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Antioxidants and How They Protect the Body
Originally published in Natural Living Magazine Volume 1 - Issue 4The world is a different place to live for the human body than it was one or two hundred years ago. We live longer now because of improvements in health care which has reduced the chance of death caused by acute infections. Fifty years ago, an infected wound, abscess, or pneumonia could be a death sentence. Now that we live longer, we are plagued by chronic degenerative diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and auto-immune disorders. Even with the current level of health care, these diseases are still on the increase. How can it be that with all our technology we have not been able to control these diseases? I feel that our faith in high technology may be part of the problem: by believing that the safety net of technology will save us, we neglect to take preventative measures earlier in life. Many scientific studies have shown how good health habits and proper nutrition can help to prevent these diseases if started early enough.
The world is also different because of the pollution in which we live and the high stress levels that we must face every day. These two problems cause an increase in the production of free radicals by the body. Free radicals are produced naturally by the body as we obtain energy from our food in a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation could be compared to a nuclear reactor; the reactor produces energy but it is only safe in a controlled environment. If the reactor malfunctions, then we have a Chernobyl. The production of free radicals in the body is similar; energy is produced safely in the presence of optimal antioxidants which are able to neutralize any excess production of free radicals. If your body is depleted of antioxidants, then you will have a mini Chernobyl inside you. The production of excess free radicals causes damage to the immune system, the nuclei of cells, blood vessel linkage, and cell membrane stability. This damage from free radicals can be seen as being directly related to the increase in cardiovascular disease, cancer, and auto-immune syndromes.
Vitamin A is a vitamin which has powerful antioxidant properties. It plays an essential role in the maintenance of the skin and the mucous membranes or internal linings of the body. The maintenance of these two tissues helps to prevent environmental toxins from entering the body. Vitamin A also stimulates the immune system in a number of ways, by producing an antitumoral effect, enhancing white blood cell function, and increasing the activity of antibodies.
Beta Carotene is a pigment that gives carrots, and yellow and red fruits and vegetables their colour. The body uses Beta Carotene to make Vitamin A and has been shown to be a very powerful antioxidant. Numerous medical studies have proven its anticancer effect in the liver, skin, and lungs. Beta Carotene appears to enhance thymus gland function, which increases interferon production and thus stimulates the immune system. Interferon is a powerful immune stimulator and plays a key role in helping the immune system to fight off viral infections.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, first came to fame by preventing scurvy in the British Navy. Before the discovery of Vitamin C, sailors on long voyages were highly susceptible to death due to scurvy because their diets contained less than 60mg of Vitamin C per day. The British Navy adopted a ration of lemons and limes for their crews and thus earned the nickname "Limeys." Today, Vitamin C is the most popular vitamin supplement in North America because it is a very powerful antioxidant.
Unfortunately, most people only consume the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for Vitamin C which is 60mg; this is only adequate if you want to prevent scurvy. To be used as an antioxidant, high prolonged doses are required. As Vitamin C is water-soluble, it does not have a toxic effect. If you take too much, then the worst thing that can happen is that you may have a mild case of diarrhea.
Vitamin C is important because it is used to neutralize free radicals produced by environmental toxins. Cigarette smokers are well know to be deficient in Vitamin C and should be taking 5000mg daily just to neutralize the effect of smoking. Vitamin C is also an important catalyst for other important physiological reactions that keep the body healthy. A catalyst helps to spee dup or helps to produce a physiological reaction.
Vitamin E is known as an anti-aging vitamin and is important in maintaining a healthy reproductive system, increased circulation, and the prevention of heart disease. Vitamin E's role as an antioxidant is to protect cell membranes from damage. As discussed previously, free radical damage cell membranes which leads to premature cell death. Selenium is a trace mineral which is a primary component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and works well with Vitamin E in preventing cell damage.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (or Lipoec) is used by the body to produce energy in the cell and as an antioxidant. In Germany, Alpha-Lipoic Acid is used as a prescribed drug for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and AIDS. Diabetes causes changes in the metabolism of the body whereby nerves become damaged which can lead to blindness and sensory loss in the extremities. Alpha-Lipoic Acid's antioxidant properties have been researched and shown to protect and heal the nerves from free radical damage. AIDS research has shown Alpha-Lipoic Acid to help the immune system and to prevent the replication of the AIDS virus. This is accomplished through the antioxidant property of reducing free radical concentrations in the blood.
Pycnogenol and Grapeseed Extract contain procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs) which come from the flavonoid family of plant extracts. This family of plants also contains Green Tea which has been in the news for its anti-carcinogenic properties. The antioxidant properties of PCOs are their ability to be free radical scavengers. Certain antioxidants work as scavengers to get any free radicals that get away.
You can see that we need extra protection from free radicals to protect our bodies from cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and auto-immune disorders. I feel that it is therefore prudent to take a potent antioxidant daily to reach our goal of becoming healthier.
By Dr. Daryl Robert Bourke, DC ND
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