Before lemons were brought to Europe by the Romans, crushed sumac berries were added to food for its tart and sour flavor. This dark red berry is also a wonderful health food because of its antioxidant properties.
Remember back in 7th grade science class when the teacher talked about electrons, protons, and neutrons? Yeah, me either, but when the electron shell isn’t completely filled it can cause it to be unstable. This unstable molecule is called a free radical. Oxygen is known to develop the most free radicals in the body. This is the process of oxidation. Think of free radicals like pinball machine balls ricocheting off of healthy cells and causing damage like cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants, like Sumac, are like packing bubbles around the free radicals keeping them from doing damage to the surrounding cells.
Keep in mind that our bodies are brilliant. We need oxidation for some vital processes like destroying harmful bacteria. In a healthy body, there is a beautiful balance of antioxidants and oxidation occurring. When we are exposed to more oxidation than there are antioxidants, damage occurs. This is called oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress happens in the presence of:
Pollution
Pesticides
Cigarette smoke
Physical stress
Inflammation
Trans fats
Alcohol
Candles
Carpet and upholstery outgassing
Personal care products
Cleaning products
Over-exercising
Symptoms are:
Brain fog
Muscle and joint pain
Wrinkles
Impaired eye sight
Frequent infections
Antioxidant-rich foods:
Kale
Green tea
Dark chocolate
Cinnamon
Oregano
Garlic
Supplements:
Herbal Antioxidant Blends
You should avoid chemicals and toxins as much as possible and consume antioxidant-rich foods and supplements to decrease your oxidative stress and your risk of inflammation and cell damage. Have fun while you are doing it by indulging in delicious foods full of antioxidant properties like our Turkish Salad. Download a printable copy of our Turkish Salad Recipe.
Happy Anti-oxidating!