Not everyone understands the impact free radicals can have throughout the body. If you're heard the term "free radicals" but don't quite see how it applies to you, keep reading. Here are some ways Free Radicals have an impact on your body
Brain Disfunction
The brain requires 4 trillion molecules of ATP (adenosine triphosphate (energy molecules)) each minute. The process of producing ATP is a highly oxidative process that naturally produces billions of free radicals. Unfortunately, the brain's antioxidant defense is reduced due to low antioxidants in the average American’s diet, making it vulnerable to free radical damage and dysfunction.
Hearing Loss
Age and noise-related hearing loss are accompanied by an immune response and inflammation and free radicals formation. Without an antioxidant termination process, continued hearing loss is the natural result.
Pregnancy
The demands of pregnancy and childbirth can leave mother and child more susceptible to disorders associated with free radical damage (Respiratory issues, eyesight issues, low birth weight, etc.) due to the high antioxidant reserves dedicated to the growing fetus.
Beauty & Integumentary System (Skin)
Exposure to environmental factors such as sun, smoking, and air pollution can increase oxidative stress on the skin. Free radicals degrade and destroy the elastin and collagen in skin cells leading to thickening of the skin, more noticeable discoloration, and exaggerated wrinkles.
Cardiovascular Disease
Many cardiovascular conditions initiate with free radical attack. LDL (low-density lipid (bad cholesterol)) particles easily pass between the cells and stay inside the cell membrane. LDL particles are comprised of fat molecules susceptible to free radical oxidation that can trigger an inflammatory response. Over time, if this process is propagated due to a breakdown of the antioxidant defense mechanisms, the termination process never occurs, leading to a build-up of fatty deposits called plaque that eventually can form an arterial blockage.
Mental Conditions
Free radicals play an important role in cellular signaling and comminutions. With alterations of antioxidant defense systems, processes including energy production, inflammation, impairment of cell signaling, and the generation of neurotransmitters (GABA, Serotonin, and Dopamine) can be interrupted.
Eye Damage
The eyes are very likely to be damaged by free radicals due to ultraviolet light (the sun), blue light (tv, phone, and computer screens), and their naturally high metabolic rate. This leads to degradation (macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa.)
Metabolic Syndrome
People who suffer from metabolic syndrome often experience hyperglycemia (elevated levels of blood sugar). Chronic hyperglycemia primes the innate immune system for an exaggerated inflammatory response. This is the perfect environment for free radical propagation. Frequent hyperglycemia reoccurrences deplete the body’s antioxidant reserves and allow metabolic syndrome to progress to more serious conditions.
Antioxidants are the path to better health!
Antioxidants are found abundantly in several natural sources, including fruits, vegetables, seafood, and protein. These sources are known as exogenous antioxidants meaning they come from outside the body. The body cannot produce these antioxidants by itself, but they are essential to the formation of antioxidants within the body. The body also has a natural enzymatic process for generating antioxidants internally. These antioxidants are called endogenous antioxidants, indicating they come from within the body. Endogenic antioxidants are especially efficient in terminating free radicals.
Daily supplementing with broad-spectrum and concentrated antioxidant, multivitamin, and mineral supplements help the body to control oxidative and free radical processes. Reducing sugar, refined foods, processed meats, and daily exposure to environmental contaminants assist the body to have a strong free-radical defense system.