Category: Immunity

Oxidative stress is a well established concept within the medical research. It reflects body’s chemical imbalance between reactive harmful forms of oxygen, primarily oxygen free radicals and protective antioxidants. This itself is not a disease but it can make us feel worse, age faster and add a heightened risk of developing other complications.

The body’s metabolism is constantly forming various kinds of free radicals.it is the formation of these free radicals that needs to be regulated, which requires that we have good “rust protection”Respiration in cells requires sufficient oxygen to function. After inhaling, the oxygen, bound to blood cells, is transported out to the body’s tissues. During respiration within the cells’ energy factories (mitochondria), a small percentage of oxygen will always be converted into a certain type of oxygen free radical, the superoxide radical. There are a few types of free radical species that attack different parts of the body.

The body need to be able to defense against the free radicals. The body itself can make some antioxidants but we need to get variety of others through dietary nutrient intake to have full defense against the damaging effects of oxygen. Direct acting antioxidants function as “ free radical hunters”in that they can donate electrons and thereby “turn off” different types of radicals, creating chemically stable, harmless substances.

Different lifestyles and environments can greatly increase the load of free radicals and other ROS. This sets high expectations for our antioxidant defenses. If we cannot manage to eliminate the attacks, we suffer various degrees of the imbalance called oxidative stress. The reasons behind strong persistence of oxidative stress are individual. Common causes include poor nutrition, prolonged inflammations or infections, smoking, alcohol abuse, birth control pills,pregnancy, lack of exercise or vice versa.

The result may be that oxidative stress feeds inflammation and that inflammation then, in turn “feed” additional oxidative stress and so on. The result is an accelerating, tissue damaging “vicious circle” which needs to be stopped.Hidden oxidative stress is common that causes biochemical wear, an unhealthy condition that in most cases can be significantly reduced or eliminated with these basic steps:

• Minimize the consumption of refined sugar
• Avoid processed foods and if possible use fresh ingredients
• Everyday eat a large colour variety of vegetables,fruits and berries (Frusenia 6.0)
• Eat fatty fish several times a week if you can’t take some good quality Omega 3 fish oil supplements
• Exercise regularly, don’t smoke, if you consume alcohol, consume moderately, preferable red wine with high antioxidant capacity
• Plan daily to avoid unnecessary stress, take care to get enough sleep
• Pay attention to your oral hygiene, keep your toothbrush clean and germ free.
• Get your hsCRP and your oxidative stress value analyzed (FORT test) yearly, at least.

Antioxidants are a class of stable molecules that are capable of inhibiting harmful effects of free radicals which are unstable and if left unchecked will actually destroy different parts of the body.Some antioxidants are produced by our body, but some are not.As you age, the body’s natural antioxidant production declines.This action would speed up aging.

Free radicals are a type of highly reactive metabolite that is naturally produced by the body as a result of normal metabolism and energy production. Free radical molecules are missing one or more electrons which is responsible for biological oxidation. The incomplete molecules aggressively attack other molecules in order to replace their missing parts.

Free radical steal electrons from the proteins in your body which badly damages your DNA and other cell structures.Free radicals tend to collect in cell membranes which makes the cell lipids prone to oxidative damage. When this happens the cell membrane becomes brittle and leaky, causing the cell to fall apart and die.

Free radicals can severely affect your DNA by disrupting the duplication of DNA, interfering with DNA maintenance and breaking open or altering its structure by reacting with the DNA bases.Free radicals are linked to the frequency of cancer, parkinsons disease, alzheimers, cataracts, etc.To prevent this, the body must get enough antioxidants to protect the body from such damage.

Antioxidants are electron donors, so they can break the free radical chain reaction by sacrificing their own electrons to feed free radicals. Antioxidants are nature’s way of providing your cells with adequate defense against free radicals. As long as you have these important micronutrients your body will be able to resist aging caused by your everyday exposure to pollutants.

Supplementing your body with the correct antioxidant will give you the protection. Insist on natural extract of antioxidant and stay away from synthetic or chemically derived ones.

Besides taking antioxidants supplements, a change in lifestyle is also an added value and protection.

• Reduce and eliminate sugar from your diet
• Exercise
• Manage your stress
• Avoid Smoking
• Get enough sleep

An antioxidant rich diet will not work to your advantage if you don’t follow a healthy lifestyle.Start the change today and lead a better and healthy lifestyle with the help of a good quality antioxidant supplement to start your Day!!!!