Oxidative stress and free radicals
What is oxidation and what are free radicals?
Oxidation is something that occurs in the body naturally due to the way our body reacts to the oxygen we breathe. Oxidation is the process of removing electrons from an atom or molecule; oxygen acts as an oxidising agent which can lead to highly reactive molecules being produced within our cells. These highly reactive molecules are known as free radicals which are naturally produced in our body from biochemical reactions, but there can also be external sources of free radicals which are difficult to avoid in our modern world.
We need oxygen to live, but a high concentration of it is toxic for our system, oxygen reacts with digested food so that we can obtain energy. This is a normal controlled metabolic process but it creates free radicals, free radicals are unstable atoms or molecules which have a single unpaired electron in an outer shell. These unpaired electrons are chemically highly reactive and can damage cells in human tissue.
Free radicals also exist in the environment we live in and they can be man-made or naturally occurring. We come into contact with external sources of free radicals on a daily basis; they are a part of life in the modern world. The world many years ago had far less free radicals, as we have evolved the free radical levels have increased. Sources of free radicals vary, the primary sources are the ones which are created internally and other sources of free radicals are external which are either man-made or naturally occurring such as metal elements.
We need oxygen to live, but a high concentration of it is toxic for our system, oxygen reacts with digested food so that we can obtain energy. This is a normal controlled metabolic process but it creates free radicals, free radicals are unstable atoms or molecules which have a single unpaired electron in an outer shell. These unpaired electrons are chemically highly reactive and can damage cells in human tissue.
Free radicals also exist in the environment we live in and they can be man-made or naturally occurring. We come into contact with external sources of free radicals on a daily basis; they are a part of life in the modern world. The world many years ago had far less free radicals, as we have evolved the free radical levels have increased. Sources of free radicals vary, the primary sources are the ones which are created internally and other sources of free radicals are external which are either man-made or naturally occurring such as metal elements.
Below is a list of free radicals:
What is oxidative stress and why does it happen?
Usually, the body has stable biochemical mechanisms to balance free radicals and keep them from impacting on our cells. This biochemical stabilisation involves antioxidants which are chemical compounds that inhibit oxidation. Our bodies need a constant supply of antioxidants to act as a defence against naturally occurring free radicals. Antioxidants have the capabilities of neutralising free radicals and destroying their destructive effects.
Antioxidants are a necessary body requirement in human biochemistry but when these chemical compounds are lacking it can lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance or disrupted process in the body where it is unable to stabilise and neutralise free radicals resulting in cell impairment or damage. Oxidative stress can result in free radicals damaging the components of a cell, this damage can eventually lead to the death of a cell.
Below is a list of the causes and influences of oxidative stress:
Oxidative stress and toxic metals
Toxic metals and abundance of heavy nutrient metals are associated with oxidative stress due to the way the metals oxidise and act the same as free radicals. Toxic/heavy metals can have a toxic effect impacting on cells, having metal toxicity problems in relation to oxidative stress is known as metal-induced oxidative stress. The excess metals affect the way in which our antioxidant defence system works, they also cause the biochemical destruction of important antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and E and disrupt glutathione levels and other antioxidants.
Oxidative stress testing
There are tests available for oxidative stress which involve a urine and blood sample. The blood test measures antioxidant reserves and enzyme functioning which are involved in free radical eradication. A urine test measures the oxidative free radical damage that has occurred. A hair mineral analysis test is also recommended, this test can read toxic metal levels and also copper readings. For oxidative stress testing please click here for the available tests page.
- Antiperspirants
- Car exhaust fumes
- Cigarette smoke
- Certain processed food/drink
- Commercial industrial settings
- Drugs
- Excess heavy nutrient metals such as copper (copper toxicity)
- General air pollution
- Hair dyes
- Hazardous waste sites
- Natural oxidation taking place in the body
- Pesticides
- Petroleum-based products
- Radiation/ultraviolet radiation
- Toxic products found in furniture polish/paints
- Toxic/heavy metals
What is oxidative stress and why does it happen?
Usually, the body has stable biochemical mechanisms to balance free radicals and keep them from impacting on our cells. This biochemical stabilisation involves antioxidants which are chemical compounds that inhibit oxidation. Our bodies need a constant supply of antioxidants to act as a defence against naturally occurring free radicals. Antioxidants have the capabilities of neutralising free radicals and destroying their destructive effects.
Antioxidants are a necessary body requirement in human biochemistry but when these chemical compounds are lacking it can lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance or disrupted process in the body where it is unable to stabilise and neutralise free radicals resulting in cell impairment or damage. Oxidative stress can result in free radicals damaging the components of a cell, this damage can eventually lead to the death of a cell.
Below is a list of the causes and influences of oxidative stress:
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Antioxidant deficiencies in the body
- Bad dieting - junk food, processed food/drink, refined sugar
- Copper imbalances
- Daily contact with free-radical sources
- Drug misuse/abuse
- Lack of or no antioxidant food sources in the diet
- Living in an unhygienic environment
- Mental and physical stress
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Natural oxidation taking place in the body
- Smoking
- Toxic metals
- Toxins
- Working in industrial settings
Oxidative stress and toxic metals
Toxic metals and abundance of heavy nutrient metals are associated with oxidative stress due to the way the metals oxidise and act the same as free radicals. Toxic/heavy metals can have a toxic effect impacting on cells, having metal toxicity problems in relation to oxidative stress is known as metal-induced oxidative stress. The excess metals affect the way in which our antioxidant defence system works, they also cause the biochemical destruction of important antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and E and disrupt glutathione levels and other antioxidants.
Oxidative stress testing
There are tests available for oxidative stress which involve a urine and blood sample. The blood test measures antioxidant reserves and enzyme functioning which are involved in free radical eradication. A urine test measures the oxidative free radical damage that has occurred. A hair mineral analysis test is also recommended, this test can read toxic metal levels and also copper readings. For oxidative stress testing please click here for the available tests page.
Oxidative stress treatment
Treatment for oxidative stress involves dietary changes, lifestyle changes, supplement use and limiting and eliminating exposure to free radicals. If you undergo testing for oxidative stress and you test positive, then you will receive the treatment programme attached in the results email. If you have any questions about the results, then mindovermetal will answer them for you.
