“Rust”! We all know what rust looks like, but few are aware rust is the result of chemical damage to metal by what is called “oxidation.” This same rusting or oxidative damage occurs in humans by an enemy army of invaders called ‘free radicals.” They can attack any part of our body and cause faster aging and early wearing out of any part of our body, resulting in such diseases as diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.
Our body puts together its own army for protection against this enemy. These soldiers are called ‘antioxidants.” Some of these are found within our body, such as glutathione . . . and others are found in food, such as vitamins A, C and E.
If the enemy increases its soldiers, we must also increase our army of antioxidant soldiers or damage will occur. With declining food values and our increasingly toxic environment, our army and its leadership is becoming weaker. Unfortunately, our enemy army is rapidly increasing its number of soldiers and becoming stronger. We need to strengthen our army with fresh, strong and energized reinforcements or many of us will become casualties of the battle.
In addition to fighting free radicals and neutralizing oxidative damage to the body, antioxidants have other functions, such as detoxification or cleansing, and immune enhancement.
Researchers at Scranton University in Pennsylvania have used IC50 testing to determine the concentration of various types of antioxidants necessary to inhibit the oxidation of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL). Yes, it is the same Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) that many call “the bad cholesterol”. When LDL becomes oxidized, it may result in cholesterol accumulation and narrowing of blood vessels leading to coronary heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, etc.
ORAC (abbreviation for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a laboratory measure of the ability of vitamins, foods and other compounds to subdue, or neutralize, the tissue damage caused by oxygen free radicals in the body. Most people only consume about 1,650 ORAC units daily instead of the consensus need of 5,000 to 6,000 units daily, which is necessary for optimal free radical protection in the stressful and toxic environment of today’s world. Unfortunately, many of the high ORAC value foods are only seasonally available, more expensive or less popular.
Today’s highly stressful and toxic environment has significantly increased the production of oxidative free radicals and the need for higher antioxidant levels. Most people do not consider hard work and exercise as major times of increased need for antioxidants. However, our need for antioxidants is not steady throughout the day, but rather has spikes of need with surges in production of free radicals, such as occurs with any heavy exertion activity. Even normal metabolism and eating increase free radical production.
One might ask, “Why the need for antioxidants in the form of a food rather than as an independent isolated supplement?” The answer lies in the fact that antioxidants in the body do not function independently. Instead, they require accompanying nutrients for proper function. Because the need for antioxidants is not steady, but has ups and downs, a steady and slowly released supply of antioxidants is generally best. Unfortunately, few supplements of isolated, high dose antioxidants provide this need . . . instead they may briefly spike to high and potentially toxic levels, and then, just as quickly, plunge to deficient levels. The end result is that the required antioxidant nutrients are not present when needed for necessary biological functions. On the other hand, antioxidants present in a food are more slowly released and maintain a more steady blood and tissue level to meet biological function needs.
In contrast to the repeatedly positive and desirable effects seen with food source antioxidant clinical studies, numerous recent clinical studies done with high dose and/or isolated nutrient supplements have mostly reported negative and adverse effects on the body. A steady and sustained level of food source antioxidants is critical for providing adequate protection against oxidative damage to the cells, tissues and organs of the body! This is believed to be the best “insurance” available for preventing the onset and progression of disease and the effects of premature aging.
However, do not get the impression that all free radical production or oxidation is bad or harmful . . . it isn’t! In fact, it is a normal part of living, breathing, eating, etc. The problem comes when we either have excessive or inadequate amounts of antioxidants. Herein lie both the problem and the solution. Too many, or not enough, of the correct form and types of antioxidants clearly is a problem. Fortunately, food has the solution in that it has both lower levels and all different types in a readily bioavailable and slow release form.
Life Energy And Nutrition (L.E.A.N.) has produced the L.E.A.N. Phytonutrient Bars, which contain over 100 different food source antioxidants, synergistically and harmoniously functioning as a well trained protective army within the body, each having its own function, but all working together for the common good. Few food products, or supplements for that matter, carry this kind of antioxidant punch. And if anyone is interested in potentially slowing or preventing the onset of diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s, cancer (and many others), naturally occurring food source antioxidants such as these are the most potent and effective form of administration. We all need plenty of different types of antioxidants in our army to fight and help our body arrest and prevent these killer diseases.
Randall Boyer, M.D., is the editor of The Boyer Review, a periodically published review of the most up-to-date research on a wide range of health conditions and promising supportive therapies. Having practiced for 25 years, he acknowledges and embraces the consumer trend toward alternative therapies and the resultant need for medically evaluated information in making rational choices.
