One of the best strategies for preventing degenerative disease is to prevent oxidative stress.
The process of oxidation happens as our bodies metabolise the oxygen that we breathe and our cells produce energy from it. This process also produces free radicals, which interact with the molecules within our cells resulting in damage or stress to nearby cells, mitochondria and DNA.
Free radicals are normal and necessary to some degree. In addition to causing some damage, they also stimulate repair. It is only when the amount of free radicals produced overwhelms the repair processes that it becomes an issue. That is what we call oxidative stress.
Oxidation happens under a number of circumstances, including:
- when our cells use glucose to make energy
- when the immune system is fighting off bacteria and creating inflammation
- when our bodies detoxify pollutants, pesticides, and cigarette smoke
In fact, there are millions of processes taking place in our bodies at any one moment that can result in oxidation.
Oxidation increases when we are physically and/or emotionally stressed. And as long as you have enough anti-oxidants, a careful balance is maintained and damage is prevented.
Oxidative stress happens when the amount of free radicals exceeds the amount of antioxidants. That’s when oxidation damages our cells, proteins and our DNA (genes).