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Antioxidant
Nutrition:
Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals
"The
absence of disease symptoms does not necessarily indicate
the presence of health. Health is a measure of cell,
organ and system function throughout our body; and the
constant and complex interplay of all our wonderful
bio-chemical interactions. Every function inside the
human body depends upon the proper introduction, digestion
and distribution of essential micro-nutrients. Basic
functions can be restored and damaged tissues can be
regenerated with the right nutritional support"
Jeffrey
Bland, Ph.D. Toxic Overload
(paraphrased from the book Optimal Digestion ch.11)
Oxidative
Stress, Oxidants and Free Radicals
Not
too many years ago, we heard all about stress. Today
we hear the term "oxidative stress". Let's
use a simple example to clarify some term, so we can
get to the nutritional solutions.
Oxygen
is the common denominator in the negatively charged
and always destructive oxygen free radicals, which are
commonly referred to as free radicals. Causing
oxidative stress. Of course oxygen is an essential nutrient.
Deprive the body of oxygen for only a few minuets and
death will surely occur. However think of a pile of
burning smouldering leaves. Lots of thick smoke, no
visible flame, not much heat. Left alone what little
fire remains could easily go out in a few minuets. But
increase the flow of oxygen to the smouldering coals
at the bottom of the leaf pile and it will ignite as
if gasoline had been added to the mix, it may burn ten
times faster and hotter. Why? Oxygen.
Oxygen is an essential ingredient in almost every form
of energy production inside the human body. We require
oxygen for metabolism and for every aerobic process
that takes place in every cell in our body. Inside the
mitochondria of every cell, oxygen provides the catalyst
for the fuel for all the other activities of the body:
digestion, cellular repair, immune function, nervous
system responses, reproduction, even the contraction
of our muscles and much more.
However,
like all living things Oxygen has its dark side. Oxygen
causes things to activate, energize, metabolize, burn….
And when this happens without obstruction or protection,
things will burn up completely and disappear. If this
happens to the leaf pile mentioned before no problem.
If it happens to the cells of our body… Big Problem.
Oxygen's
ability to do this is called oxidation. It refers to
the tendency that things have towards dissipation, particularly
when a process of oxidation is released upon it or within
it without obstruction. Of course, oxygen by itself
doesn't do anything. In order for oxidation to take
place other biochemical factors and agents must be present.
These various nutritional factors co-factors and agents
are called antioxidants. Antioxidants allow for
a balanced amount of burning to take place inside the
cells. Antioxidants allow for a normal and healthy amount
of energy production. So, antioxidants serve two purposes:
- To
provide the nutrients to mix with oxygen to burn
- To
provide nutrients to protect the cell and to prevent
the burning from going to far.
Antioxidants
are the natural and organic dancing partners to the
normal, natural and healthy oxidant co-factors of metabolism.
So
a certain amount of oxidative stress is normal, as we
have just described.
Free Radicals
Then
of course, there is that other kind of oxidative stress
- the abnormal, insulting and destructive kind. Two
factors define the situation that we will hear more
and more described as "oxidative stress."
- The
presence of non-nutritious substances and unnatural
toxins outside the normal metabolic pathways. Such
as smog, tobacco, smoke, radiation, alcohol, pesticides,
anti-biotics and other medications, food colouring
and preservatives to name a few.
- The
absence of vital antioxidant nutrients.
When
this kind of situation exists, unnatural and insulting
oxidants without he obstructing and protecting influences
of various complementary antioxidants - an entirely
new category of destructive and potentially disease
causing change-agents appear on the scene: Free Radicals.
Free
radicals are highly charged but extremely unbalanced
molecules that have a very destabilizing and destructive
effect when they interact with our cells in the absence
of adequate essential antioxidant protection. The technical
bio-desciption states that free radical molecules are
destructive because they are missing an electron in
their structure and therefore seek stability by stealing
electrons from other stressed-out and unprotected cells.
This situation leads to two basic cellular vulnerabilities.
- The
protective outer layer of the cell can be damaged,
made brittle and less flexible. Gradually the cell
wall can be completely destroyed.
- Internally
(inside the cell) basic cellular structures and functions
can be impaired, enzymes and enzyme systems stop working
and the precious genetic material DNA, can be damaged
and altered.
Since
DNA represents the genetic blueprints of our bodies,
any alteration here can spell disaster everywhere else.
Without a coherent master plan for building, repair
and regeneration, every thing starts to back up and
break down. This can lead to a constant breaking down
of all internal biological processes and there by accelerate
the potential for heart disease, cancer, hardening of
the arteries, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease and
many other degenerative disease conditions.
The
Protective Effects of Antioxidants: Promoting Stamina
" A remarkable study of elite mountain climbers
in the Himalayas provides new insight into the protective
effects of antioxidants. During a climb on Annapurna,
one of the highest mountains in the world, professional
climbers were evaluated for levels of vitamin C and
E (both antioxidant vitamins) and the effects on their
performance.
The athletes were climbing at altitudes above 20,000
feet without supplemental oxygen, under extreme conditions.
Some climbers received vitamin E supplements of 200
milligrams twice a day for four weeks, while others
received a placebo of no nutritive value. The study
confirmed that antioxidants have an important protective
effect. Climbers who received supplemental vitamin E
were able to engage in strenuous physical activity for
longer periods of time without suffering fatigue. Why?
More stamina andd better resistance to oxidative stress
during the climb due to the inclusion of antioxidant
vitamins in their diet."
Jeffrey
Bland, Ph.D. Damage from free radicals
(from the book Optimal Digestion ch.12 page 123)
Which antioxidants should you take?
All
the products from Cell tech contain Super Blue Green
Algae a nutrient rich, enzyme rich, antioxidant rich
super food. With cell Tech you get natural, organic
and wild whole food ingredients on which we have depended
for thousands of years.
Unlike isolated vitamins and minerals, Cell Techs nutritionals
are designed by nature. The truth is your body will
recognize the difference with this kind of nutrition.
It will finally be able to absorb what it needs to function
at its best.
Two products in particular have been designed to provide
outstanding and very specific antioxidant protection.
Super
Sprouts and Algae provide antioxidant protection
in the blood and lymph by protecting the cell walls
from the outside.
Super
Q10 provides antioxidant protection inside the cells
of our body. The nutrient co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential
for energy production inside the cell of the human body.
If it is missing the cell remains vulnerable from attack
by free radicals. If the cell contains CoQ10, free radicals
have less of a chance of hurting you.
For more information
Go to www.celltech.com
Call the Neighbourhood Wellness Clinic
416-994-4106
To order directly from Cell Tech
Call
1-800-800-1300
I.D.# 1
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