In order to fully understand the health benefits of the Mangosteen, take a moment to review the following information on inflammation, anti-oxidants and free radicals.
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"Inflammation” is the process by which the body responds to injury or an infection. It is not always apparent or obvious. Researchers are discovering that inflammation, the body's basic response to infection and injury, may be at the root of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, cholesterol, insulin resistance, obesity and Alzheimer's disease.
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| "Antioxidant" |
"Antioxidant" is a classification of several organic substances, including vitamins C and E, vitamin A (which is converted from beta-carotene), selenium (a mineral), and a group known as the carotenoids. Carotenoids, of which beta- carotene is the most popular, are a pigment that adds color to many fruits and vegetables -- without them, carrots wouldn't be orange, for example. Together as antioxidants, these substances are thought to be effective in helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
This link to a June 2007 article shows the powerful role of Anti-oxidants on cancer. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/72928.php
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| Free Radicals |
| At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, the oxygen molecule. The oxygen molecule wants to be oxidized (remember that stuff from your chemistry class?), and this oxidation process can sometimes be carcinogenic. Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells. They are also created by exposure to various environmental factors, tobacco smoke, car exhaust, smog and radiation, for instance. |
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