Polyphenols are compounds that occur naturally in a number of plants and are found in foods made from these plants, including wine, chocolate and green tea. These compounds are considered to be potent antioxidants, making them a healthy addition to the diet. They offer a defense for the body that assists in many areas of health.

When ingested, polyphenols are predominantly suggested to have anti-cancer benefits, and theyre also shown to fight heart disease. Antioxidants have been (and continue to be) widely studied for their protective effects in terms of cancer and heart disease. Studies linking antioxidants and the ability to fight cancer are far more developed and the link is strong. Scientists making an attempt to understand how antioxidants can help prevent heart disease are making strides as well, albeit more slowly.

Its Tea Time–Green Tea Contains Polyphenols
One of the best sources of polyphenols known today is tea. Three types of tea (black, Oolong and green) are all made from the same plant, but the amount of polyphenols in each differs. Black tea has the lowest amount, as it is processed longer. Oolong has many more polyphenols than black, but neither has as many as green tea, since its the least fermented.

Green tea seems to be leading the race among antioxidants in terms of its power. It appears that because of the potency of the polyphenols, particularly EGCG, green tea may have an ability to prevent and fight against cancer. There is certainly promising evidence in laboratory studies that points to green teas ability to keep cancer from forming and affected cells from spreading.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. There are a variety of things that can lead to heart disease, but high blood pressure and high cholesterol are two of the main causes. Exercise and a healthy diet are good starting points, but supplements are also available that will assist your body in warding off these health risks.

In order to help prevent heart disease, monitoring things like cholesterol and blood pressure should become priorities. There are several natural ways in which the health of the heart can be assisted. Lets take a look at a couple of them.

Tea and Garlic Help Combat Heart Disease
The evidence is strong that the polyphenols in tea, particularly green tea, can fight cancer. Studies are also beginning to suggest that tea polyphenols might be able to lower blood pressure as well as reduce high blood cholesterol. These findings have not been fully developed, but the possibility for potent antioxidants to help with heart disease is welcome by those looking for natural health solutions.

Garlic has long been known to be very healthy for the heart. The cardiovascular system in particular benefits from garlic. Studies have shown that garlic, even the consumption of just one clove per day can lead to lowered blood pressure and lowered cholesterol levels. So get your breath mints ready!

A great amount of research has been done on how to lower blood sugar and several avenues can be taken by diabetics to fight the symptoms of this disease. There are natural options that are proving effective in the treatment of diabetics. Diabetes is a disease that results from stress on the body due to oxidation. This means that the benefits of antioxidants may be able to prevent or cure diabetes.

Sugar is actually an oxidant. This means that, for diabetics, oxidative stress is induced by ingesting sugar. Diabetics already have too much sugar in their blood and their metabolisms cannot handle it. This explains why diabetics are told to stay away from sugar, but lets look at one antioxidant compound that may actually be able to prevent many of the painful symptoms of diabetes.

Fighting Oxidative Damage
All polyphenols are antioxidants. Some of the most potent antioxidants studied are called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are found mostly in berries, including blueberries, grapes, elderberries and cranberries. Lesser amounts are found in prunes, red cabbage, eggplant and apples.

More than just being an antioxidant with four times the strength of vitamin E, anthocyanins seem to protect the tissue of the blood vessels from damage common in diabetics. Anthocyanins are also hypoglycemic agents that support the health of diabetics. Lowering blood sugar and protecting blood vessels from the damage of oxidation, they seem to hold the promise of preventing diabetic complications.

Thioctic acid is one of the most potent antioxidants yet discovered. Also referred to as alpha lipoic acid, it is a naturally occurring antioxidant. Thioctic acid is gaining recognition in the United States for a number of reasons.

Studies are beginning to investigate the potential of this highly effective antioxidant when taken in supplement form, as it is found only in yeast and liver in large amounts and in extremely limited amounts in its natural form elsewhere. In Europe, thioctic acid has long been used to keep the liver healthy. As a strong and special antioxidant, it seems to surpass the capacity of other antioxidants in treating radiation sickness and diabetes-related neuropathy.

Thioctic Acid and HIV
Lately, thioctic acid has come under examination as a potential HIV inhibitor. This could mean that those who are HIV positive may be able to find relief from some serious HIV-related problems. As thioctic acid is found to be beneficial to the liver, it is clear that there could be a link that might help support the strength of the system of someone infected with HIV.

In many people with HIV, elevated liver enzymes can cause liver damage and lead to problematic consequences. It is particularly important for those who are taking antibiotics or anti-virals to maintain balanced liver enzymes. When liver enzymes are imbalanced, the drugs will not be properly metabolized. Thioctic acid has the potential to balance these enzymes.

In order for oxidation reduction to occur, antioxidants must be made available to the body. Vitamins C and E are two good sources of antioxidants, but the amounts in these are trivial when compared to those in green tea and supplements made with alpha lipoic acid. Finding natural ways to reduce oxidation seems to be quite possible with the amount of research and specially formulated products available. Also, since stress is also a cause of oxidation, combining a stress-relief regimen with natural oxidation fighters increases your ability to fight off oxidations dangerous effects.

Alpha lipoic acid is one of the increasingly popular antioxidants studied and used today. The body does already have its own source of alpha lipoic acid which is used to produce energy. It is used in the necessary metabolic functions on a cellular level. Unfortunately, this amazing antioxidant is not an antioxidant at all when it is not present in excess.

Alpha Lipoic Acid–Becoming an Antioxidant
When more alpha lipoic acid is consumed than is needed to run on, it will become truly preventative. It is at this point, when excess alpha lipoic acid is made available, that it can begin to do the extra work that it is beginning to prove it excels in. As an antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid seems to go above and beyond its brethren.

Alpha lipoic acid is the most versatile antioxidant. It can be absorbed into both fat and water, meaning that it can target and reduce free radicals in all tissues in the body. For example, it will be able to fight free radicals in both the heart and the nervous system, made predominantly of water and fat, respectively. It is also special in that it seems to protect DNA. Lastly, when you ingest vitamin C or E, alpha lipoic acid will help to multiply their antioxidant effects.