Within our body, there is a war raging. Every time we breathe in oxygen, the body uses it to create energy to provide fuel for cellular functions, and free radicals are formed.
These free radicals are very unstable and set off chain of reactions leading to damages to the cell structures; cell wall, membrane and DNA.
This process of free radicals damaging the cell is called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the underlying cause of all the chronic degenerative disease as well as aging. While it occurs inside the body, one way you can observe it outside of the body by the wrinkling of your grandmother’s skin compared to a newborn baby.
Free radicals must be quickly neutralized by antioxidants. As long as there is sufficient level of antioxidants available for the amount of free radicals produced, no oxidative stress and damage is done to our body.
But if the free radicals exceed the antioxidant level, oxidative stress occurs, which over a prolong period of time, chronic degenerative disease will develop. Then the war within is lost.
The body creates some of its own antioxidants. The rest must be obtained from food such as a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables or nutritional supplements. Some antioxidants work in synergy with one another. Some have the ability to regenerate other antioxidants so they can neutralize more free radicals.
Antioxidants need the availability of other nutrients to function. They are minerals such as Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium. Co-factors such as folic acid, vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B6 and B12)
Here are the key antioxidants required in our body:
- Vitamins – Vitamin A, C, E and beta-carotene
- Co-enzyme Q10
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
- Bioflavonoid
All these antioxidants act on different parts of the body to neutralize free radicals:
- Vitamin C being water-soluble protects the blood and plasma
- Vitamin E being fat soluble protect the cell membrane
- Glutathione is present within the cell
- Alpha Lipoic Acid protects the cell membrane and plasma
- Vitamin C and Alpha Lipoic Acid combines to form Vitamin E and Glutathione
To win the war within, the goal is to have more than enough antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. This can only happen if we have a balance of antioxidants available in our body at all times.
Therefore, get enough antioxidants from fruits and vegetables as well as nutritional supplements to fight the war within.
Are you taking enough antioxidants to fight the war within? Share with me what you are taking to defend your body in the comment box below.
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