Amitava Dasgupta - Pocket Antioxidants

Copyright 2013 by Amitava Dasgupta

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher of this book. Brief quotations may be used in reviews prepared for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or for broadcast. For further information please contact:

Hunter House Inc., Publishers
PO Box 2914
Alameda CA 94501-0914

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dasgupta, Amitava, 1958
Pocket antioxidants / Amitava Dasgupta, PhD.First edition. pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-89793-635-4 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-89793-636-1 (ebook)
1. AntioxidantsTherapeutic use. 2. AntioxidantsHealth aspects.
3. Oxidative stress. I. Title.

RM666.A555D37 2013
613.2'86dc23

2012043811

Project Credits

Printed and bound by Bang Printing, Brainerd, Minnesota
Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition

Preface

We have all heard about antioxidants and their importance to health. In fact, the sale of antioxidant vitamins and supplements is a multibillion dollar business that is increasing every year. If you open any health magazine, you will probably see antioxidant supplements advertised as if they were magic bullets, capable of preventing all illnesses by fighting free radicals. You are probably convinced that free radicals in the body are really bad elements. But did you know that modest amounts of free radicals actually play a vital role in the normal processes of our body? Did you know that scavenging all free radicals by taking in too many antioxidant supplements can cause more harm than good? In fact, if you are healthy, and eat a balanced diet every day that includes generous servings of fruits and vegetables, you will take in enough antioxidants to defend your body from free radicals, and you do not need any supplements.

The purpose of this book is to deliver current medical-level knowledge about the role of antioxidants to consumers in simple, jargon-free language. All important statements and advice in this book are backed by medical research. Each chapter contains carefully cited references. I use my expertise in antioxidant research to interpret and explain complex scientific data in a way that anyone can understand, even readers without a medical background.

I wrote this book because I want to empower you with real scientific data, not myth. My greatest reward for writing this book will be if you, as a reader, use it to find better health.

Amitava Dasgupta
Houston, Texas

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my wife, Alice, for putting up with the long evening and weekend hours I spent writing this book.

Important Note

The material in this book is intended to provide a review of information regarding how to incorporate antioxidants into the diet. Every effort has been made to provide accurate and dependable information. The contents of this book have been compiled through professional research and in consultation with medical professionals. However, health-care professionals have differing opinions, and advances in medical and scientific research are made very quickly, so some of the information may become outdated.

Therefore, the publisher, authors, and editors, as well as the professionals quoted in the book, cannot be held responsible for any error, omission, or dated material. The authors and publisher assume no responsibility for any outcome of applying the information in this book in a program of self-care or under the care of a licensed practitioner. If you have questions concerning your nutrition or diet, or about the application of the information described in this book, consult a qualified health-care professional.