Where Do Free Radicals Come From?
Have you heard of the Free Radical Theory of Aging? It’s actually one of the most accepted theories out there right now that explains the process of cellular and system degeneration. what it reveolves around is how your body acquires and produces unstable molecules called free radicals which, when left unchecked can cause damage to your body at the cellular level. As these damaged cells accumulate, the systems that they are a part of start to break down.
The solution for free radicals are antioxidants which are molecules that are capable of donating an election without either the need – or the strength- to steal them from other molecules. They break the chain reaction, defending our cells against this source of damage and this cause of aging.
Our bodies are machines and like other machines, the breakdowns start small (at the level of our cells) and build up until systems – like our immune system or respiratory system or nervous system – can no longer function properly with so many little bits of them clogged with cellular garbage and just not working properly.
But where do these damaged molecules – these free radicals come from? Two places actually. We pick them up from the outside world through sources like air pollution, drugs, toxins like cigarette smoke and pesticides. We also make them ourselves, because the necessary chemical processes that run our bodies porduce by-products primarily as oxyradicals- free radicals.
There are four different ways that our bodies create free radicals – oxidants.
Normal Metabolism – I’ll keep the long scientific words out of this explanation because they’re just too hard to spell. But suffice to say that our body, in the process of creating energy uses oxygen as fuel and converts it to water, but in the process the oxygen molecule is not completely and cleanly utilized. There are by products- our own version of nuclear waste- So that’s one – huge source of free radicals.
Our own white blood cells use oxidants to combat viruses and parasites and bacteria and chronic infections will expose our tissues to free radicals. Some processes that break down fatty acids and other molecules can result in hydrogen peroxide escaping from the antioxidants that should have broken it down, and damaging other cells.
These processes are always going on in our body and happening in millions of cells. It’s no small wonder that antioxidant supplements have become so popular and no small miracle that our body also produces some superb antioxidants like glutathione and CoEnzymeQ10 to help us deal with them.
In an effort to combat the external sources of oxidants – like drugs, pesticides, cigarette smoke and other foreign and toxic chemicals our bodies creates an exzyme called Cytochrome P450. However, in calling up this necessary enzyme, we create a by-product, free radicals. The toxins damage us on their own, and we damage ourselves to fight them. It ages us.
In the battle to support your health, comfort and longevity, antioxidants are your bodies number one defense against the damage caused by free radicals. You can support your good health by eating antioxidant rich foods, supplementing with Vitamins C, E and C0Q10 and providing your body with the necessary substances to suppport the production of Glutathione- which is argued by many to be the most important of all the antioxidants. Indeed, it’s well recognized as the Master Antioxidant.
Anna Ruth consults with Whole Earth Health which markets a number of ourstanding natural health products, including MAXGXL, an L-glutathione precursor. Through the increased production of glutathione – a master antioxidant and anti inflammatory, this products has helped to provide natural pain relief to many people suffering from a variety of conditions.