Comments on Antioxidants by Dr. Louis S. Carr

"Antioxidants, Free Radicals, and You"

or

"If You Don't Control Your Free Radicals, They Will Kill You!!!"

Thousands of studies say that Free Radicals cause a wide array of health problems. Free Radicals are unstable, reactive molecules with an extra electron. They are very toxic, and have a tendency to interact with, and cause damage to, other molecules (like rust on metal). They can destroy cells in the body so severely that immunity is impaired, DNA codes are altered, and degenerative diseases result. Modern lifestyles make it very difficult to keep free radicals under control.

Free Radicals result from pollution, cigarette smoke, toxic pesticides, radiation from x-rays, ultraviolet and sunlight, cured meats, asbestos, carcinogens (cancer producing agents), alcohol, medications, chemotherapy, physical trauma, infection and even emotional stress.

Free Radicals have been implicated in more than 60 diseases, including cancers, circulatory disorders (varicose veins, cholesterol complications, atherosclerosis, certain heart diseases, phlebitis, stroke, easy bruising and bleeding, swelling in the legs), arthritis, many age related diseases (macular degeneration, Alzheimer's, arthritis), as well as in collagen deterioration (premature aging, skin condition, and connective tissue problems).

Our susceptibility to free radicals is a combination of our genetics, our enviroment, and our decisions.

So What Can We Do About "Free Radicals"?

1. Avoid the offending initiators of free radicals. This would be nice, but as the partial list of initiators above would indicate that it is impossible in many cases, since we live in this world.

2. Help the body in its production an dutilization of its natural "protectors" antioxidants. These are like anti-rust, reducing agents protecting our cells against free radicals. The best known of the antioxidants are vitamins C, E, and A. Others, such as copper, manganese, selnium, and the amnio acids cysteine and methionine assist the body's own antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD). Also some antioxidants have been referred to as "super antioxidants", such as those in grape seed and maritime pine back etc. A good way of getting more antioxidants is to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Using these foods can build the body's own defenses and slow down the degenerative processes by protecting the body from "free radicals". However, this may be like trying to kill an elephant with a pea shooter. Most experts today admit that in order to get the quantities of the antixidants that are necessary, we need a high quality supplement.

Let me help you live healthier, contact my office to ask us about the supplements we feel can give you the best free radical protection.