Antioxidants

It is human nature to desire more, not only with materialistic objects but with personal health too. As the proverb goes “Health is wealth” and every individual wants best for himself, there are various queries, which arise regarding health, such as, “What can I do to improve my health further?”, “What can I eat so that my heart problems are resolved?” Such questions arise in everybody’s life and even my patients ask such questions. During “SAAOL Heart Program” camps I always advise my patients on various aspects of lifestyle changes (stress management, meditation, yoga, health rejuvenating exercise etc.) including diet modification. In this regard I strictly recommend “zero oil” food and insist them to be on vegetarian diet. But still our Indian diets are such that we lack one of the most important nutrients called antioxidants. So, I always recommend supplementation of multivitamins and certain minerals, which act as antioxidants.

According to the American Heart Association up to 30% of the American population is taking antioxidants regularly. Americans have spent more than 31 billion dollars on vitamin supplementation in 1999 and nearly 2 billion dollars of this were spend on Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Beta-carotene and Selenium. Though Indian figures are not available, most of the educated and affluent Indians are still looking for food supplementations to improve their health. They insist on doctors to suggest some wholesome vitamin tablet or antioxidant.