Antioxidants and the Free Radical Aging Theory
Do you know of the Free Radical Theory of Aging? Up until recently I didn’t know that such a theory existed. But it seems to be a leading contender to explain the aging process.
The Free Radical Theory of Aging was originally put forward by Dr. Denham Harman. It’s summarized as follows:
Free radicals can be manufactured within the body as part of the normal metabolic process and outside of the body from toxic sources - cigarrette smoke is a great example. The reactions that these free radicals create in our bodies are a main cause of aging, disease development and inevitably -death. When the bodies leading defense mechanism against free radicals – namely antioxidants – are not availabe or produced in sufficient numbers to combat the free radicals, the damage that they create in the cells accumulate, resulting in mutations in the sequence of genetic material. As these mutations accumulate the systems of the body deteriorate leading to the development of aging and degenerative diseases.
In short – when we are missing out on the antiaging benefits of enough antioxidants in our systems, free radicals are left to damage cell structure, cluttering up our system with damaged cells, toxins and making it harder for our bodies to adapt to environmental stresses.
Now, we’re all going to age, but clearly if I’m going to live to 95 (that’s my plan) I would like to experience as many of those years in the best health I can be in and to do that, I will keep my body well supplied with the best antioxidants.
Maybe I’ll choose antioxidant supplements like CoEnzymeQ10 and maybe I’ll consider a product like MAXGXL to provide my body with the nutrients it needs to produce it’s own master antioxidant- Glutathione. But I’m convinced that I’m going to call on the anti aging power of antioxidants for a long time to come.
