ANTIOXIDANTS PROTECT
Over 100 diseases states are associated with free radicals:

CANCER
Epidemiological studies have shown that low antioxidant levels are associated with increased incidence of certain cancers. Anti-carcinogenic and anti-promoter activity of some antioxidants is thought to offer some protection against cancer. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) may be used as an important screening tool for the identification of cancer risk patients and as a monitoring tool for the effect of drug treatment regimes.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Cardiovascular disease is the single largest cause of mortality in the general population. Several epidemiological studies have shown a decrease in the incidence of cardiovascular disease in individuals supplemented with antioxidants.

DIABETES MELLITUS
Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder, occurring in many individuals where hyperglycaemia results from a deficiency in insulin secretion or action. Studies have shown that treatment with antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, restores all markers of oxidative stress to normal by reducing free radical activity and may help reduce the risk of developing diabetic complications.

INFERTILITY
Male infertility is generally caused by defective sperm function which accounts for up to 24% of couples attending infertility clinics.

INFLAMMATORY DISEASES
ROS and free radicals not only cause tissue damage, but then create inflammation that creates more free radicals.

RENAL DISEASE
Many pathological conditions have become associated with chronic renal failure, including accelerated ageing, cataract formation, atherosclerosis and platelet dysfunction. It is thought to be due to rapid consumption of the antioxidant component with elevated levels of ROS and increased lipid peroxidation.

CATARACTS
Cataracts are one of the major causes of blindness worldwide. The disease affects up to 50% of the population over 75 years of age in the USA, with a greater incidence in the developing nations. Many epidemiological studies have examined the association between cataract formation and antioxidant nutrition.

AGING/WRINKLES, ETC.
Aging is a process which in volves the accumulation of changes which can be attributed to genetic defects, the environment, disease and also the inborn ageing process. Antioxidant protection reportedly decreases with age and the TAS kit could monitor levels in supplemented individuals in an effort to minimise the risk of disease development.

NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathology of a number of neurological disorders.

LIVER DISEASE
The liver has a diverse range of important functions which can cause major physiological imbalance in the body, resulting in different pathological conditions.

LUNG DISEASE
Prolonged exposure to oxygen and environmental toxins stimulate phagocytic cells in the lung to generate ROS and free radicals which cause lipid peroxidation.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Recent research suggests that ROS may be involved in the pathogenesis of viral infections. The majority of research has centred on HIV.

Natural pigments found in foods target to protect specific areas inthe body:

• Purple grapes
• Blueberries
• Red wine

• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli

• Corn
• Bananas
• Squash

• Carrots
• Yam
• Pumpkin
• Squash
• Orange
• weet potatoes

• Pomegranate
• Tomatoes/Tomato sauce
• Cherries
• Prunes
• Red peppers
• Red/black beans
• Dark Chocolate/cocoa

Try to eat every color every day!

Antioxidant Power of Foods

ORAC is a measurement relating to antioxidant power. The letters ORAC stand for "Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity," a reflection of the antioxidant ability of just about anything, including foods, to sub- due harmful free radicals. Free radicals damage our cells and tissues and have been shown to trigger much of the aging process and also to be involved in degenerative diseases. This damage is doneby a process called oxidation. Certain things cause a higher level of free radical acitivity in the body:

• High blood sugar
• Eating high sugar, high fat foods (esp. fried foods)
• Exposure to radiation - from sun, microwaves, x-rays. etc.
• Stress
• Exposure to chemicals- pesticides, herbacides,
• Smoking
• Exercise
• Smog/Pollution
• Drugs/medications
• Alcohol

Antioxidants defend against this "oxidation" process (for example, the way lemon juice prevents apple slices from browning when exposed to the air). That's why foods high in antioxidants are such an important com- ponent of healthy eating and in turn, foods with high ORAC ratings are extremely beneficial.

Oxygen Radicals (free radicals) are chemicals that are constantly inside our bodies. If our bodies can neu- tralize or cancel these oxygen radicals before they do damage, then they won't hurt us.

• Protect against complications/tissue damage associated with high blood sugar.
• Help slow the aging process in both body and brain.
• Reduce loss of long-term memory and learning ability, maintain the ability of brain cells to respond to stimuli (thought to decrease with age)
• Protect blood vessels against oxygen damage.
• Protect the eyes from damage - cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, etc.
• Help prevent and reverse night blindness
• Protect us from cancer of all kinds.

A higher ORAC rating is better than a lower one, and any high rating is potentially good, just be sure that you are getting a variety of colors to cover all your health basis.

What are Some High ORAC Foods?
Plant foods have the highest ORAC scores! Plant foods are best at fighting disease. Plant foods are: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, etc. Brightly colored foods are the ones with the highest ORAC scores. This means these are the foods that help fight disease the best by stopping oxygen radicals from causing damage in our bodies. Think bright reds, greens, oranges, blues, purples, yellows, and oranges. Nearly all of the ORAC protection is in the skin of these foods. Any brightly colored fruits and vegetables that you can think of are good for you to include in your diet EVERY DAY! As a matter of fact, research shows that people who eat more of these plant foods have lower risk of cancer. See the following chart for an understanding of the relative anti-aging protection of various foods:

ORAC Values of Common Fruits and Vegetables (per 100 grams -- approximately 3 ounces)