What is Free Radical Oxidative Stress and how is it affecting your body?
Oxidation happens in our body when we take the oxygen we breath and pass that oxygen to our cells to produce energy. Free radicals are also produced from this process. Free radicals are normal and necessary to some degree as they can stimulate repair to our cells. But they can cause damage to our cells when there are too many free radicals floating around.
The problem arises when the free radicals produced overwhelms the repair process and “oxidative stress” develops.
Oxidation happens in our body from the following issues:
- When our immune system is fighting off bacteria and creating inflammation.
- When our cells use glucose to make energy.
- When our bodies need to detoxify from cigarette smoke, pollutants, pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
- When we are under stress both physically and emotionally.
So oxidative stress happens when the number of free radicals is greater than the number of antioxidants in our body. Then the oxidation damages our cells and our DNA or genes.
What systems in your body can be affected negatively by “Oxidative Stress” and what is the risk to your health?
BRAIN
Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s
MS
ALS, OCD, ADHD
Autism
Migraine
Insomnia
Depression
Dementia
Bi-Polar Disorder
Cancer
HEART
Heart Attack
Stroke
High Blood Pressure
Atherosclerosis
Angina
KIDNEY
Chronic Kidney Disease
Renal Nephritis
SKIN
Wrinkles
Acne
Eczema
Psoriasis
Dermatitis
Cancer
MULTI-ORGAN
Diabetes
Chronic Fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Lyme Disease
EYES
Macular Degeneration
Retinal Degeneration
Cataracts
LUNG
Asthma
COPD
Allergies
Chronic Bronchitis
Cancer
BLOOD VESSELS
Atherosclerosis
Hypertension
Varicose veins
High Cholesterol
High Triglycerides
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Chronic Inflammation
Auto-Immune Disorders
HIV
Herpes
Crohns’s
Hepatitis
Colds/Flu
Lupus
Cancer
JOINTS
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteo-Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Consequently, the issues above are pretty serious, so you don’t want to wait until the oxidative stress manifests in this way. Here are some signs your body might be in OS.
- Chronic infections
- Decreased eye sight
- Wrinkles
- Gray hair
- Memory loss
- Constant fatigue
- Joint or muscle pain
What are some of the things you can do to prevent oxidative stress in your body?
- Reduce the stress in your life. (I’m going to be talking further on the benefits of neuroplasticity).
- Remove or cut back greatly processed foods from your diet.
- Try to remove sugar from your diet.
- Avoid putting toxins in your body and on your body.
- Strengthen your immune system.
- Eat foods high in antioxidants (asparagus, peaches, walnuts, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, onions, broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage.). These foods will help produce glutathione which lowers your oxidative stress.
- Take supplements (NAC, Glycine, Glutamine, Methylfolate, B12, Selenium Alpha lipoic acid, Vitamins E & C, Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Milk Thistle).
- Take herbs high in antioxidants (Green Tea, Resveratrol, Curcumin, Quercetin).
Lastly, don’t wait until your body responds in an extremely negative way. If you are high on the stress scale, make it your mission and priority to lower your levels of stress. Your body cannot live in that chronic state of fight or flight. That state is only meant for your protection periodically. If you are constantly in that state, you could develop one of the above diseases in your body.
I hope you found this information helpful, and you can begin making some lifestyle changes to reduce the stress in your life or the ways you are creating an abundant amount of Free Radicals.
Your Spiritual Life & Health Coach … believing in you!