Are you Rusting from the inside out?

From UltraPrevention


Many of you may be taking antioxidants, but do you know why? The reason is to reduce rust, or oxidation. This concept is confusing; oxygen is good, or isn't it? Yes, it’s true we need oxygen to live and breathe........

................... and yet oxygen itself can be damaging. What does our body use oxygen for? - to make energy. In the process of making this energy, however, oxygen molecules temporarily are changed into highly reactive molecules called free radicals that can cause damage to our cells. 

Our bodies normally produce their own natural antioxidants to protect us from these free radicals. The higher the amount of these free radicals, the more antioxidants are required to protect us from this damage. If our body’s natural antioxidants are depleted, oxidative damage occurs to our cells. Some everyday examples of oxidative damage include the rusting of metal (oxidation of iron), or the browning of a bitten apple when exposed to air.

When oxidation occurs in our cells, the result is damage to the structure and as a result, impairment of the function of these cells. Many disorders are characterized at least in part by oxidation including heart failure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, liver and kidney disease, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, scleroderma, and even aging itself.

We can protect ourselves against oxidative damage in two main ways:

• 1) Reduce oxidative stress
• 2) increase our antioxidant stores.

There are several processes which lead to oxidative stress. This includes foremost the processing of food and energy production. This is the likely explanation for why several animal studies have shown that by simply reducing the calories eaten (not reducing the nutrients) substantially increases lifespan while greatly reducing the incidence of diseases typically associated with aging. A lower caloric intake results in less oxidative stress.

Another process which leads to oxidative stress is the process of detoxification and elimination of foreign substances from our bodies. This takes place to a large extent in our liver, although almost every organ is involved in detoxification at some level. Detoxification of even over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen can place added oxidative stress on organs such as the liver.

Although moderate exercise stimulates our bodies own antioxidant systems, excessive exercise can place additional oxidative stress on our system and may require additional antioxidant support.

Antioxidant supplements are not the final answer. Foods contain many natural antioxidants that work together in combination. Simply giving a single antioxidant in a vitamin capsule is not as effective as eating foods that contain many antioxidants, which work in concert together. Antioxidant-rich foods should supply the majority of our antioxidant needs. In cases of increased oxidative stress additional supplementation may be required. In that instance, these supplements should probably be given in combination. These supplemental antioxidants include Vitamins A, C, D, E, Co-Q-10, carotenoids and flavonoids, zinc, selenium, manganese, copper, glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine among others. New testing is also available to gain insight into your own levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant status.

Oxidative stress is one of several biochemical imbalances which can eventually lead to cellular and organ damage and ultimately aging or disease.

Please click on more of the Five Forces of Illness to learn more about the biochemical imbalances that represent the key to true prevention. 


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