Some sweet potatoes for a little bit of antioxidants in the morning :)

Did you know that many of us already take our antioxidants in the morning, knowingly or unknowingly? Coffee is one of the leading sources of antioxidants, even though it's not the richest source but it's the number one source of antioxidants in our diets simply because we consume lots of coffee. So an advice, keep taking your coffee!

Sweet Potato and Coffee makes for a healthy dose of antioxidants to keep you healthier and young!

Coffee plus sweet potatoes every morning is therefore one of the healthiest combinations and richest sources of antioxidants in addition to other vitamins and compounds. Just in case you forgot why you need antioxidants, here's a reminder once more :

Antioxidants are compounds in foods that neutralise free radicals. Oxidation in the human body produces chemicals called 'free radicals'. These chemicals have been linked to diseases such as heart and liver disease and cancer. 

The process of oxidation in your body damages cell membranes and other structures including cellular proteins, lipids and DNA. When oxygen is metabolised, it creates ‘free radicals’ which steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage.The process of cell damage is normally accelerated by stress, cigarette smoking, alcohol, sunlight, pollution in many other factors.

Some of the effects of free redicals in your system  include the following:

• Deterioration of the eye lens, which contributes to blindness.
• Inflammation of the joints (arthritis).
• Damage to nerve cells in the brain, which contributes to conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
• Acceleration of the ageing process.
• Increased risk of coronary heart disease, since free radicals encourage low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to adhere to artery walls.
• Certain cancers, triggered by damaged cell DNA

 So you now understand why some people age much faster while others stay young forever. It's all in your diet. Antioxidants found foods like sweet potatoes eliminate these free radicals thus mitigating their effects. Things like stress might be unavoidable but you can stave off their effects on your body by having some good sleep and taking a healthy dose of sweet potatoes with your coffee every morning to stay young and healthy :)