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HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR ANTIOXIDANTS: THE KEY TO ANTI-AGING?
Dr John H Maher, ABAAHP
Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals
Hardening of the arteries, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer,
arthritis, macular degeneration even wrinkles are just a few
of "diseases of aging" that are caused in large part by what
scientist call "oxidative stress". Indeed, this "oxidative
theory of aging" is probably the most accepted theory of
aging. Not that aging is not multi-factorial, mind you,
but that oxidation is major factor in most "aging" and
is perhaps the most studied, generally agreed upon, and
proven factor related to the process we call aging.
Dr. Denham Harman, M.D. Ph.D., founder of this theory,
has dubbed it the "Free Radical Theory of Aging."
You will understand why he chose that name as you read
below.
Oxidation is a process of which we are all familiar.
When a nail rusts, that is the effect of oxygen on
iron. When a fire burns, that is a rapid, high energy
effect of oxygen on organic (carbon based) materials.
When you cut an apple and leave it stand exposed to oxygen,
it turns "brown" on the outside. That's oxidation.
There is a type of oxygen that "rusts", "burns" or,
"browns" the cells of our bodies, causing them, over time,
to "age". It is called "singlet oxygen".
That is because such a molecule of oxygen
only has one electron orbiting its nucleus instead
of the more usual two. Unfortunately, this is a very
unstable situation. Singlet oxygen wants desperately to
either; 1) give away its one electron, or 2) steal one
from another cell. Such an unstable molecule is called
a FREE RADICAL.
In so doing these free radicals turn the molecules
they add or steal electrons from into free radicals as
well. This creates what is called a "free radical
cascade". This is a chain reaction, not terribly unlike
setting off one mouse trap baited with a ping pong ball
in a room loaded wall to wall with unsprung mouse traps
baited with ping pong balls. Soon a chain reaction would
occur and the whole room of mouse traps would be set off.
Anti-Oxidants to the Rescue
So why doesn't this happen in our bodies causing us the
"age" before we are even grown? Well, these free radicals
that oxidize, and thus slowly ruin, our cells, are
"quenched" by anti-oxidants.
A good example of this is a kitchen trick most any
cook knows. Let's say your are making a guacamole,
but you want it to stay green and not turn brown.
What do you do? You add lemon and "voila!" your
avocado dip does not turn brown. Why? Because lemon
is loaded with ANTIOXIDANTS like Vitamin C,
bioflavonoids, and lemonine.
Antioxidants QUENCH free radicals. They either
donate or take a single electron, thus "quenching"
the free radical, making it harmless.
The body makes its own free radical quenching enzymes.
Two common ones are super-oxide-dismutase, AKA SOD for
short and catalase. These enymatic free radical
destroying enzymes are generally dependant on the
availability of trace minerals like selenium, zinc,
copper and manganese.
The diet supplies the rest of the antioxidants.
Vitamins A, C, E are well known. Niacin, (Vit. B3)
is an antioxidant. Alpha Lipoic Acid, Co Enzyme Q10,
oligoproanthocyanides (OPC's from grape seed),
quercitin, bioflavonoids, and the tocotrionols
(a form of Vit. E) are less well known, but very
powerful. The carotinoids, lycopene, lutein,
and zeaaxanthin are a few of the 100's
of phytochemical antioxidants which help give color
to our fruits and vegetables and are their
antioxidants protectors. And we must not forget
the herbs like gingko, rosemary, thyme, tumeric,
and green tea.
Optimizing Your Antioxidant Protection: The FREE RADICAL/ANTIOXIDANT HOME TEST
Therefore, by maintaining an optimal level of anti-
oxidants, one slows as much as presently possible the
aging effects of free radicals. How is it possible for
the average person to do this? Below is a reasonable,
step by step approach.
First of all, it important to know that you can measure
your antioxidant status. And although rather
sophisticated means are available to the anti-aging
specialist, a simple do-it-yourself at home urine test
is now available. Taking your first morning urine, and
using this very simple kit, it is very easy to get a free
radical "score". These scores will show that your free
radical levels are very high, high, optimal, or too
low. (Yes, free radicals are not always harmful and
can be too low; they're used by the immune system to
destroy many invading microorganisms.)
So your first job is to measure your current level of
free radical spillover in your morning urine. Most
of you will be in the "too high" range.
To bring your free radical score down, you begin by
minimizing your exposure to free radicals. Turning food
into energy is the major producer of free radicals, so not
overeating is always a first step in any anti-aging and
wellness program. Avoid rancid (oxidized) fats,
especially deep fried foods.
Next minimize exposure to pollutants, cigarette smoke,
sun and x-ray radiation. (Yes, what sun
does to skin is oxidize it. And one of the most
interesting facts about free radicals is that
they cause the same reactions within cells that occur
during exposure to radiation. The results of these
reactions are indistinguishable from those of natural
aging.)
Even over-exercising will cause a flood of free radicals.
Surprisingly, too much iron in the diet
is a major free radical producer!
Next, eat a nutrient dense varied diet, being sure to
eat 2-4 servings of fruits and 3-5 servings of vegetables
a day. Eat ALL the colors, and the deeper the better.
Include a variety of raw nuts and seeds, beans and whole
grains in your diet. Include herbs, spices, herbal and
green teas.
Then take a full spectrum mega multi-vitamin/mineral/
phytonutrient supplement. It should have at least 1000
mg of Vit C and 100 IU Vit E, 100 mg bioflavonoids,
25 mg quercetin, 3 mg lycopene, 100 mcg leutien,
100 mcg zeaxanthin, 15000 Vit A as mixed carotinoids (not
just beta-carotene), 200 mg selenium, 15 mg of zinc
and 5 mg of manganese. IT SHOULD HAVE NO IRON!
(Those who need iron should take it away from
a true multi-mineral as it will interfere with the
absorption of iron.)
IF you can not always get 5-9 servings of fruits and
vegetables into your diet, (and 9 of 10 Americans don't!)
add a powdered fruit and vegetable concentrate to your
supplementation program.
Then re-take your Free Radical morning urine test.
If it is now optimal, great!
If not, then add a antioxidant formula that supplements
extra Vit A* (as carotinoids), C and E and some of the
above herbs, grape skins, spices, and plant anti-oxidants
like rosemary, green tea, tumeric, milk thistle.
(Women in their child bearing years should not take more
than 5000 of Vitamin A. This does NOT include betacarotene.)
If you are Diabetic or have liver disease, consider
Alpha Lipoic Acid. (APA re-cycles anti-oxidants).
If high blood pressure, heart disease, gum disease,
smoke (first or second or hand) or taking "statin"
drugs for high blood pressure, consider Co-Q 10.
If memory, mood or erectile function problems and
over 50, consider Ginkgo B.
If you have vision problems, consider bilberry,
leutein, zeaxanthin, and extra Vit C and E.
If your diet is low in protein, or absorption is poor due
to disease, age and or poor dentition, consider whey with
glutamine. This is needed to make the major antioxidant
glutathione. Glutathione levels are so important that
such levels are considered a major biomarker
of biological age.
Then simply re-measure your morning urine. Keep at it until
you get the most optimal score you can without going
overboard. (Remember, you can have too few free radicals,
and your urine test will tell you.)
As we age, reaching optimal may be impossible. Generally,
the older you are the more antioxidant protection you need.
Conversely, the major emphasis of anti-aging programs
before 40 is NOT hormone enhancement, but anti-oxidant
optimization!
These free radical test kits come 4 in a kit. Considering
the importance of anti-oxidants protection in anti-aging
and the amount of money you will invest in supplements
over the decades, making sure that you are actually
getting the job done, without actually doing harm with
too many supplements, is to pound wise as compared to
penny foolish.
END.
Must include the byline:
Vitally yours,
Dr. John H. Maher, A.B.A.A.H.P.
Editor, "Longevity News"
subscribe@...
http://www.RxforWellness.com
"Your FREE Anti-Aging Home Study Course On-Line!" |
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