Oxi Stress

The science of oxidative stress is taking the medical field by storm and is now the most researched topic in medicine today. Why? Because study after study shows that the "root" cause to well over 70 chronic degenerative diseases and premature aging is oxidative stress. Just as apples turn brown, butter turns rancid and iron rusts, so we too are literally rusting from the inside out everyday. But there is a way to fight back.

Oxidative stress is the damage caused to cells when there is a build up of free radicals within the body due to normal metabolic processes. Just as pile of wood burns up and produces smoke, or oxidation, so your body burns oxygen rich fuel and releases billions of free radicals in the process. Free radicals are an unstable electrically charged atom or molecule that has only one quest, it is looking to "balance" itself out by finding a mate. Because it has an odd number of electrons, it 'must' seek to find a 'mate' which is to be found inside the healthy cells of your body. When a free radical begins this quest, it literally begins slamming into the membrane walls of healthy cells to balance. These free radicals will rapidly react to other molecules by trying to 'steal' an electron from another molecule that is more willing to give one up and it is now satisfied. however, the victim molecule is now unbalanced an has itself become a free radical. This sets off an uncontrolled chain reaction within the body that causes oxidative damage at the cellular level. Imagine billions of your cells taking 10,0000 oxidative hits per day as suggested Dr. Ames, a leading researcher in oxidative stress.

This reaction is what causes cellular damage when free radicals break into the healthy cell membranes. You can get a bent chromosome which can generate a forbidden clone of cells. A forbidden clone of cells is what causes cancer. If this oxidation is taking place in your skin, the elastic fibers begin to break down from the damage and you get wrinkles. If the oxidation occurs in the joints, pot marking of the cartilage causes arthritis. It is this oxidative damage to the cell wall membranes that are particularly susceptible to free radicals. Cell membranes are made up of unsaturated lipids and can breakdown and harden under oxidative stress. It then becomes impossible for the cell to maintain its cellular activities of getting nutrients and signals from other cells to perform operative functions within the body. The cell, like a house needs to take in nutrients and get rid of waste by products while communicating bio-chemically with other cells. Extensive damage accumulates over time causing a disruption in cellular function leading to cell death and aging and disease.

Oxidative stress can also be increased by environmental and lifestyle factors such as sun radiation, air pollution, smoking, dehydration, alcohol, lack of exercise, stress and poor nutrition.

To reduce this pathway to aging, cancer and disease antioxidants can be introduced in the body in various ways such as serums for skin care, supplements and eating right. By far the most researched and most accepted method of combating oxidative stress is eating 7 to 11 servings a day of raw fruits and vegetables.

For many years the National Institute of Health, the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and every other national health association has emphasized the importance of eating raw fruits and vegetables every day. Antioxidants rich foods protect against damage to cells caused by free radicals.

What is important to note however is that in order to receive the active nutrients within the foods, they must be eaten raw. What is often not discussed is that heat destroys the enzymes, fibers and other active nutrients within the raw foods. hence the catch 22. How many people really eat 7 to 11 servings a day, let alone raw servings?

The real question is whether or not you feel you are getting enough antioxidants in your diet and if not, should I be taking supplements? As Dr. Ray Strand, M.D. writes,

"Living a healthy life becomes a matter of balance. You must have enough antioxidants available to readily neutralize the number of free radicals your body produces. If you don't, "oxidative stress" will occur. When this oxidative stress is allowed to persist over a prolonged period of time, you will most likely develop a serious chronic degenerative disease.

Since balance is the key, we need to look closely at the individual players that are at war within. The number of free radicals you produce each and every day is never the same. All the pollutants in our air, food, and water dramatically increase the number of free radicals we produce. Enormous stress, excessive exercise, cigarette smoke, sunlight, radiation, and every drug prescribed greatly increase the number of free radicals produced in the body. In fact, there has never been a generation on this planet subjected to more oxidative stress than this present one. We are literally under attack from our polluted environment, stressful lifestyles, and over-medicated society."

Below are the health supplements and products we have found in our research of cellular health, anti aging and skin care that offer high quality and value.