foods or food that has come out of a factory and when something is processed or heated it looses its cancer fighting properties. Cancer cells are really only a symptom of a poor diet and by changing your diet you are removing the reasons why it first appeared. For a cancer patient a change in diet has to be your top priority.

Cancer is mainly a food caused disease and there is no quick and easy cure and certainly no magic pill or treatment to solve the problem. It's only when the cause of the disease is recognised and corrected can true healing take place.

You are the only person that can make you healthy and you do that by choosing the foods you eat wisely. It works for everyone and no one can profit from it.

Alan Wighton is an experienced natural therapist specializing in nutrition. If you are seeking information on how to fight cancer, using food as your medicine, visit his website and learn how the body can self-heal when you make these changes; eattobeatcancer
http://www.cancerhealed.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Wighton

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