Antioxidant phytochemicals berries

Recently, anthocyanins have received less attention compared to other flavonoids despite their far-reaching health effects. Because berries might have occupied such a large part of early diets, our ancestors probably ate more anthocyanins when compared to our food intake. In fact, according to some researchers, we might be deficient in anthocyanins. When people understand the antioxidant potential of the phytochemicals, perhaps we could improve the deficiencies by taking them. In due-course, our daily common foods may give even more enjoyment to us. 

Studies indicate that extracts of berries cardioprotective effect (Whitson et al. 2004). For example, mechanisms for the prevention of atherosclerosis by dietary antioxidants in fruits have been proposed. In the LDL oxidation hypothesis, oxidized LDL cholesterol by free radicals has been suggested as the atherogenic factor that contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Berliner et al. 1997 Witztum and Berliner 1998). When circulating LDLs are present at high levels in blood, they infiltrate the artery wall and increase intimal LDL, which can then be oxidized by free radicals. This oxidized LDL, in the intima is more atherogenic than native LDL and serves as a chemotactic factor in the recruitment of circulating monocytes and macrophages. Dietary phytochemicals served as antioxidants that are incorporated into LDL are themselves oxidized when the LDL is exposed to free radicals this... 

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