Radiation, although it sounds like a bad word, is naturally occurring around us all the time. There is some radiation that is essential for our health, like ultraviolet radiation from the sun, to create Vitamin D in our skin. Whether it’s ultraviolet radiation from the sun, radon gas from rocks and soil breakdown, or ionizing radiation from a CT scan, radiation seems almost impossible to avoid.
While medical imaging is a necessary tool that has helped in diagnosing millions of patients and reducing the need for unnecessary surgeries, there are also radiation doses that are absorbed as more and more Americans receive medical imaging each year. Because this is a necessary tool to use, we want to see if there is a way to reduce the radiation that is given off by medical imaging machines. One way that might be done is through antioxidants.
Some studies have found that vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene are just some of these products that could also have the capability to reduce DNA damage done by radiation. Some of these diet changes include antioxidant-rich foods like berries, nuts, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. These all have the possibility to be an effective way to help reduce your risk. Although the timing and dosage of which antioxidant to use most effectively is uncertain, protective effects against damage were seen in testing when groups consumed antioxidants before imaging tests, not after.
Disclaimer:
* These blogs have been compiled with information from online articles that have performed research on the topics of discussion. This is not information or advice directly from a physician or researcher. *