Feed: Oxidative Stress and the Diseases of Aging - AggScore: 14.0

Oxidative Stress and the Diseases of Aging

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There are hundreds of ways that chronic pain, DNA damage, aging , oxidative stress, inflammation , antioxidants, metabolism and immune systems are related . A logical place to start checking out those connections is the link between the management of oxidative stress and the avoidance or at least later development of many degenerative and often painful conditions that we expect to be a part of normal aging. Oxidative stress is a killer - even though it doesn't sound serious and it is also linked to many conditions and diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease , myocardial infarction (a heart attack that blocks the blood supply to a part of the heart muscle causing it to die ) other causes of heart failure and chronic fatigue syndrome. Oxidative stress is what happens when there is either an out of control increase in peroxides and oxy-radicals/free radicals (collectively known as reactive oxygen species) or a big shortage in the body's antioxidant resources , one of which is l-glutathione . When the human body isn't able to successfully use its supply of antioxidants to protect itself- at a cellular level- from free radical damage, you end up with oxidative stress. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) come from different sources externally or internally . Externally, free radicals are the result of ; ingested/inhaled pathogens, toxins , cigarette smoke , environmental pollutants , chemo , the sun , radiation, vigorous workouts and good old stress . Internally, peroxides and other free radicals are a normal product of metabolized oxygen . Actually, the immune system use oxy-radicals to attack bacteria, toxins and other invaders . Normally , our own antioxidant reserves will remove these internally produced free radicals . But , if age and/or weak health and lousy diet interfere with our natural ability to prevent oxidative stress the damage accumulates and our systems are eventually overwhelmed . When you think of antioxidants - think antiaging Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species free radicals are also responsible for DNA damage and that in turn can lead to cell death or mutation. Typically , just as our production of antioxidants like glutathione declines with age, (and you can't take an oral glutathione supplement [1] ) so also does our usual ability to keep our DNA in good repair . One obvious illustration of the destruction caused by oxidative stress is the wrinkled look of the skin of sun worshippers . According to the Free Radical Theory of Aging, the accumulation of dead cells caused by the unchecked action of oxy-radicals is a key contributor to the process of aging and although we cannot stop that , no one will debate that good health practices can deliver a increased quality of life through what should be the golden years. [1] http://buymaxone.net/