By Guido Housemouser

We frisky felines are viewed as advanced creatures (and not just by ourselves, mind you, our owners agree). Not in the least, it’s because we possess a keen sense of smell, eyes that allow us to see far, far into the distance (even at night), and hearing that protects us from unruly children and unsightly dogs. Being advanced is a pleasure. Not to say that there aren’t things we are not capable of doing for ourselves (if only I could work the can opener!) that’s why — aside from the love and adoration they shower on us — we do need our humans.

Fortunately, for those of you feeling not quite so advanced in the health department, here are some quick facts about some potent antioxidants and how they support human health.

Vitamin A is naturally found in many food sources including carrots, apricots and liver, (yummy cod liver oil, too). Vitamin A is extremely important to our humans’ eye health. But, what you may not know is, Vitamin A supports your immune system as well by regulating it to off fight seasonal bad guys by producing white blood cells that destroy nasty invaders before they take hold. Vitamin A also supports healthy skin and teeth.

Vitamin C is a super (and probably one of the best known) antioxidants. It’s found in almost all fruits and vegetables and is a large part of most of our humans daily routine. My tall, female human is always ordering the rest of the family to consume it at breakfast time; they call it orange juice (I tried it once and, well… once was enough). But Vitamin C helps with the growth and repair of tissues all over our humans’ bodies. Vitamin C, in addition to other countless benefits, helps to boost the immune system and promotes healthy skin, teeth, and bones, as well as the production of collagen (essential for skin, joint, and cardiovascular health).

Vitamin D3, a fat-soluble vitamin, can be found in certain foods like eggs, fish (yum), milk, and cod liver oil (I’ve never had it but it sounds scrumptious). The sun (that big, yellow ball in the sky) also plays a key role in daily Vitamin D production. Vitamin D is produced endogenously (a fancy word for “being produced from within”) by human cells when they are exposed to sunlight (see, it’s literally falling from the sky). When ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin, Vitamin D begins to synthesize.

Vitamin D3, aside from playing a necessary role in proper calcium absorption and bone density health (good for all humans, especially grandmas), also supports and promotes healthy cell growth, immunity health, and energy metabolism.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect our humans cells from (always bad, never good) free-radical damage. Cells use Vitamin E to interact and carry out necessary and important functions. Vitamin E also supports the body’s immune health by fighting off those sneaky seasonal invaders that no one wants.

I’m off to track down my adult humans to give them an earful about the benefits of antioxidants, and, of course, ask for a snack and a little love.

Guido Housemouser, a pseudonym used by a team of health education writers, is credited with authoring the twice-weekly newsletter entitled, “Our Health News” The publication serves the global community associated with Our Health Co-op that has provided affordable support for its members’ health for over a decade.