Learn Why True Health Begins in the Cell

What exactly are antioxidants and why do we need them?
Antioxidants are substances such as vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and polyphenols that help protect cells in your body. They are nature’s way of fighting off potentially dangerous molecules in the bloodstream of your body. Such molecules come in the form of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, plastics, and chlorine byproducts and are called free radicals.

Free radicals are produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation, and stress. They can also be produced with such things as what people put into their bodies, such as alcoholic beverages and unhealthy foods.

Free Radicals feed off of otherwise healthy molecules in order to survive. Every day tens of thousands of free radicals are generated within the body, causing cell damage that can lead to chronic and degenerative diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer if left unchecked.

The body sometimes creates its own free radicals in order to destroy viruses or bacteria. To balance out these unruly molecules, antioxidants comes to the rescue, and they have the sole purpose of neutralizing free radicals. The body is designed to use antioxidants from our fruits and vegetables, healthy chocolate, and many other High ORAC Value (antioxidant power) Super Foods to keep us healthy. This is why it is so important to eat your veggies! We are faced with an ever-growing number of environmental toxins, the body is less capable of fighting off the unwanted harmful invaders.

We need oxygen to live. It travels from the lungs to every corner of the body, helping cells metabolize food into energy. But oxygen has a downside. Normally, the molecules in our cells have a full set of electrons, which keep them stable (think of them as a fortress surrounding a castle). But when these molecules come into contact with oxygen (i.e., they are “oxidized”) they lose an electron, converting to an unstable type of molecule known as a free radical.

Antioxidants can’t be stored like nutrients, so a constant replenishment is needed. Antioxidants also help reduce inflammation, keep arteries flexible, and preserve the genetic material every cell contains to prevent mutation.

Each antioxidant also offers unique perks. For example, flavonoids in berries may help improve artery health, while lutein in spinach may help prevent macular degeneration.

Here is an example to help you understand how antioxidants protect us:

Picture the "Green Bags" you see advertised on TV. They extend the life of produce (bananas, tomatoes, etc.) by absorbing and removing the ethylene gases that cause normal deterioration. Antioxidants...like the Green Bags...absorb and remove free radicals from our bodies.

Just like a banana that slowly turns brown, our bodies deteriorate over time due to free radicals. Antioxidants can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. (Oxidative stress has been linked to diseases such as Parkinson's, Autism, Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Rheumatoid Arthritis, cancer and many other diseases).

They cannot be created in our bodies, so we have to consume them in our diet. (See Fruits and Vegetables Page.)

They can be found in our brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as:

• Spinach
• Carrots
• Brussel Sprouts
• Red Bell Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Blueberries
(See Blueberries Page)

However, herbicides can spawn free radicals too. So growing your own fruits and vegetables is your best option for getting the maximum health benefits. If you are not able to raise your own, try buying from a Farmers Market where you know they do not use herbicides. Your balanced diet should include 5-9 servings of these antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables daily.

Many experts believe the best way to provide the body with the most complete protection against free radicals is to consume a large variety of antioxidants.

Now you can also find them in a variety of foods such as:

• Nuts
• Whole grains
• Fish
• Peanut Butter
• Omega 3 Oil
• Flax Seed
• Dark Chocolate (My Favorite!!!!!!- (See Dark Chocolate Page)
• Acai Berries (See Acai Berry Page)

Who Am I?

My name is Terressa Pierce. I'm happily married with 1 daughter who has given me 3 beautiful grandchildren (twin boys and a girl). They live right down the road from me in a quiet Green Country rural area in Central Oklahoma.

I try to include foods high in antioxidants in my diet and exercise regularly. But with trying to keep up with my twin 6 year old grandsons and 8 year old granddaughter, I don't always have the time to do it. So I'm also a firm believer in natural supplements.

I am an Independent Distributor with Xocai Healthy Chocolate, a natural product very high in powerful antioxidants. It's made with Rich Belgium Dark Chocolate (cold-pressed cacao), freeze-dried acai berries (to lock in its nutrients-antioxidants like your consuming a raw vegetable or fruit), blueberries, and many other natural healthy ingredients to improve your health and wellness. I love it and it tastes great! It is the Ultimate Antioxidant Treat!

I have found that the more antioxidants I consume the more energy I have and the better I feel.

My husband and I have both benefited from Xocai Healthy Chocolate in many ways. Me personally, I have lost 13 pounds since I started enjoying this Rich Belgium Healthy Chocolate by eating it 20 minutes before each meal! My husband has also benefited from this chocolate by losing 22 pounds!

You will find lots of natural foods and natural supplements throughout my site high in antioxidants that can benefit you. Super ORAC is my Number One Natural Supplement Seller that I highly recommend. I have great testamonies from this great antioxidant-rich product. You can find Super ORAC on my Super Antioxidants page.

<< >>I'm also an Independent Distributor for Natures Sunshine who has over 600 products available and they are the world leader in herbs and health supplements. You can buy their top quality products whole sale by signing up as a member. All you have to do is order $40 worth of Nature's Sunshine products at member prices. The first year's membership is free!

I have built this website to educate as many people as I can on the health benefits of antioxidants and/or natural supplements. If you are interested in building a web site of your own just click on "Site Built It" on the bottom of this page.

If you have any questions or if you want to know more about the natural healthy chocolate or the natural supplements on my website, please feel free to Contact Me.

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