Our modern lifestyle exposes us to so many
toxic insults to our bodies, that it is depressing to think of them all.
Polluted air and water, stress, alcohol, smoking and also second-hand smoke,
viruses, chemicals in our houses, pesticides on and on our foods - the list goes
on and on. The way in which we are harmed by these substances has to do with
processes in our bodies that produce highly reactive substances called
free radicals. These are molecules that have become unstable, and are very
damaging to our cells and tissues. Many nutritionists are of the opinion that
free radicals are at the root of all the major chronic diseases that plague our
modern times, to include many forms of heart disease, cancer, arthritis,
degenerative mental problems like Alzheimer's, and many more.
Now what if there were a vast body of
scientific evidence that suggested you could take some simple steps to protect
yourself against all this devastation? No absolute guarantees, of course - where
are there in this life? - but good, solid studies that showed real proof that
these strategies helped. What if, in addition, this were an inexpensive thing to
do, and - wait for it- absolutely safe, no possible harm or side effects?
It wouldn't make sense not to try and protect yourself, would it?
Well, it will come as no surprise to most of
you that I am going to tell you these White Knights who will come riding to our
defense are antioxidants. These are vitamins, some minerals,
some enzymes and some amino acids, which form a defense mechanism against damage
from free radicals. We mentioned smoking above, and now there are
some reliable studies done at the University of Carolina in 2000 which show
incontrovertibly that smoking diminishes the level of antioxidants in the body .
They tested 30 smokers whose mean age was 20 (I remember that as being a pretty
mean age!) for oxidative stress levels. They were divided into 4 groups,
placebo, supplementation with 400 i.u of E, supplementation with 400 E and
1000mg of Vit. C, or supplementation with 1000mg of Vit. C. The Vitamin E
group showed some increase in the time it took to oxidize LDL, but the other
groups showed no change in that time at all. This shows that smoking
negates the effects of antioxidants in a very significant way.
Some confusing studies have
emerged on antioxidants and cancer recently, and
here is what the A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research has to say:
The controversy about whether to treat cancer with
anti-oxidants is slowly resolving with the newer understanding of
how they affect the activity of genes and enzymes in cancer cells.
The prevailing data shows that the benefits, or lack of benefits,
depend upon the oxidative state the cancer cells are in.
Anti-oxidants taken when the cells are in a very high oxidative
state may prevent them from entering apoptosis or from committing
suicide. When oxidative stress in cancer cells is only slightly
above normal, however, then anti-oxidants are expected to stop their
growth and reproduction.
In other words, if you HAVE cancer, use
anti-oxidants under the care of a health professional only. If
you want to do all you can to avoid it - well, that's another
matter!
The best known antioxidants are Vitamins
E & C, Beta and other Carotenes, Selenium, Glutathione &
Superoxide Dismutase. Large scale studies have shown significant benefit
against heart attacks and stroke using them: Dr. Julian Whitaker cites one study
of 87,245 nurses, which concluded that nurses who took as little as 100 i.u. of
Vitamin E daily for more than 2 years had a 41% lower risk of heart disease,
compared to non vitamin E users. In a study in the British Medical Journal
(June 1995), two British physicians traced a 30% increase in
cardio-vascular disease in winter to a slight seasonal decrease in
Vitamin C levels.
An intriguing side effect of the exercise we
are all doing now to increase our health, is the increase in free
radicals exercise produces. In other words, the harder
we exercise, the more of these anti-oxidants we would, in my opinion, be wise to
use. I am sure we can all recall cases of people who had been doing all the
right things for their health - stopped smoking and drinking, watching their
diets, and increased their level of physical fitness - only to be felled by
cancer or heart disease: perhaps the one thing they were not doing, was
protecting themselves from the damage done by the extra demands on their bodies.
Many super foods are good sources of
anti-oxidants: in Eastern cultures Green Tea has been found to
be protective - in Europe, Red Wine. There are supplements
available which blend Beta-Carotene, E & C with botanicals such as Turmeric,
Grapeskin and Green Tea . Green Barley Grass, and other green foods, are also
high in protective substances, while from tropical lands Acai is a recent find.
Berries such as blueberries and raspberries are treasure troves of antioxidants,
as are fruits such as watermelons and pomeranates.
Prudent people are now adding these to their
diets to take advantage of their positive elements. It makes sense: it's OUR
health - let's take care of it!
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