Disease prevention antioxidant properties

Vitamin E in the diet is known to provide valuable antioxidant properties for humans, preventing the destruction of cellular materials, e.g. unsaturated fatty acids in biological membranes, and also helping to prevent heart disease. Other materials are similarly known to have beneficial antioxidant properties, and we are encouraged to incorporate sufficient levels of antioxidant-rich foods into our diets to minimize the risks of cardiovascular disease, cell degradation, and cancer. 

As everyone knows, plants have been used for centuries in herbalism, homeopathy, and aromatherapy because of their medicinal qualities. The long-term use of plants has led to recent observations about their antioxidant properties (1, 2). Many scientists have observed antioxidant activities in compounds derived from the volatile constituents (3, 4) and essential oil extracts - of plants. They have reported that ingestion of these volatile chemicals can prevent lipid peroxidation, which is associated with diseases such as cancer, leukemia, and arthritis. In the present study, analysis and antioxidative tests on the volatile extract isolated from a commercial beer were performed. Why did we choose beer We chose beer because... 

The role of the antioxidant properties of vitamins C, E, and p-carotene in the prevention of cardiovascular disease has been the focus of several recent studies. Antioxidants reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, which may play a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. However, an inverse relationship between the intake or plasma levels of these vitamins and the incidence of coronary heart disease has been found in only a few epidemiological studies. One study showed that antioxidants lowered the level of high-density lipoprotein 2 and interfered with the effects of lipid-altering therapies given at the same time. While many groups recommend a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables for the prevention of coronary artery disease, empirical data do not exist to recommend antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of coronary disease. 

Chocolate has antioxidant properties for low-density lipoproteins and hence could prevent heart disease. Foods and beverages derived from cocoa beans have been consumed by humans since 460 a.d. Cocoa pods from the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) are harvested and the beans removed and fermented. Dried and roasted beans contain about 300 chemicals including caffeine, theobromine, and phenethylamine. Chocolate liquor is prepared by finely grinding the nib of the cocoa bean and is the basis for all chocolate products. Cocoa powder is made by removing part of the cocoabutter from the liquor. Bittersweet chocolate, sometimes called dark chocolate, contains between 15 and 60% chocolate liquor, the remainder being cocoa butter, sugar, and other additives. Milk chocolate is the predominant form of chocolate consumed in the U.S. and typically contains 10 to 12% chocolate liquor. 

Anthocyanins are a class of flavonoids separated from proanthocyani-dins. Anthocyanins have been known to be highly protective and therapeutic against especially age-related diseases such as hypertension, cardiac infraction and cerebral infarction. Additionally, because the colors of anthocyanins could help to ease psychic and physical troubles or tiredness, the anthocyanins could not only relax us, but also the colors themselves could prevent and remedy many diseases, especially, age-related diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, stroke and diabetes. Generally, anthocyanins have antioxidant properties, which could protect and enhance our body systems with bioactive abilities such as the immuno-, anticancer-, antimicrobial potencies and others. 

However, a cause-and-effect association between intake of antioxidant vitamins and prevention of coronary artery disease has not yet been determined. Probucol, in addition to its hypocholesterolemic action (discussed later), also has antioxidant properties. 

Aside from the nutritional context, the carotenoids have other important, well-defined functions, such as those related to their antioxidant properties (singlet oxygen quenching and scavenging oxyradicals) and their photoprotective activities, aspects that are now being considered to be of some significance in disease prevention. 

Another major area of interest today is the antioxidant properties of spices. AlthutJgh spices have long been used lo help preserve food, it has not been known what components give the preservative effect. Research in this area has expanded beyond the use of spices as preservatives lo the potential health benelits they confer as antioxidants in the body. There is considerable evidence that specific components in spices may provide these beneficial efleets. Research is being carried out to determine the active components and to explain the mechanism of action. With increasing interest in the use of food products to help inainlain health and prevent disease, spices may play a significant rule. 

Oxidative cellular damage by reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion, hydroperoxy and hyassociated with various human chronic diseases, e.g. cancers, inflammation, arthritis, atherosclerosis and also with the process of ageing. Claims that diet and increased intake of nutrients exhibiting antioxidative activity have a preventative effect on chronic diseases have increased in recent years. In this context, polyphenolic compounds such as tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, lignans and caffeic acid derivatives, which are abundantly contained in a large number of medicinal plants, foods and beverages, are of particular interest for human health care because of the antioxidative properties widely found in plant phenolics. The antioxidative activity of tannins has been extensively studied in various in vitro and in vivo experimental systems and summarized in reviews [96, 97]. Such activity includes the inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by NADPH-ADP and ascorbic acid-ADP in rat liver microsomes and mitochondria, respectively... 

The levels and bioavailability of phytochemicals in plant foods such as legumes, cereals, vegetables, herbs and fraits can be greatly affected by processing such as fermentation. This subsequently leads to increased antioxidant properties, which may be benehcial for treatment and/or prevention of diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Thus fermentation, especially with probiotics (functional microbes), can serve as an important process not only for preservation but also for production of functional foods with enhanced bioactive and antioxidant properties. 

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