The war is constantly raging and the fierce battle is on.  No, I am not speaking of the war in Iraq or the ongoing battle against terrorism.  I am talking about the continuing battle raging on the inside of our bodies between renegade oxygen molecules called free radicals and the bodies’ police force known as antioxidants.

Most people have heard of antioxidants, but what are these bad guys that are called free radicals?  Free radicals are chemicals formed inside our bodies by the process of oxidation.  An example of oxidation is what occurs when you bite into an apple and leave it sitting for a few hours – it will turn brown.  That is because oxygen is breaking it down.  Rust is another example of the harm caused by oxidation.  When metal rusts, it becomes weak and flaky; it starts to degenerate or decay until it does not function well.  Eventually, the metal “fatigues” and “fails.”  This same process happens in our bodies!

In all situations of disease, ill health, injury or aging, there is tissue damage at the cellular level.  This tissue damage can occur quickly such as with injuries or slowly over time as in a degenerative disease.  Free radicals are the most common cause of this tissue damage.  Over 6,000 scientific studies have  linked free radicals to every major degenerative disease known to man.

Free radicals have an unnatural molecular structure that is caused by unnatural forces such as pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation (including X-rays and radiation treatments administered in cancer treatment), fried foods, cured meats, pesticides and other toxic chemicals (present in much of the American foods) and stress.

It would be impossible to overstate the role of free radicals in the creation of disease and old age.  Dr. Denham Harman, MD. PhD. states “very few individuals, if any reach their potential maximum life span; they die instead prematurely of a wide variety of disease – the vast majority being free radical diseases.”  Dr. Helmut Sies, M.D., a leading scholar on the subject says, “the older we are, the more oxidized we get.”

Antioxidants to the Rescue

Our immune system has a process to defend our bodies against free radicals; but it is very easy for these defenders to find themselves outnumbered.  We can receive more than one million free radicals in one breath.  Therefore, we need an ample supply of antioxidants to defend the body against such a massive onslaught of free radicals.  The immune system uses antioxidants to stabilize and eliminate free radicals.

Where do we get these powerful antioxidants?  It should be no surprise that these disease-destroying agents are found in food – notably plant food such as fruits and vegetables.  There are hundreds, maybe thousands of antioxidant phytonutrients (plant chemical nutrients) in natural plant foods.  Some of these have been identified; however, many more remain unidentified.  You will not find most of these powerfully beneficial plant compounds in vitamin pills.  Some supplements may help, but it is important that you fill your body with disease fighting antioxidants that are found in fruits and vegetables.  Nutritional science has found that those who eat eight to ten servings of fruits and vegetables a day suffer a much lower incidence of common chronic degenerative disease of aging compared to those who consume only two or three servings a day.

Juicing is another great way to get antioxidants into your body.  For example, you get the antioxidants of about six big carrots in a 12-ounce glass of freshly made carrot juice.  Also, there are whole food concentrates that are usually available in easy to take powder form.  These are super foods containing a broad spectrum of naturally occurring antioxidants.  I personally take one teaspoon four times daily of a green powder made from barley leaves and alfalfa.

You can stop the damaging effects of free radicals and win the war on your health by daily supplying your cells with antioxidant food compounds.  Jean Carper wrote in her New York Times Best seller, Food – Your Miracle Medicine, “Nothing you can do for your health and survival is more important than consistently eating foods packed with disease fighting antioxidants.”