Provie Chelation

Antioxidants

What do antioxidants do?

Have you ever seen an old muffler that was rusted through and through and was now making a lot of noise? Or an old metal pipe that was so rusted that it is now leaking? They have gone through the process of oxidation. Our bodies are subject to this process, as well. We are indeed, metaphorically, rusting. The reason they are called antioxidants is because they stop the oxidation process – they stop the rusting. They can supply the missing component the free radical is looking for without becoming a free radical.

More technically–An antioxidant is a molecule that is able to slow or prevent the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers part of one molecule to another molecule called an oxidizing agent. These reactions can produce free radicals (very energetic atoms or molecules that are actively seeking to take away from another molecule one of its electrons). This process can start chain reactions that damage cells and cell components. Antioxidants halt these chain reactions by eliminating one or more of the steps necessary to produce free radicals and shut down other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves.

Although these reactions are critical for life, they can also be damaging; plants as well as animals maintain systems of different types of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E, glutathione, as well as tiny molecules which help reactions to occur (enzymes). Low levels of antioxidants may damage or kill cells.

Antioxidants assist the liver and kidneys when one is detoxifying, and also curtail free radical activity (free radicals are simply atoms or molecules that are missing an electron – this makes them very reactive and eager to find another electron, sometimes from cells). Free radical cellular damage underlies most degenerative diseases and heavy metal toxins possess the capability of increasing the production of free radicals within the body dramatically. Degenerative diseases are those diseases where affected cells, tissues or organs lose their ability to function properly over a period of time. Poor diets, lack of exercise, normal wear and tear on the body, all contribute to theses conditions. Osteoarthritis, cancer, heart disease and diabetes are but a few examples. In fact, most of the damage caused by heavy metals stems from the production of free radicals. With a heavy, toxic burden, or antioxidant deficiencies, uncontrolled free radical production can occur. Antioxidants are needed to neutralize free radical production and minimize the effects of these harmful substances. Some examples of antioxidants include; resveratrol (from grape seeds), OPC, provitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and Selenium, or herbs that contain antioxidants - such as green tea and jiaogulan.

Also, there are compounds which contribute to antioxidant defense by chelating transition metals and preventing them from proliferating free radicals in the cell.

Free Radicals

What are Free Radicals?

Free Radicals – Small chemical particles in the body that are very reactive.

To help understand this concept of free radicals, it might be of value to have an idea of magnitude or scale. A meter, of course, is a measure of length and is about 39 inches. When we talk about free radicals we have to get into a measure of length called nano-meters. That is one billionth of a meter. Then we have to talk about angstroms. There are 10 angstroms to a nano-meter. Let’s take the familiar H2O. The distance from the center of the hydrogen atom to the center of the oxygen atom is less than 1 angstrom (.965 angstroms). These are very small distances, indeed. However, the most important thing to understand about free radicals is that they are very aggressive in seeking out a missing a component which would make them stable. Because of their reactivity (and instability), in sufficient numbers, free radicals can participate in unwanted reactions resulting in cell damage.

Free radicals are involved in aging, as well as numerous degenerative illnesses.

Many forms of cancer are thought to be the result of reactions between free radicals and DNA, resulting in changes that can adversely affect the cells and potentially lead to malignancy. Some of the symptoms of aging such as atherosclerosis are also attributed to free-radical induced oxidation of many of the chemicals making up the body. In addition, free radicals contribute to alcohol - induced liver damage, perhaps more than alcohol itself. Radicals in cigarette smoke have been implicated in the process which promotes the development of emphysema. Because free radicals are necessary for life, the body has a number of mechanisms to minimize free radical damage and to repair damage which does occur.