Anti Oxidants
Anti-oxidants have recently become a buzzword in nutrition and cancer circles. There are a lot of news stories and nutritional supplement advertisements touting anti-oxidants as "magic bullets" that will prevent the occurrence and/or spread of oral and other kinds of cancer. In truth, of course, there is no "magic bullet" to prevent cancer — but there IS a growing body of research that shows that anti-oxidants actually provide a kind of defense against this disease. To understand how, it is important to first examine another set of compounds known as free radicals. 2
Denham Harman of the Donner Laboratory of Medical Physics at the University of California at Berkeley first proposed the theory of free radicals as a primary cause of aging while working at the laboratory as a research associate. He published scientific papers in the 1950�s and 60�s which soon attracted some attention. The Free Radical Theory is simply that free radical reactions are involved in aging. There are two major aspects to the theory; one is that you can decrease the rate of free radical reaction by decreasing the rate of initiation of the chemical reaction; and/or two, you can slow the decrease in the free radical propagation phase using anti-oxidants and thereby potentially increase human lifespan. 17
Anti-oxidant protection: There is increasing evidence that the use of anti-oxidants can prevent oxidative damage in the body. Multiple studies demonstrate an increase in life-span of experimental animals fed anti-oxidants, at times 22% longer, along with improvement in physical and cognitive measures. It is also well established that reduced serum levels of anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium may correlate with an increased incidence of cancer, vascular disease and other conditions of aging. In general, it is thought that anti-oxidant supplementation can slow the aging process by 15 to 20 percent. 46
Types of anti-oxidants: There are numerous anti-oxidants. Some of the better known include beta-carotene, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, glutathione, co-enzyme Q10, and Ginkgo Biloba. Some anti-oxidants exist in the water phase of the body such as vitamin C and B6, whereas others are lipid soluble, such as beta carotene, vitamin E and co-enzyme Q10, protecting cell membranes and lipid molecules containing cholesterol An essential anti-oxidant in the body is superoxide dismutase(SOD), which converts the oxygen radical called superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. SOD is not absorbed orally, but levels in the body can be increased by supplementing with the nutrients required for its production, copper, manganese and zinc. 46
Fortunately, there are several types of molecules called anti-oxidants which will react with free radicals and absorb the spare electron, thus stopping the propagation and formation of new free radical molecules. The body produces several different types of these anti-oxidants (e.g. In other words, some types of anti-oxidants are specific to certain types of free radicals. Additionally, the location where the body stores these absorbed anti-oxidants is key. 17
So where do anti-oxidants come in? Anti-oxidants fight free radicals. As a cancer preventative, anti-oxidants appear to neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, thus making a free radical compound stable and ending the electron-"stealing" chain-reaction so dangerous to cells and DNA. The anti-oxidant compounds are able to do this because they themselves don’t become free radicals in the process — they appear to be stable with or without their donated electrons. 2
Every person has free radicals in their system; there is really no way around them. But, factors that lie outside the body - such as pesticides, tobacco smoke, gasoline fumes, and air pollution - can create free radicals as well. This is where anti-oxidants become particularly important. 43
It is important to note, however, that all anti-oxidants do not do the same job or work in the same manner. For example, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium and other trace minerals are really only anti-oxidants when they combine with bodily enzymes to try to eliminate free radicals. Vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene seem to work on their own or in conjunction with each other. Vitamin C, for instance can work in partnership with vitamin E, cleaning free radical substances from vitamin E molecules so those molecules can continue to attack other free radicals. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A, a powerful anti-oxidant, when there is a shortage of vitamin A in the body. Lycopene, found in many fruits and vegetables, appears to assist the male prostate, although it also has a positive anti-oxidant effect body wide as well. 2
Luckily, anti-oxidants are leading the free radical counter movement. They lead it by donating their electrons and stopping free radicals from needing to attack. When the anti-oxidant donates an electron, they don’t become free radicals simply because they have the ability to remain stable in a variety of states. 43
In summary, taking just one type of anti-oxidant cannot protect the entire body from the large variety of free radical molecules commonly encountered by the body. Research has shown that consuming a variety of anti-oxidants is the best defence against the ravages of aging caused by free radicals. 17
Created by normal body functions, free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and cell DNA. Doctors know from autopsy evidence that brain cells are particularly vulnerable. Researchers have tested the effect of a variety of so-called antioxidants–which neutralize free radicals–with mixed results. 48
Taking high single doses of some anti-oxidants may actually pose health problems instead of preventing them. In test-tube studies, for example, anti-oxidant vitamins prevent some types of cancer cells from multiplying. However, in two long-term studies, large doses of beta carotene increased the risk of lung cancer among smokers, even though eating more fruit and vegetables decreases the risk. 31
Free radicals can damage cells, DNA, genetic material and other body structures. They are also called oxidants because they operate through the process of oxidation. Current nutrition thinking is that free radicals lead to tissue injury that can lead to diseases such as cancers and heart diseases. They may also contribute to the aging process and early senility. 9
Studies often contradict themselves because they are done on different standards. For example the first test which was done with lab rats show that a lot of vitamin E is alright for the human body. In fact even a large amount is healthy. There are a couple of problems with this test. First, the tests were not done on human bodies. Secondly, how much is a large amounts. And third, the time period of the study was not long enough. Cancer which takes years to form can not be measured in a simple test. 7
Oxidants, or "free radicals" have been linked to cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, atherosclerosis, cataracts, aging, stroke, asthma, pancreatitis, Parkinson’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease, to name a few. Free radicals, or oxidants, are unstable molecules. They were described at a recent UCLA conference on aging as "grenades exploding inside normal cells." 35
The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.
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