Food is essential for the body, it is analogous to fuel that provides calories to body.
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the important ingredients derived from food for this purpose.
Another group of food intake which does not provide calories but helps in running our bodies smoothly by protecting the body from diseases, bacteria and viruses are "Minerals, Fiber, Water and Antioxidants".
Antioxidants are chemical compounds that can bind to free oxygen radicals preventing these radicals from damaging healthy cells.
The wonder antiaging culinary herbs are a better source of antioxidants than other foods such as fruit, vegetables and cereals.
In addition to these uses of natural antioxidants in holistic healing, these compounds have many industrial and medicinal uses; such as preservatives for food, cosmetics and preventing degradation of rubber and gasoline.
Key tasks of Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats Carbohydrates are the major source of energy for the body.
Carbohydrates are mainly obtained from cereals and fruits.
Proteins are obtained from pulses, fish, meat, egg and milk.
Fats are available from oil, butter and nuts.
Fat is required for making cell wall, hormones but excessive fat causes blockages in heart arteries.
The carbohydrates and to a certain extent the fats protect the proteins so that the proteins can attend to their vital function of building and repairing tissues.
Within certain limits, the protein can replace carbohydrate as a source of energy, but the carbohydrate cannot replace protein in building up tissue.
Key tasks of Minerals, Fiber and Water Minerals are the key ingredients for bones (calcium, phosphorus), haemoglobin (iron) and maintaining blood pressure (sodium).
Fibers help removing fat from intestines, lowering cholesterol and preventing constipation.
Water forms about 55% of blood, significant part of digestive juices and helps in almost all chemical reactions in the body.
Antioxidant Levels in Herbs Anti-oxidants are chemicals which retard degeneration of body.
They slow down the aging process and help keep the body healthy by preventing the degenerative diseases like arthritis, heart diseases and prevention of eye cataracts at younger age.
They keep the skin smooth and supple.
They are present in vegetables, herbs and fruits.
In some herbs, the antioxidants are found in abundance.
Herbs contain many phytochemicals that have antioxidants.
In a recent study with herbs, the results of the experiments showed a large difference in antioxidant levels in herbs.
The herb with the highest level of antioxidants contains 1000 times more antioxidants than the herb with the lowest level.
The factors influencing antioxidant levels are many, one of the influencing factor being harvesting.
The herbs with highest levels of antioxidants are oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, marjoram, hyssop, tansy leaves and chamomile in descending order.
Dried herbs like cloves, cinnamon, rosemary also have high content of antioxidants.
Antiaging properties of Antioxidants You must have seen some people living up to a good ripe age of eighty's and ninety's and still looking young.
Majority of these younger looking people have been consuming fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in large quantities that makes them look young.
The natural ingredients that are responsible for this difference are "Anti-oxidants".
The anti-oxidants in this group with vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E make your skin glow, joints supple and also prevent you from heart diseases and cancer.
No wonder, antioxidants products are selling like hot cakes.
You will find the market flooded with anti-oxidant creams, lotions, anti-oxidant pills and tablets.
The sales are ticking in billions of dollars.
Herbs are excellent sources of antioxidants, consuming antioxidant rich food will go a long way to achieve a healthy and disease-free lifestyle.