We hope that everyone had a nice summer and that you improved your health in some ways. This e-newsletter is about anti-oxidants, crucial nutritional elements necessary for optimal health.
| The ability to utilize oxygen has provided humans with the benefit of metabolizing fats, proteins and carbs for energy; however, it does not come without cost. Oxygen is a highly reactive atom that is capable of becoming part of potentially damaging molecules commonly called “free radicals”. Free radicals are capable of attacking the healthy cells of the body causing them to lose their structure and function. | This damage caused by free radicals appears to be a major contributor to aging, degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, cataracts, cancer, immune system decline, brain dysfunction, pulmonary dysfunction, arthritis and inflammatory diseases, diabetes, renal disease, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and colitis, Parkinson’s, drug reactions, skin lesions and trauma. These conditions are associated with oxidative damage and this is just a partial list. |
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| Free radicals are electrically charged molecules, i.e., they have an unpaired electron, which causes them to seek out and capture electrons form other substances in order to neutralize themselves. Although the initial attack causes the free radical to become neutralized, another free radical is formed in the process, causing a chain reaction to occur. This goes on until the free radicals are finally deactivated causing damage throughout our bodies. Antioxidants are capable of stabilizing, or deactivating, free radicals before they attack cells and are absolutely essential for maintaining optimum cellular health and well-being. | The best sources of antioxidants are from the fruits and vegetables that we all should be consuming. It has been my experience that most of us do not eat adequate amounts of these foods. Along with poor air quality, higher levels of pollutants in the food, refined foods, altered and bad fats, alcohol, caffeine, poor digestion and ‘leaky gut’ problems, toxic chemicals in the foods and water, infections, exercise, smoking, drugs of any kind, we are all overexposed to an environment that requires high levels of antioxidants to maintain our health. On top of this, there are lower nutrient levels in our foods plus we have unprecedented levels of stress in our society, all of which call for the best antioxidant protection we can get. |
| The most common antioxidants are vitamin C, Co-Q 10, vitamin E (mixed tocopherols are the best), selenium, zinc, manganese, copper, flavonoids, carotenoids, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, ferritin, lactoferrin, albumin, numerous phytonutrients such as proanthocyanidin, catechins and certain organic acids. There are many more and are a part of a natural plant based diet. | The best way to defend the body against free radical attacks to consume a natural, wholesome, varied and balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and comprehensive high quality, ratio-balanced antioxidant supplement. Ask us about Oxygenics, a ratio-balanced antioxidant supplement that we believe is the best one available. |
October is SPINAL HEALTH MONTH, so make sure that you get in for your regular tune-ups!! See you soon. Best wishes for increased health from all of us at the Chiropractic Healing Center.
