Our body is build up of approximately 75 trillion cells and there are many different types of cells for every part of our body.They continually replicate themselves. When we age, get sick or get diseases, our cells do too. Each cell has a set of genetic instructions in its center, called the DNA, which controls cell growth, development and replication.

When DNA is damaged by free radicals, it can replicate a damaged cell. When this cell replicates itself, it can become cancer.

In order to slow down the aging process, prevent sickness and diseases, we must protect and properly feed our cells.

Cells are made up of many atoms. When these atoms are healthy, the cells replicate (make an exact copy) and keep the body young, healthy and free from diseases. A healthy atom has “paired” electrons around the nucleus.

Atoms missing an electron are called free radicals.They are not only bad, but actually destroy surrounding atoms by stealing their electrons.

Dying cells and cells replicating in a damaged state are the cause or contribute to premature aging, sickness and disease such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease and many others.

Where do free radicals come from? First, understand the concept of “oxidative stress”. Oxygen is essential for life itself, but it is also inherently dangerous. This is called the “dark-side” of oxygen. As a result, bodies rust, both inside and out.The same process causing a cut apple to turn brown or iron to rust is the cause of all the chronic degenerative diseases and even ageing.

Within every cell of the body is a furnace called the mitochondria. As oxygen is utilized within the furnace of the cell to create energy and life itself, occasionally a charged oxygen molecule, called a free radical, is created. If this free radical is not readily neutralized by an antioxidant, it can create more volatile free radicals, damage the cell wall, vessel wall,proteins, fats, and even the DNA nucleus. Chemically, this reaction has been shown to be so volatile that it actually causes bursts of light within the body!

To give the best illustration of the process of oxidation and free radical damage, imagine sitting in front of a fireplace. The fire burns safely most of the time, but occasionally a hot cinder pops out that lands on your carpet and burns a little hole in it. One cinder doesn’t pose much of a threat; but if this sparking and popping continues month after month, year after year, a pretty “ratty” carpet results.

The fireplace represent the furnace of the cell (the mitochondria), the cinder is the charged free radical and the carpet is the body. Whichever part of the body receives the most free radical damage will be the first to wear out and potentially cause a degenerative disease. If it’s the arteries, you could develop a heart attack or stroke. If it is the brain, we get Alzheimer’s dementia or Parkinson’s disease. If it’s your joints, we get arthritis.

The cause of free radicals. Free radicals are caused by smoking, stress, sunlight, pesticides and insecticides put on our plants,grass, and weeds. Pollution in air and water, soil depletion, airline travel (Jetleg), medications, food additives, x-rays, exercise, chloride in treated water, chemicals in our home, mercury in seafood and teeth fillings and many more. One cigarette generates approximately one quadrillian free radicals.

The Solution. Fortunately, biochemical research shows that people are not defenseless against this attack on the body by free radicals. Antioxidants have additional electrons around the nucleus to give to free radicals,which neutralizes the harmful effects. Antioxidants are like the glass doors or fine-wire mesh in front of the fireplace. The sparks are still going to fly but the carpet is protected.

Imagine the war taking place within every cell in the body, like two opposing forces: the enemy–free radicals; and your allies– antioxidants and there supporting nutrients.

The cause of Heart Disease. Many different forms of heart disease primarily come from a buildup of fatty deposits on the inner surface of arteries. Eventually, blocking blood flow, leading to heart attack or stroke.

Free radicals cause and/or contribute to heart disease. Scientists now believe that it’s not just the eating of fat causing buildup in arteries, but fats that damaged by free radicals. This is called oxidized fat,which causes the fat to be more “sticky”, adhering to the inner artery walls more easily. This explains why smoking and stress are risk factors to heart disease, as is high fat consumption.

Antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer. The most important role antioxidants play in the body is to protect the DNA from damage caused by free radicals,by correct use of the right antioxidants. It can even reverse many forms of cancer.The importance of maintaining proper antioxidant levels cannot be over emphasized.

Living a healthy life becomes a matter of balance. There should be enough antioxidants readily available to neutralize free radicals produced by the body. Otherwise “oxidative stress” occurs. When this oxidative stress persists over a prolonged period of time, it will most likely cause a serious chronic degenerative disease.

How to get enough antioxidants from diet? The number of free radicals the body produces varies every day. Pollutants in the air, food and water, enormous stress, excessive exercise, cigarette smoke, sunlight, dramatically increase free radicals. There has never been a generation more effected by oxidative stress then our present one. The population is literally under attack from a polluted environment, stressful lifestyles and over-medication.

This ongoing attack is depriving society of the most precious gift:health. Thankfully,nobody is defenceless against free radical attack. The antioxidant army neutralizes free radicals, making them harmless. In past generations, this defence system was sufficient. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. Bodies’ defence systems need additional support.

Food is depleted in antioxidant content and supporting minerals as a result of mineral depletion in soils, green harvesting,cold storage, highly processed – and genetically modified food, our poor food choices and food preparation.

Most antioxidants come from vegetables and fruits, in the form of vitamin C & E, and beta-carotene.Other natural compounds are present as flavonoids in vegetables like: indoles, phenols, coumarins, isothiocyanates, and pycnogenols (procyanadins). Much of their action is antioxidant too.

Everybody must take charge of health in a time of heavy attack from the environment on natural defense systems and do everything to rebuild them with a healthy diet, supplemented with complete and well balanced, high quality supplements.
This is the best hope in winning the war within and maintaining health.