Chemistry Looking for Antioxidant Food   Looking for Antioxidante Food     Subject Chemistry Level Upper secondary Language English Type Experiments   Oxidative stress, due to the very reactive molecules called "free radicals", is connected to many pathologies: atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's disease, some tumors, senile cataracts. . . These pathologies are common to the whole of Europe, yet they are less common in those countries where a diet rich in antioxidant molecules (flavonoids and carotenes, as a rule) is common: e.g the "French Paradox". The goal of this project is to introduce students to a responsible diet aimed at limiting the before mentioned diseases. A demonstration was set up, that makes use of the Briggs-Rauscher reaction: an oscillating reaction where differently coloured radicalic and non radicalic phases alternate. Measuring time intervals, students were able to estimate food (mainly fruits and vegetables) from the radical scavengering point of view.     Contact details   Name Gianluca Farusi Email gianluca.farusi@istruzione.it       Last update: 17 July 2007 More Chemistry Teaching Ideas  •  DNA Extraction from Kiwi Fruit (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMJHQC4VUE_0.html)  •  How does Toothpast work? (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMC6RC4VUE_0.html)  •  Teaching Science and Humanities (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMBXOC4VUE_0.html)  •  ICT in Chemistry (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMTNY9RR1F_0.html)  •  The Particularities of Chemistry Teaching in Luxembourg (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMC41ARR1F_0.html)  •  Web Chemistry: Sweeteners (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEM4P2ARR1F_0.html)  •  The Shadow of the Flame (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMZ93ARR1F_0.html)  •  Discovering an Accessible Enzyme (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEM0O4ARR1F_0.html)  •  Natural Antibiotics (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMOW4ARR1F_0.html)  •  Some Simple Demonstrations in Classroom (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMJFC8OY2F_0.html) Download  •  Looking for Antioxidant food PUB (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/scienceonstage/IT_ Farusi_Antioxidant_Food.pub)