An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. When our bodies use oxygen they create free radicals (a by product) which can cause damage. Antioxidants such as Jus neutralize those free radicals.
illistration of a free radical
Normally, bonds don’t split in a way that leaves a molecule with an odd, unpaired electron. But when weak bonds split, free radicals are formed. Free radicals are very unstable and react quickly with other compounds, trying to capture the needed electron to gain stability. Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, stealing its electron. When the attacked molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living cell.
Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes the body’s immune system’s cells purposefully create them to neutralize viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals.
Normally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. Of particular importance is that free radical damage accumulates with age.
Dr. Denham Harman
Dr. Denham Harman, MD., Ph.D., first proposed a theory of aging as the indiscriminate chemical reactivity of free radicals possibly leading to random biological damage. His idea has had much experimental success and is now considered a major theory of aging. Dr. Harmon’s theory implies that antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E will prevent free radicals from oxidizing sensitive biological molecules and slow the aging process. Dr. Hartman launched his theory by showing, for the first time, that feeding a variety of antioxidants to a variety of mammals extended their lifespan.
Free Radicals contribute to many different diseases. Chemically a substance is oxidized when electrons are removed or reduced when electrons are added. All chemical reactions involve the transfer of electrons. The body generates energy by gradually oxidizing it’s food in a cotrolled manner and storing them in the form of chemical potential energy called ATP.
This process can also set the stage for cell damage. The oxidation of food is like a controlled fire which liberates energy but can also let sparks fly, giving rise to potential damage. The sparks in this analogy are free electrons escaping the transpot system. These unpaired electrons readily form free radical molecules which are chemically reactive and highly unstable.
It is these free radical molecules which rapidly react with other molecules setting off a chain reaction of free radical formation. There is now an atom that is missing an electron and needs to aquire another to become stable again. This atom goes to the nearest other atom which is unstable enough to lose an electron. This atom that just lost it’s electron then becomes unstable and a free radical. This is called the chain reaction of free radicals.
Cell membranes are made of unsaturated lipids. The unsaturated lipid molecules of cell membranes are particularly supseptable to the damaging free radical process and readily contribute to the uncontrolled chain reaction. Oxidative damage, another name for the chemical reaction free radicals cause, can lead to the breakdown or even hardening of lipids which make up all cell walls. If the cell wall is hardened (lipid peroxidation) then it becomes impossible for the cell to properly get it’s nutrients, get signals from another cell (such as firing of a neutron), and many other cellular activities can be affected. In addition to cell walls, other biological molecules can be affected including DNA, RNA, and protein enzymes.
The primary site of the free radical damge is the DNA found in Mitochondria. Mitochondria are small membrane-enclosed regions of a cell which a produce chemicals a cell uses for energy. Every cell contains an enormous set of molecules called DNA which provide chemical instructions for a cell to function. This DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell. The cell automatically fixes much of the damage done to nuclear DNA, however DNA in the mitochondria cannot be readily fixed.
Therefore, extensive DNA damage accumulates over time and shuts down mitochondria causing the cells to die and the organism to age. This free radical generation process can disrupt all levels of cell function. This is why free radical damage is thought to be such a mechanism of tissue injury. It damages us at the cellular level.
The more toxic metals in your body the higher the free radical activity. Heavy metals in your body mulitply those chain reactions several thousand, possibly several million times. When a free radical hits a metal atom in your body, the effect is muiplied many-fold.
Free radicals are increased in activity and quantity by bumping into toxic metals in the body. Thus, toxic metals are a cause of free radicals. It is also clear that enviormental agents initiate free radical problems. The toxicity of lead, pesticides, cadmium, ionizing radiation, alcohol and cigarette smoke may all be due to their free radical inititing ability.
All this does not mean gloom and doom for us all. Adding one ounce of Jus will greatly help to eliminate those free radicals that may be found in your body. If you want to find out more about Jus please visit these websites.
Tags: Antioxidant, Dr. Denham Harman, Electron, Extended life, Free radical, Jus, Metabolism, Molecule, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
