Plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain many components that are beneficial to human health. Research supports that some of these foods, as part of an overall healthful diet, have the potential to delay the onset of many age-related diseases!
These observations have led to continuing research aimed at identifying specific bioactive components, the antioxidants in foods, including spice and herbal plant extracts.
The latest research proves that antioxidants are responsible for improving and maintaining human health, all the way to the cellular and molecular level. Most research indicates recently that there are overall health benefits from antioxidant supplements and antioxidant-rich foods consumed in the diet. The results of clinical trials with antioxidant supplements began in 2005 and provided conclusive indication of health benefits in 2007.
Antioxidants are present in foods as vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and polyphenols, among others. Many antioxidants are often identified in food by their distinctive colors—the deep red of cherries and of tomatoes; the orange of carrots; the yellow of corn, mangos, and saffron; and the blue-purple of blueberries, blackberries, and grapes.
The most well-known components of food with antioxidant activities are vitamins: A (Retinol), C (Ascorbic acid), and E (Tocopherol); ß-carotene; the mineral Selenium; and more recently, the compound Lycopene.

The research continues to grow regarding the knowledge of antioxidants as healthful natural components. Oxidation, or the loss of an electron, can sometimes produce reactive substances known as free oxygen radicals that can cause oxidative stress and damage to the cell walls and our DNA! Antioxidants, by their very nature, are capable of stabilizing or neutralizing (scavenging) free oxygen radicals before they can react and cause harm in our fragile biochemical internal balance in much the same way that a buffer stabilizes an acid to maintain a normal pH. Because oxidation of our body cells is a daily occurring process within the body, a daily balance with antioxidants must exist to maintain good health!

For example, the carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin engage in antioxidant activities that have been shown to increase macular pigment density in the eye. Whether this will prevent or reverse the progression of macular degeneration remains to be determined and will take more clinical testing. An increasing body of evidence suggests beneficial effects of natural antioxidant supplements and also the antioxidants present in grapes, cocoa, blueberries, and teas on cardiovascular and respiratory health, Alzheimer’s disease, and a definite reduction of the risk of different cancers.

Until recently, it appeared that antioxidants were almost a panacea for continued good health. It is only as more research has probed the mechanisms of antioxidant action that a far more complex story continues to be unraveled. Although recent research has attempted to establish a causal link between indicators of oxidative stress and chronic disease, none has yet been fully validated.

A new area of research, led by the study of the human genome, suggests that the interplay of human genetics and the intake of antioxidants play a major role in the development or prevention of chronic diseases. Our company is introducing a new terminology in the Health care sector: ADP, which stands for Antioxidant Disease Prevention. This science, while still in its infancy, seeks to provide an understanding of how common antioxidants can affect health through gene-nutrient interactions and can prevent serious diseases over generations!

If supplementation is desired, the 1st choice should be the daily use of a pure antioxidant with the highest (tested!) ORAC value, or as 2nd choice a multivitamin-mineral supplement containing partial antioxidants has been recommended for the general public as the best advice at this time. A recent review of current literature suggests that fruits and vegetables in combination with the more potent antioxidant supplements have synergistic effects on antioxidant activities leading to greater reduction in risk of: chronic disease, specifically for cancer, arthritis, diabetes or diabetic conditions, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, cataracts, mental regress, etc.

For some time, health organizations have recognized the beneficial roles antioxidants play in the reduced risk of disease and developed communication programs to encourage consumers to eat as much as possible antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. When the lifestyle of individual consumers does not allow this type of a daily diet, then they are advised to use supplementary antioxidants with a high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) rating instead.

The BioZama™ plant extracts are the most powerful antioxidant available on the Nutraceutical World market today. Each Biozama™ capsule (single-O-size) has an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) value of 48,000 combined with the highest bioavailability to your body!

One BioZama™ capsule (1g/1,000mg) taken daily has the identical antioxidant power in ORAC units like consuming daily the following foods:

Following amounts of natural supplements or foods have the total ORAC value of 48,000...

... 1.0 g BioZama™ (plant extract)

... 0.4 lbs GOJI BERRY, TIBET (fresh)
... 1.8 lbs PRUNES (dried fruit)
... 3.7 lbs RAISINS (dried fruit)
... 4.0 lbs CHERRIES (dried fruit)
... 4.4 lbs BLUEBERRIES (fresh)
... 6.0 lbs CRANBERRIES (fresh)
... 6.5 lbs KALE (fresh)
... 6.7 lbs STRAWBERRIES (fresh)
... 8.4 lbs SPINACH (fresh)
... 8.7 lbs RASPBERRIES (fresh)
... 10.8 lbs BRUSSELS SPROUTS (fresh)
... 11.6 lbs SPINACH (steamed)
... 12.0 lbs BROCCOLI FLOWERS (fresh)
... 13.5 lbs AVOCADO (fresh)
... 14.0 lbs BRUSSELS SPROUTS (steamed)
... 14.2 lbs ORANGES (fresh)
... 14.3 lbs GRAPES, RED (fresh)
... 15.0 lbs RED BELL PEPPERS (fresh)
... 16.0 lbs CHERRIES (fresh)
... 23.0 lbs KIDNEY BEANS (dried seed)
... 58.0 lbs KIDNEY BEANS (cooked)

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends to healthy adults: “Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and choose 5 or more servings per day, otherwise take adequate amounts of antioxidant supplements to prevent life threatening heart diseases.”
The American Cancer Society also recommends to... “Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day and/or to take antioxidant supplements.”

The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research 1997 Report: “Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer”. The article on “Global Perspectives" states: “Evidence of dietary protection against cancer is strongest and most consistent for diets high in antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits.”

The potential for antioxidant supplements and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to help improve the health of Americans led the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to start the, “5-A-Day for Better Health” campaign to promote consumption of these foods and additional antioxidant supplements on a daily basis. Given the high degree of scientific consensus about consumption of a diet that is high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables—particularly those which contain dietary fiber and vitamins A and C.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a health claim for natural antioxidants in fruits and vegetables and antioxidant supplements in relation to cancer. Food packages that meet FDA criteria may now carry the claim “Diets low in fat and high in antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables may reduce the risk of some cancers.”

In addition the FDA, in cooperation with NCI, released a dietary guidance message for consumers: “Diets rich in natural antioxidants or taking antioxidant supplements on a continuous basis may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases.” Antioxidant research continues to grow and emerge as new beneficial components of foods and herbal plants are discovered by bio-scientists.