Antioxidants

Antioxidants and Healthy Aging


The Free Radical Theory of Aging. The Free Radical theory of

Aging was proposed by Dr D Harman in 1954. It proposed that

the formation of free radicals from chemical reactions in the body

led to the breakdown of cellular health.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that are missing electrons.

These molecules come from our normal metabolism and various

disease states, including high blood cholesterol levels, hypertension

and diabetes, exogenous toxins, cigarette smoking, unhealthy

food choices, pollution, stress and even exercise. They damage

healthy cells by stripping their electrons, making the healthy

cells less able to resist and repair cellular damage.

He amended this theory in 1972 with the

“Mitochondrial Theory of Aging” when he realized that our

mitochondria were producing and being affected by

free radicals and that our mitochondrial health determines our actual life span.

There are numerous degenerative diseases attributed to free radical damage.

Overall, free radicals have been implicated in the development of at

least 60 diseases, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis and

other inflammatory diseases, kidney disease, cataracts,

lung dysfunction, pancreatitis and various skin lesions.




Antioxidants.

Antioxidants are important because they neutralize free radicals

before they can damage our cells. The most important source

of antioxidants is in the food we choose to eat, mostly found in

deeply pigmented fruits and vegetables.

The other source of antioxidants is through supplements like Glutathione.