FREE RADICAL DAMAGE, ANTIOXIDANT REPAIR
PRESENTING EVIDENCE THAT MOM WAS RIGHT!
In recent years we have become aware of the term antioxidant. The advice is everywhere—we need lots of antioxidants, and most of it needs to come from the foods we eat.
But, what is the problem? What is resolved when we eat lots of antioxidant-laden foods?
If antioxidants are the answer, what's the question?
Introducing the free radical.
For several decades scientist have focused on the power for good and bad attributed to this category of molecule. Even though free radicals exist in nature for a purpose and do healthful things for humans, we are mostly concerned with the damage free radicals do.
The problem free radicals cause is not that hard to understand. Free radicals are guilty of assault, robbery, and irrational behavior, disrupting the balance of nature on a molecular level. But, there is hope for controlling the radical behavior in the form of another molecule, the antioxidant, which possess attributes that bring an abrupt halt to free radical activity. If the antioxidant is not present, little can be done to stop the damage of free radicals.
The more we understand the origins and destructive force of free radicals and the protecting power of antioxidant molecules, the greater our ability to reduce its impact on our health and find incentives to increase our consumption of antioxidants—reduce our exposure to the things that create free radical events, and increase the number of antioxidants present in our bodies.
The information below is provided for your educational benefit. If you can't read through all subjects now, come back from time to time, increase your knowledge little by little. Above all—read! Take control of this potentially devastating aspect of your health future.
FREE RADICAL HISTORYMOM WAS RIGHT – EAT YOUR VEGGIES!
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FREE RADICAL HISTORY
The initial interest in free radicals apparently began in 1954 with the published findings of scientist Rebecca Gerschman, and colleagues. But, the "Father of Free Radical Medicine" is Dr. Denham Harman. In 1956 he published a paper implicating free radicals as a major cause of aging and disease. As with many other pioneers, Dr. Harman's ideas went unheeded for years.With greater technologies available, closer scrutiny of the free radical became possible. The obscurity of Dr. Harman's hypothesis has changed dramatically. Interest has soared in recent decades as it was discovered the universally underestimated free radical might have something to do with wide-spread, unresolved problems in medical science. What scientists learned forever changed the perspective on free radicals and their role in a number of diseases that disfigure, debilitate, and otherwise cut short the lives of hundreds of thousands each year.
Dr. Harmon continued his pursuit. It was he who discovered the heart disease and cancer fighting capabilities of the antioxidants vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene. Now close to 90 years old, and the poster-child for antioxidant effects on aging, he is Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska studying ways to extend the "functional" life of humans.
CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT DR. DENHAM HARMON
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WHERE FREE RADICALS ARE FOUND
Free radicals are found in all parts of nature. For instance, rust and rotting fruit are signs of free radicals at work. A flame marks the moment when heat energy and a fuel source combine with oxygen made available through a free radical reaction. In the atmosphere free radicals have been implicated in a complex chain of events that, in theory, leads to the depletion of the protective ozone layer.Within the body's systems certain controls depend on active free radicals to maintain life, for example, in the killing of bacteria in cells. Free radicals have also been associated with certain signaling processes in and among cell groups.
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RADICAL BEHAVIOR
Free radicals possess the potential to behave exactly as the name implies—radically. They are unique to the extent they are considered by scientists to be a species of molecule. Under the right conditions the free radical will depart from normal, balanced molecular behavior into an unbalanced mode, then back to a balanced state, all within one-billionth of a second. But, what it achieves in that split second, multiplied in a chain-reaction of the identical behavior, is significant. The irreversible damage caused to other molecules is thought by many to be the cause of many diseases and illnesses.
A free radical is created from an otherwise stable molecule in its natural state. The moment a specific kind and condition of instability develops in the molecule, it is considered a free radical. The status of free radical is short lived, because the molecule rushes to correct the problem, and does so by finding an unsuspecting victim.Now, we might need to brush off what you remember from high school science. A molecule is an tiny entity made solely of smaller particles, called atoms. Atoms are made of a center core, the nucleus, home to relatively large particles called protons and neutrons. These (and other small particles) that make up the nucleus are surrounded by smaller electrons spinning some distance away in orbit. There is peace in an atom in its natural state. The spinning electrons are arranged in orbits that create, stability—electromagnetic harmony with each other and with the protons in the core.
An even number of electrons is important because most electrons buddy-up, become "paired." Instability foments as one electron is shed from the outer shell of an atom. What causes the atom to shed an electron is topic of another discussion. For now it is important to know that the odd number of electrons creates instability.Paired electrons have a relationship in the atom. Each spins on its respective axis in the opposite direction of the other (like two Earths spinning in opposite—east to west, west to east—directions) while orbiting the nucleus in opposite directions (two Earths orbiting in opposite directions—clockwise/counter-clockwise—around the sun.)
Remember, molecules are made of atoms. The molecule that has paired electrons in all its atoms is a stable molecule. When an electron is shed in one atom, the unpaired electron that remains in the atom creates destabilization in the whole molecule.
The newly created free radical molecule sets out immediately to balance the instability in the atom containing the unpaired electron. It does so by extraction, that is, "attacking" and "stealing" (through polar attraction) an electron from an unsuspecting neighbor molecule.
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RADICAL DAMAGE
Unstable free radical molecules circulate throughout the body stealing electrons to make themselves stable again. Once the molecule is balanced it is no longer a free radical. The victim molecule has become unstable, and therefore, transformed into a free radical. A chain reaction begins, multiple scavenging of electrons taking place in split seconds. On the molecular scale, this can go on for years without the human host knowing what damage has been done. Free radical damage shows up anywhere in the body—wherever cells are located, that is where damage can occur.
Free radical damage continues until something intervenes to stop the scavenging chain reaction.The destructive nature of free radicals has become central in explaining the causes of numerous illnesses and disease states. We now know they are the source of damage to many cellular structures, including DNA and RNA.
Other research points to free radical participation in a number of negative health conditions and outcomes:
Cancer - Many forms are thought to be the result of reactions between free radicals and DNA, resulting in mutations that can adversely affect the cell cycle and potentially lead to malignancy.
Aging - Some of the symptoms of aging, such as atherosclerosis, are attributed to free-radical induced oxidation of many chemicals making up the body.
Liver disease - Free radicals contribute to alcohol-induced liver damage, perhaps more than alcohol itself.
Lung disease - Radicals in cigarette smoke have been implicated in the inactivation of alpha 1-antitrypsin in the lung, thus promoting the development of emphysema.
Others - Free radicals may also be involved in Parkinson's disease, senile and drug-induced deafness, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's. And in the case of hemochromatosis - a disease characterized by diabetes and weakness, along with several other symptoms including movement disorder, psychosis, melanin abnormalities, deafness, and arthritis-- scientists attribute the whole list as the results of free radical damage.
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ALIAS: ROS, OXIDATION
ROSFree radicals come in several forms, but the free radicals of which medical science is most concerned are the oxygen-derived radicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Most ROS come from sources within the body, usually as by-products of normal and essential metabolic reactions (chemical changes that create energy and other by-products.)
Other ROS come from sources outside the body: exposures to cigarette smoke, asbestos, ionizing radiation, environmental pollutants (automobile emissions, airborne industrial toxins);, excessive consumption of alcohol; infections from bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Examples of ROS-type free radicals are hydroxyl radical, super oxide, peroxynitrite, lipid peroxy radical, singlet oxygen, hypochlorous acid, and hydrogen peroxide.OXIDATION
If you think about it, oxygen presents an amazing paradox in the human body. It is essential for life, but few elements are more destructive in the context of ROS, free radicals derived from sources containing oxygen.In fact, a complete discussion of ROS would reveal that oxygen is the basis for development of most free radicals.That is why all free radicals are called oxidants. Further, the extraction of electrons from another molecule is called oxidation. In a doctor's office you might hear the synonymous terms oxidative damage or oxidative stress to indicate free radical damage.
To recap , the problem of oxidative damage, or oxidative stress, finds its beginning as oxidants engage in the chain-reaction activity of oxidation (which gives cause for the term anti-oxidant.)_________________________________________________________________
OXIDATIVE STRESS
Oxidative stress is a term used to describe the steady negative impact of oxidation on the health of cells, tissues, or organs. Oxidative stress is caused by ROS (reactive oxygen species, oxygen-derived free radicals). Now that we have a handle on the scientific terms, in practical terms, and in order to effect preventative measures, we need to know how oxidative stress gets started in the first place.
It has been observed and confirmed through research that, when the body becomes burdened from environmental toxicity and the quality of our food supply becomes poor, free radicals overwhelm the body's systems. The oxidants' activities lead to massive oxidative stress and disease. The mere presence of the stress and disease doesn't place the body in peril. Natural defenses can keep the damage in check. The problem lies in the fact that damage escalates if not kept in check, affecting a specific molecule or an entire organ, eventually compromising the health of the whole human organism.
Chain reaction oxidation and oxidative stress can overcome an organism before repair is possible. Death of a single living cell can result. As enough cells die, the human finally begins to see or feel the results in the form of mild symptoms, escalated into an illness, or a full disease state. If the organism damage is not stopped it eventually causes irreparable harm and might develop into cancerous tissue.
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COMBATING FREE RADICALS
There are practical, life-altering ways to reduce the damage of oxidation. We can reduce lifestyle and environmental burdens on our bodies immediately:
- Quit smoking
- Reduce alcohol consumption to a moderate level
- Surround yourself with natural products, like wood, brick and stone, natural oils and cleansers for household chores (less carpet, plastics, harsh chemical cleansers and disinfectants).
- Avoid areas of high environmental pollution whenever possible (industrial areas, heavy vehicular traffic).
- Reduce stress in all of its forms. Examine the roots of stress in your life and make changes.
- Physical and aroma therapies are available that can relax the body and induce the release of hormones and enzymes that keep you stress-free.
- Psychological stress can be relieved through conversation with personal friends or the help of a professional family and relationship counselor.
- Spiritual therapies are found in books, music, and in the spiritual embrace of faithful believers.
- Improve the quality of the foods you eat. Pay attention to the negative aspects of what you ingest (don't eat in a cloud of denial), then discipline yourself to replace bad eating habits with good ones.
Above all, increase the intake of antioxidants. For that discussion, we'll need the another section.
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ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants to the rescue! Armed with understanding about the damage taking place in your body, you can begin to understand and appreciate the role of antioxidant molecules.
And,if you get the picture of what you are doing in your daily routine to feed and promote the slow, undeniable damage to your health, you begin to see the importance of making tough lifestyle changes. One of your goals is to reduce the proliferation of free-radical oxidants, and adopt habits that support an arsenal of antioxidants in your system.An antioxidant is a nutrient or chemical molecule that neutralizes a free radical, leaving the free radical without cause to do further damage. Antioxidants come in the form of vitamins, minerals, natural hormones and other substances.
Antioxidants are also called free radical scavengers. As the name implies, these molecules fight diligently "against oxidation."
Behaviorally, antioxidants are as unique as free radicals, but they function as a natural defense against the free radical and stop the havoc attributed to oxidation.
They do their daring deed by facing the free radical head-on in a fierce, molecular battle.
As the free radical approaches a victim-molecule, the free radical steals an electron from the victim to stabilize the destabilized attacking free radical. Normally, the victim becomes destabilized and begins its search for a new victim from which it will steal and replace its missing electron. But, when the oxidant approaches and snatches an electron from an antioxidant molecule, the antioxidant molecule remains stable instead of becoming destabilized. No new free radical is created. One small part of the chain reaction is stopped.
By intercepting individual free radicals one-at-a-time, sufficient amounts of individual antioxidants can prevent whole bands of free radicals from doing the kind of damage to our bodies that eventually do us in.That is why it is important to maintain high levels of antioxidants.
But, where do we find the antioxidants in sufficient amounts to keep us from suffering long-term oxidative damage? Let's ask mom.
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_________________________________________________________________MOM WAS RIGHT
Antioxidants come in several forms that we are not aware of, other forms that we observe in our daily lives. Some antioxidants are produced naturally in our bodies, including key enzymes. Did you know saliva has high antioxidant properties?
The human organism cannot maintain sufficient antioxidants to defend against all free radical invasions of our modern world, so we must add them. Familiar to us are vitamins A, C, E and some of the B vitamins, beta-carotene, selenium. There are other forms most of us might not be familiar with: SOD, cyanadins, glutathione, and lipoic acid. The benefits of antioxidants can be greatly enhanced with supplements that either have high antioxidant capacity or serve as a stimulating agent to help the body in the production of its own antioxidants .Vitamins C and E supplement are very effective in this regard.
But mom had a simpler way to get us to acquire significant quantities of antioxidants (and she probably didn't even know she was doing it in quite these terms.) Eat your vegetables!
The best way to get the full benefit of antioxidants is to ingest them in the foods we eat. The delivery of antioxidants in foods is important because food contains other nutrients that facilitate the antioxidants' journey from the mouth all the way into our cells, where it does the most good.
Of our common foods, antioxidants are most highly concentrated in vegetables and fruits. Color is a key. The dark green and leafy vegetables such as kale, cabbage, collard greens, dandelion, broccoli, and spinach are high in antioxidants; spirulina, Icelandic kelp, Nova Scotia dulce, and chloerella are each especially high in antioxidants. Any food with especially rich coloration has, more than likely, some antioxidant benefit: various colored peppers, red cabbage, carrots, and certain squashes. Fresh food is good for us in a number of ways. Good, fresh, vegetables and fruits furnish vitamins, minerals, fiber, and helps detoxify the body.
As mentioned above, what you cannot get as fresh produce is often available in capsule form as a supplement, but get only the "whole food" variety (whole ground, dried foods). Other types of supplements might contain derived varieties of nutrients with antioxidant properties, but the process of extracting the nutrient from its original host plant can lead to ineffective assimilation into the body— the non-whole food form of a nutrient gets ingested, only to have a significant portion of the item evacuated in normal body waste. We can be thankful that fighting free radicals is no more difficult than eating healthy foods, and especially thankful there are numerous foods to choose from that contain antioxidants.
This is why knowledgeable health practitioners, including our mothers, have consistently advised us to eat five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Not that you needed a reason to obey your mom, but now you know.
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_________________________________________________________________JOIN THE ANTIOXIDANT BATTLE
The amount of antioxidants you need in your diet depends on individual factors we have already discussed: genetic predisposition, current health conditions, habits (smoking, dietary, stress, etc.), and environmental factors (exposure to UV-radiation, ionizing radiation, pollution, etc.)
Most important is to have a battle plan that gives you impetus to reduce the intake of oxidizing agents, increase the intake of antioxidant agents: buy and eat the right foods, cut out bad habits, and structure your life in anticipation of a healthful future.
HERE' HOW
- Cleanup inside and out.
— Get rid of killer habits (especially smoking and excessive alcohol consumption)
— Adopt habits that clean up the conditions you live in (use fewer chemicals, use natural cleaners)
— Be attentive to skin and lung exposure (pollutants in traffic, at work, and around the house).- Refrain from a diet filled with body stressing foods
(Read an important article on pH BALANCE)
- Augment your health-filled efforts with antioxidants
— Eat antioxidant-laden foods
— Take a high-quality daily vitamin and mineral supplement.If you need more help and information, or would like an in-depth consultation about your antioxidant intake, contact Dr. Hopkins' office for an appointment. CONTACT
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