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Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue One

NUTRITION & FITNESS Summer Health & Fitness Eating right and staying in shape during silly season. Story Clinical Dietician Shannon Huxtable Summer is the time for backyard barbeques, long days at the beach and outdoor entertaining with friends and family. The warmer months also mean an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables such as stone fruits, cherries, mangoes, melons, avocados and berries. All of these fruits have vitamins and minerals important for our health; in particular antioxidants, which scientists believe may help to prevent cardiovascular disease, a range of cancers, diabetes and other diseases. This is one of the components of the ‘Mediterranean diet’ that has been associated with lower incidences of certain types of cancers and cardiovascular disease1. Antioxidants are important in the body for their ability to repair and prevent the stress that comes from when cells are damaged by free radicals. This is a normal process that occurs during breathing, fighting infection and burning glucose, but can be exacerbated by smoking, stress, pollution and sunlight2,3,4 - things that many of us are exposed to on a day to day basis. Free radicals can damage the eye lens, cause inflammation, accelerate the ageing process as well as damage nerve cells and DNA4. Antioxidants include carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium A and phenolic compounds including flavonoids. These antioxidants have many functions in the body, for example, some carotenoids such as B-carotene are a precursor of vitamin A, which plays a role in our vision, growth and development and immune function. Vitamin C is important for the body’s normal metabolic functions and assists the body to be resistant against infection. Vitamin E, which like vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, is a free radical scavenger that protects polyunsaturated fatty acids against oxidation5. Selenium A is important for immune function and thyroid hormone production6. pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 71


Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue One
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