free radicals Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

We can all list many foods and drinks that are bad for our health. So when we find out that we can actually take something off that list we tend to celebrate. Take coffee, for example. A beverage that is the most commonly consumed in the U.S., according to the National Coffee Association. For many, drinking coffee is a morning ritual that some may consider essential to starting the day off right. While it is chock-full of caffeine (95mg to be exact), we might wonder if it is really good for our health. Well, it turns out that it is!

Coffee is rich in antioxidants. You know, the molecules that help keep us healthy and preventing disease. But do we really understand how important antioxidants are? Our body creates its own to help combat free radicals, which occur when an oxygen molecule splits into a single atom with unpaired electrons. Electrons are designed to be in pairs, so these free radicals begin searching throughout the body for electrons to pair with. This causes havoc to the body, specifically cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are a normal by-product of chemical processes like metabolism. However, we can increase the number in our body by the choices we make, too.

Fried foods, alcohol, and tobacco smoke all help to create free radicals, as do pesticides and air pollutants. This creates an imbalance within the body, as now the naturally occurring antioxidants are outnumbered. If left unchallenged, certain health risks increase. These health risks can range from cancer and cardiovascular disease, to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

We can combat this imbalance through what we eat and drink. Coffee is one of those incredible defenders. According to studies from Vanderbilt Institute, drinking coffee regularly can:

reduce the risks of Parkinson’s disease by 80%
colon cancer by 25%
cirrhosis of the liver by 80%
lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes
and lower the risk of liver cancer

So, how much coffee is recommended? No more than four cups a day, according to the Mayo Clinic. Any more than that can result in sleeplessness, upset stomach, increased heart rate, and crankiness. As for the type of coffee, straight up is best. That is, without all the extra sweeteners like sugar, artificial sweeteners, heavy cream, and whole milk. Specialty coffee drinks like lattes and the like are filled with calories. If you really need to add a bit a sweetness to your cup of coffee, opt for something more natural. Good alternatives are honey, stevia, and almond or soy milk.

You might just discover that you really enjoy the taste of coffee, without doctoring it up.

A key is designed to fit into a certain lock, and when that perfect combination occurs doors open and opportunities are realized. This analogy can also be applied to food, too. How pairing particular foods together can unlock countless health benefits to our bodies. Mother Nature is truly clever. She has provided a tremendous assortment of whole foods that have the ability to become a powerhouse when eaten in unique combinations – for one is the key and the other the lock.

Take for example, raisins and dark chocolate. There is a vital trace mineral in raisins called boron that allows the body to absorb more magnesium from the dark chocolate if they are eaten together. Magnesium provides many essential benefits to our body such as:

helping to prevent osteoporosis with the formation of healthy bones
lowering the risk of heart disease
regulating high blood pressure
preventing type 2 diabetes
treating migraines, insomnia, and depression

Eating foods rich in magnesium with foods that are rich in boron significantly increase the benefits to us. Another example of food synergy is found with green tea and lemon. The ascorbic acid found in lemons helps the body better absorb the antioxidant catechin which is found in the green tea. The medical community has long touted the benefits of antioxidants in protecting the body from its daily onslaught of free radicals. Free radicals are a danger to our well being. They are either created internally from normal metabolic processes or as the result of exposure to external sources such as X-rays, cigarette smoke, air pollution, and industrial chemicals. Antioxidants help the body protect itself. Unlocking more antioxidant absorption by combining two key foods together is a huge benefit to maintaing good health. Here are a few other great food pairings from the most recent issue of Experience Life (2015) magazine:

Tomato Sauce & Olive Oil – the phytochemical lycopene needs the fat in the olive oil in order to be absorbed by the body.
Avocado & Mixed Greens – the good fat in the avocados helps the body to absorb the phytochemicals from the greens.
Broccoli & Steak – the iron in the meat needs the vitamin C from the broccoli to aid with absorption.
Spinach & Tofu – the vitamin K in the spinach helps the body absorb the calcium in the tofu.

Take time to learn more about the benefits of not only whole foods, but which whole foods are best together and why. Not only will you do your body good, but you will undoubtedly find new foods and recipes to love as well.

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