Part 2: Welcome To Antioxidant World ..

Hello again! I have discoursed at great length in my previous blog about the epic fact of Free-radicals and Antioxidants which i consider is apparent enough. Now there must be some questions patently puzzling you about, how to procure these antioxidants rather in which suitable form which is not only effective but safer too.

Yeah I can sense that bustle. So without wasting time let’s directly come to the point. As I have affirmed in my previous blog that the best and safest way to get antioxidants is from the diet and believe me you can’t get anything better than that. Additionally simplest approaches for the same are also propounded there too. So let me tell you the ways by which we can incorporate them in our diet :

• Firstly the most essential antioxidants that oftentimes we obtain from our healthy diet are: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, Flavonoids, Glutathione, Cur-cumin, Resveratrol etc. So Better consume all seasonal fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, whole grains, olives, green leafy vegetables, different spices etc. Understand this simple strategy that the whole foods can furnish us with different combinations of antioxidants that work together to provide best protection for our health.
• Eat more plant based foods, now dont dishearten yourself if you are non-vegetarian. Better eat your poultry items in moderation…just balance your meal with different veggies, fruits, whole-grain and the Canada or Mediterranean food guide are the good exemplar of the same but don’t forget your elite Indian food guide which have been courteously quoted in our Ayurvedic texts also.
• Use healthy cold pressed oils with variant varieties. Never stuck on one particular type, such as: canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, mustard oil, coconut oil, safflower oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, etc.
• Never over cook your food to mushy level and better use a very small amount of water while steaming your vegetables, this will help in retaining the essential nutrients.

Now my bosom friends one thing I would like to utter, kindly dont vanish your cultural roots especially in foods because they are setup in a very shrewdly manner according to our Indian genes, susceptibility, with different geographical conditions etc. But the ever stupidest things committed by us nowadays are obeying other cultures exoticism categorised food and shadowing ours which are not only grown in our home land but travel considerable distances to explore our native land by offering less or nullified nutritional value “exotic foods” but eventually looks irresistible magnificent on our Instagram #Blueberry# Dragon fruit # Mangustaan and god knows what show casting circle posts but not for our health . So be generous by applying a bit common sense which can be expected from the one of the most genius species on earth.

I am much obliged for enduring my gyan but proudly I would like to draw your attention by asking one simple thing, “whats wrong in Indian diet and why you forget your own land indigenous Ayurvedic beliefs which mentioned “Naasthimoolam Anoushadham” – there is no plant that has no medicinal properties which been echoed by all over world but overlooked by us.

Anyways according to one research, traditional Indian diets, spices and medicinal plant are rich sources of natural antioxidants and as I discussed above that foods such as – fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts contain thousands of compounds that are antioxidants and here some our own region foods which are rich in antioxidants are listed, such as: Rajma (Kidney beans), Tomatoes (contains 3types of antioxidants), Barley (popular for antioxidant), Spinach, Organic desi ghee, Micro-greens ( like: moth, sesame, fenugreek, etc are the treasure troves of nutrition), Bael (Amrit fruit), Raw honey, Pomegranate (one of the healthiest fruit on planet), Indian gooseberry (your only amla), Beetroot etc….the list never ends. So what you waiting for…..go and standardise your diet pal!

But here we have some boatload of people who still want to know what about supplemental form of antioxidants? So for them one thing I want to clarify that the supplements have concentrated doses of isolated antioxidants that impact health differently than natural derived foods and taking high dose of any kind might be unfit for everyone as they may interfere with body’s natural signalling pathways and even harmful in some cases. But again there is no deny on that concentrated forms have various beneficial health outcomes too.

As it was said that “ Athi Sarvathra Varjayeth” (means anything consumed in excess, is not good for health. Be moderate). Similarly moderation is the key for antioxidants supplements too, believe me there is no as such any magical pill yet invented to cover your health problems but sadly we feel better to befriend these “pills” rather to bring a generous shift for leading a healthy life by certain life style modifications.

So here I am wind down the story that antioxidants protocol is not as simple as it sounds because they come from many sources : naturally produced in the body, some from the foods and some in concentrated doses. So be kindhearted and always take recommendations from your doctor or nutritionist.

For any other queries you can directly contact me. Till then stay safe and stay healthy.😀