January 23rd, 2009 -- Posted in Super Antioxidant |
In a list that covers everything from an anti-malaria gene to bulletproof paper, Discover magazine has compiled its top 100 stories of 2008. Included in the list is an article about findings published with the help of the University of Delaware’s George Luther and UD alumnus Timothy Waite.
“Seaweed creates its own sunscreen,” which came in at No. 94, details research that determined why brown kelp (Laminaria) produces iodine. When the seaweed is stressed, it flushes large quantities of iodide as a powerful antioxidant out of its cells. The iodide combines with highly reactive oxygen in the water and air to produce molecular iodine, which humans often use as an antiseptic.
The findings reveal the element iodine’s biological role as an inorganic antioxidant — the first to be described in a living system.
The research, published May 2008 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientific journal of the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S., was led by Frithjof Kupper from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). Luther, the Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington Professor of Oceanography, and Waite were part of the research team.
Luther’s lab conducted a series of chemical analyses, including one confirming that iodide was actually being released into the water, in his lab at the UD College of Marine and Earth Studies in Lewes.
With Luther’s help, the scientists determined that brown kelp passively takes in iodide from seawater and releases it when needed to protect itself from exposure to threats like ozone when the tide is low. It’s that simplicity that Luther said likely helped influence the story’s pick as one of the year’s best.
“Here’s an organism that takes the iodide in and dumps it when it needs it,” he said. “It’s such a simple way to do business.”
This research was partially funded by the National Science Foundation and Sea Grant, which is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Other agencies from the United States and around the world that helped fund the project included the Natural Environment Research Council; the National Institutes of Health; the Center for Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry; the National Science Foundation Environmental Molecular Science Institute; the SAMS Core Strategic Program; the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; and the French national program Toxicologie Nucleaire Environnementale.
Source: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2009/jan/discover012109.html
Related Blogs
November 3rd, 2008 -- Posted in Super Antioxidant |
Here is a list of easy meal and snack ideas to ensure that you are getting your super antioxidants:
Breakfast: Incorporate blueberries into your meal. You can add them to your cereal, yogurt, or cottage cheese to get your antioxidant boost or you can have them in your bagel or muffin. If you’re in a hurry, you can always pack some fresh or dried blueberries to go. Another quick and easy option is to have a prepackaged blueberry cereal bar.
Lunch: Have an antioxidant rich salad. Having a salad with leafy greens such as spinach will deliver antioxidants but you can mix in additional vegetables, fruit, and nuts for more. Possible vegetables to add include tomato, carrots, squash, corn, and broccoli. For fruit, try mango, peaches, mandarin oranges, or melon. Top it off with some walnuts or flax seed and you’ve got an antioxidant hearty meal.
Snacks: Treat yourself to something sweet. Fortunately for your palate, eating foods with antioxidants does not mean sacrificing taste or favorite sweets. Peanut butter is a good source of Vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant. Have peanut butter as a dip for carrots or bell pepper or spread it on a piece of whole grain bread. Feel free to have a cup of tea or coffee during your break but beware of your sugar intake.
Dinner: Serve fish with a side of vegetables. Grill some tuna with a side of kale, broccoli, or brussel sprouts. Start with some whole grain bread or a baked yam. You can even toast to your health with a glass of red wine.
Dessert: Break off a piece of dark chocolate. Try for the higher percentage cacao in order to limit the percentage sugar in the chocolate bar. You can get your chocolate fix and antioxidants at the same time with this dessert option.
Vitamins and Supplements: You have the option to take supplements as your source of nutrients. There is a numerous selection of supplements now available to ensure you get your antioxidants. Some options include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, CoQ10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid.
As you can see, being healthy and getting your antioxidant intake does not mean starting a boring diet. Super antioxidants can be found in many of your favorite foods and are commonly found in your grocery store.
Related Blogs
October 13th, 2008 -- Posted in Super Antioxidant |
Super Antioxidant
What is a super antioxidant?
A super antioxidant or antioxidant is a general name for substances including all of the vitamins, polyphenols, carotenoids and minerals that help protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals. It is called a super antioxidant because of the nature in which it helps prevent disease in humans. Antioxidants accomplish this by reducing the damaging effects of from oxidation of free radicals.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals originate from oxygen molecules in your body that become electrically charged from natural cellular activity and from outside factors that you’re surrounded by, including radiation from your environment and tobacco smoke as well as many other harmful environmental factors. These free radicals try to steal electrons from molecules in your body like DNA and cells, causing damage as it goes through your body. These dangerous molecules cause a chain reaction of free radicals that damage cells and play a part in the aging process and the development of diseases such as cancer.
How do super antioxidants fight dangerous free radicals?
Antioxidants help to stop the free radical chain-reaction by giving their electrons to the free radicals, thereby neutralizing them so they are unable to cause more oxidative damage to the cells in your body.
How are super antioxidants able to stop this chain-reaction?
Super antioxidants end the chain-reaction by giving up their electrons instead of other molecules giving them up. Super antioxidants are able to do this without being negatively affected because they do not become reactive after losing electrons, effectively stopping free radicals from doing any more damage once they have been neutralized.
What diseases are associated with free radical damage?
Several degenerative diseases are linked with free radical damage, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, cataracts, stroke and cognitive impairment. Aging is also associated with the damage done by free radicals. The nature of super antioxidants makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of occurrence of these diseases.
Where are super antioxidants found?
Super Antioxidants can be obtained easily through safe supplements from NutraYoung as well as through your normal diet. Some of the most well-known antioxidants are:
Vitamin A: carrots, broccoli, kale, spinach, pumpkin, liver, sweet potatoes, collard greens, eggs, apricots, mango, dairy and fish
Vitamin C: bell peppers, red pepper, parsley, guava, kiwi, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, persimmon, papaya, strawberry, orange, lemon, cauliflower, garlic, grapefruit, raspberry, tangerine, spinach, tomato, grape and pineapple
Vitamin E: asparagus, avocado, olives, spinach, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and fortified cereals
Carotenoids: beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, carrots, pumpkins, leafy green vegetables, red fruits, tomatoes, fucoxanthin and seaweed
Polyphenols: berries, teas, beer, grapes, olive oil, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, walnuts, peanuts, fruit skins, pomegranates and wine
How does this information help me live healthier?
Now that you know about free radicals and super antioxidants, you have an extra incentive to eat a well balanced diet full of colorful fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fruits. Eating healthy will not only help your body gain super antioxidants and fight free radicals, but it can also help you lose weight fast.
