Powerful Antioxidants in Citrus Fruits

powerful antioxidants

(DoctorFarrah)- What usually comes in your mind when you hear the word “Antioxidants”? These come up frequently in discussions about good health and preventing diseases. The benefits of antioxidants are very important to good health, because if free radicals are left open, they can cause a wide range of illnesses and chronic diseases.

These powerful substances, which mostly come from the fresh fruits, and vegetables we eat, forbid the oxidation of other molecules in the body. Increasing one’s antioxidant intake is essential for optimum health, especially in today’s contaminated world. Because the body just can’t keep up with antioxidant production, a good amount of these vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and enzymes must come from one’s daily diet. Boosting your antioxidant intake can help provide added protection for the body against:

  • Heart problems
  • Eye problems
  • Memory problems
  • Mood disorders
  • Immune system problems

Here is one of the published research summaries concerning antioxidants.

Antioxidant found in Citrus fruit

Citrus fruits are well known as a good source of vitamin C, the main antioxidant vitamin. However, they also contain a large number of trace substances that can act as antioxidants as well.

The aim of this study was to measure the antioxidant potency of some of these substances. The method used in this study is Biochemical in vitro study. (Researchers: YU and others, Antioxidant activity of Citrus limonoids, flavonoids, and coumarins)

As a result, the citrus fruit compounds tested included two limonoids, eight flavonoids, and a coumarin. In general, it was found that the flavonoids have a stronger antioxidant activity than the limonoids and the coumarin.

Therefore, the flavonoid apigenin, scutellarein, kaempferol, rutin trihydrate, neohesperidin, neoeriocitrin, naringenin, and naringin, all found in citrus fruit, are shown to be powerful antioxidants.

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