How Oxidative Stress Hurts Your Body And How To Prevent It
Oxidative stress is also the phenomenon behind your bodys immune response. Your natural immune response causes swelling at the site of injury to surround the wound Then natural killer cells and other components of the immune system will provide proteins that denature and destroy the invading molecule or damaged cells that need to be removed.
This, of course, produces oxidative stress. The process of the innate immune system naturally produces both oxidative stress and inflammation but is designed to quickly recede after your immune system fights off an infection or repairs a wound.
However, uncontrolled oxidative stress can harm your body. Many of us lack the ability to have a properly functioning immune system and healing and recovery system. For example, inflammation can be a good thing in appropriate amounts but inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, can be painful and negatively impact your overall well-being.
Thankfully, with some small lifestyle changes, you can greatly reduce the amount of free radicals wreaking havoc on your body and maintain your health. Heres how:
First, you can make sure that youre getting enough antioxidants in your diet. Getting a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet can give your body antioxidant phytochemicals and also what it needs to produce antioxidants and some fruits also contain very high levels of antioxidants and will provide a strong antioxidant effect.
- Cherries
Free Radicals And Antioxidants: The Imbalance Known As Oxidative Stress
To understand oxidative stress, you first need to understand the imbalance behind the issue. Oxidative stress happens when your antioxidant levels are low, and the number of free radicals in your system is high. Antioxidants are powerful molecules in your body, capable of fending off cancer, disease, fighting the signs of aging, and even neutralizing free radicals.
Free radicals are essentiallyunstable atoms that cause havoc throughout the body. These atoms damage cells, and are linked to a host of diseases, due to their ability to break down important molecules. As the body ages, it also naturally loses some of its natural ability to fight these free radicals, which means our levels of oxidative stress grows.
Antioxidants can donate electrons to other molecules such as free radicals without making themselves unstable, which can stabilize the free radical, reducing the negative impact on your body.
Unfortunately, if you dont have enough free radicals in your system to counteract all the free radicals youre exposed to, you end up losing the battle against cell damage. The resulting imbalance can lead to a variety of conditions when the free radicals start damaging fatty tissues, proteins, and DNA in your body.
Some potential outcomes of oxidative stress include:
- Accelerated aging
- Atherosclerosis
- Central nervous system diseases
- Cataracts and age-related vision problems
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
Rheumatoid Arthritis And Oxidative Stress
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the joints and surrounding tissues, characterized by macrophages and activated T cell infiltration . Free radicals at the site of inflammation play a relevant role in both initiation and progression of this syndrome, as demonstrated by the increased isoprostane and prostaglandin levels in synovial fluid of affected patients .
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Poor Gut Health: Another Contributor To Oxidative Stress
After trigger foods, the other major source of oxidative stress for our bodies is overgrowing bacteria in the large intestine.5
We regularly hear about how important it is to take a probiotic but in many cases, the issue is NOT a lack of good bacteria, but an overgrowth of bacteria that either shouldnt be hanging out in your intestines, or shouldnt be thriving quite so much.
This usually happens due to antibiotic use, which kills off good bacteria and creates an imbalance in the bacterial ecosystem within our bodies. It can also happen as a result of other medications, such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors, which decrease stomach acid as well as our ability to digest food. That undigested food then feeds the wrong bacteria.
Same with stress itself! Stress decreases our ability to digest food, and thus increases the imbalance of bacteria as does gluten, pesticides, and many other factors.
While we often assume that the garden of bacteria in our intestines are wiped out and barren, I find that the garden is more often overgrown with weeds. And that overgrowth of bacteria leads to leaky gut, as well as oxidative stress, which can then spread throughout your body.
Thats why addressing oxidative stress is so key to healing other health conditions, including digestive troubles and impaired methylation.
What Are Free Radicals
Free radicals are unstable molecules that are missing an electron and therefore have an uneven number of unpaired electrons. They could be missing an electron for a number of reasons, including the environment or natural aging. Because of this electron imbalance, free radicals are unstable and highly reactive.1
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Regulation Of The Ireirp System And Iron Homeostasis By Ros
Regulation of IRPIRE interactions. Under iron rich conditions, IRP1 contains a cluster and is unable to bind to the IRE, though loss of iron from the cluster under iron deficient conditions allows IRP1 to bind to the IRE. IRP2 does not contain a cluster and is degraded by F-box/LRR-repeat protein 5 -dependent ubiquitination. Iron chelators, nitric oxide , hypoxia, and hydrogen peroxide increase IRP/IRE interaction. H2O2 destabilizes the cluster of IRP1 and also stabilizes IRP2 protein by preventing FBXL5-dependent ubiquitination. Increasing IRPIRE interaction in 5UTR results in translational block of ferritin , ferroportin , aminolevulinic acid synthase-2 , hypoxia inducible factor-2 , amyloid precursor protein , and NADH dehydrogenase FeS protein 1 genes, but in the 3UTR it results in mRNA stabilization of transferrin receptor , divalent metal transporter 1 , hydroxyacid oxidase 1 , myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42-binding kinase alpha , and CDC14 cell division cycle 14 homolog A .
Taken together, the IREIRP regulatory system is not only regulated by cellular iron status but also regulated by ROS, in which cells elicit a defense mechanism against iron toxicity and iron-catalyzed oxidative stress.
Risk Factors Of Oxidative Stress
âBecause free radicals tear down your cell tissue, oxidative stress can have lasting impacts. Some chronic disorders that have been linked to oxidative stress include the following: â
- Neurodegenerative diseasesâ
âBelow youâll find more information on how oxidative stress affects long-term, lifestyle conditions.
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Managing And Preventing Oxidative Stress
Its impossible to completely avoid free radical exposure and oxidative stress. However, there are things you can do to minimize the effects of oxidative stress on your body. The main thing you can do is to increase your levels of antioxidants and decrease your formation of free radicals.
One method of preventing oxidative stress is to ensure that youre obtaining enough antioxidants in your diet. Eating five servings per day of a variety of fruits and vegetables is the best way to provide your body what it needs to produce antioxidants. Examples of fruits and vegetables include:
- berries
Are You Experiencing Oxidative Stress
here’s how to tell:
Oxidation is what occurs when your body metabolizes oxygen to use it in its natural processes. When you breathe in, your cells use oxygen to create energy, fight off infection, and more. As oxygen molecules are used during energy production, free radicals are released. Metabolism is a basic cellular process during which fuel is produced for the basic cell functions. Part of this very natural and essential process is a waste product called a free radical.
Free radicals are unstable molecules with unpaired electrons. Again, they are an unavoidable byproduct of cellular metabolism. Free radicals can steal electrons from lipids, proteins, RNA, and DNA, causing them damage. This is because they have an unmatched electron as part of their structure.
Because these electrons want to be in pairs, they travel through the body to group together. The free radical is always on the hunt for another electron to steal from any and all molecules in the body. While this is a normal process, too many free radicals can wreak havoc on your body, causing inflammation, stress, speeding up aging, and more. A well-balanced and healthy body has mechanisms to minimize and dispose of free radicals.
To read more about what oxidative stress is, check out this blog: What Is Oxidative Stress?
Today, were going to talk about 5 signs you may be experiencing oxidative stress symptoms, and what you can do to relieve them.
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Oxidative Stress Is A Balancing Act
Were exposed to things that lead to oxidative stress daily. Prolonged and high levels of oxidative stress can damage our cells, including our DNA. And while oxidative stress is a balancing act, the equation isnt as simple as increased antioxidants decrease free radicals, equaling less oxidative stress.
Free radical production and oxidative stress are influenced by so many lifestyle habits, including diet, exposure to toxins and chemicals, sunlight, smoking, and exercise. Reducing oxidative stress and the risk of diseases associated with it requires a holistic approach across all of your daily habits so that you can address supporting your bodys antioxidant defenses while minimizing your exposure to free radical triggers.
Biochemical/molecular Targets And Chronic Diseases Mechanistically Linked To Ros
Endogenous ROS comprises the by-products of cellular metabolism in aerobic organisms.
At low concentrations, they are usually involved in different cell processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, like a second messenger in cell signaling . ROS production within cells under physiological condition is dependent on mitochondria respiration, NOX, uncoupled NOS and XOR.
The increase in ROS levels, its production in inappropriate cellular compartments or its production with defective forms during oxidative processes can trigger the development of numerous chronic-degenerative disorders, leading to severe damage to bio macromolecules . Oxidative stress, as a result of the imbalance between oxidative and antioxidative processes in cells, therefore plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic-degenerative disorders.
ROS and Cardiovascular Diseases
The main cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia contribute to enhancing ROS generation, leading to oxidative stress . From all these cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension is an essential factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases .
ROS has a dual role in cardiovascular physiopathology.
In CVD, gene expression is altered due to oxidative stress. Increased ROS levels modulate transcription factor activity, especially NF-B, activator protein-1 and the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor family of transcriptional activators .
ROS and Cancers
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Signs Of Oxidative Stress And 7 Ways You Can Stop It
Dr Doni highlights one of our best strategies for preventing cancer preventing oxidative stress.
The term oxidative stress is mentioned all the time in the realm of science and nutrition, but it is not often clear what it means for your health. In fact research indicates that oxidative stress is an underlying cause of cancer, so understanding and preventing it is a smart strategy for your wellness.
Today, Im going to explain what it is, give you some signs to look out for, and some simple steps you can take to prevent it.
Try To Reduce Your Stress Levels
Psychological stress doesn’t just harm your heart and mindit also promotes oxidative stress in the skin. If this persists, it can overpower the skin’s antioxidant defenses, leading to signs of aging. This is why mental health and mindful practices are an essential part of skin care.
Also, when you’re stressed, your body puts skin health on the back burner. “Emotional and mental stress trigger a fight-or-flight response,” explains Hilsabeck. And if your body is constantly in this state of stress, it will prioritize survival, he says. “Your skin will suffer during periods of increased stress, having beautiful skin is not a high priority for your body during a fight-or-flight response.”
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What Is Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is something that happens inside our cells. Remember: our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. Its hard to imagine, but its true! And inside each and every cell is a tiny engine called a mitochondrion. The mitochondria create the energy our bodies use to function, to be awake, to sleep, to digest, to think, to breathe everything!
But as the mitochondria do their thing, they also produce oxidative stress. In our engine analogy, oxidative stress would be like exhaust exhaust inside our bodies. And if we dont have enough anti-oxidants in our cells, then that exhaust can damage our mitochondria, causing decreased energy production and overall function.
Free Radicals Due To Normal Metabolic Processes
Our body often produces free radicals in the process of breaking down nutrients to create the energy which allows our bodies to function. The production of free radicals in normal metabolic processes such as this is one of the reasons that the risk of many different diseases increases with age, even when people have few exposures to disease-causing substances.
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Stress Less About Oxidative Stress
While oxidative stress can be damaging to your health, there are plenty of things you can do to help your body naturally fight back. Remember this simple mantra: more good and less bad. Remember to increase your antioxidant intake when you can take those supplements, eat those fruits, and drink that unsweetened coffee or tea. Similarly, watch some of those actions that may be increasing free radical production in your body. You got this.
Learn More:
Free Radicals And Oxidative Stress: How Do They Affect Your Body And Skin
As you probably know, the environment is filled with toxins. Whether its the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the food we eat, these toxins can take a toll on our health. And if that werent bad enough, our bodies also create toxins as a by-product of normal metabolism.
These harmful compounds are known as free radicals and oxidative stress. In this article, well discuss what free radicals and oxidative stress are, how they affect your body and skin, and what you can do to reduce their damage.
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Cardiovascular Disease And Oxidative Stress
Cardiovascular diseases are clinical entities with a multifactorial etiology, generally associated with a very large amount of risk factors, the most broadly recognized of which are hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, smoking habit, diabetes, unbalanced diet, stress, and sedentary life . During the last years, research data pointed out that oxidative stress should be considered either a primary or a secondary cause for many CVDs . Oxidative stress acts mainly as a trigger of atherosclerosis. It is well known that atheromatous plaque formation results from an early endothelial inflammation, which in turn leads to ROS generation by macrophages recruited in situ. Circulating LDL are then oxidized by reactive oxygen species, thus leading to foam cell formation and lipid accumulation. The result of these events is the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque. Both in vivo and ex vivo studies provided evidences supporting the role of oxidative stress in atherosclerosis, ischemia, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, cardiac hypertrophy, and congestive heart failure .
How To Prevent Oxidative Stress
It is impossible to eradicate oxidative stress but the levels of antioxidants can be increased and the formation of free radicals decreased to combat it.
To prevent it, people, especially the elderly, can make sure they manage oxidative stress and increase their life expectancy by obtaining a lot of antioxidants from their diet, and by exercising. For example with a lot of fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in antioxidants can help increase your blood antioxidant levels to fight oxidative stress, reduce the risk of these diseases, and to stay young.
Healthy Foods High in Antioxidants
- Dark Chocolate with high cacao content.
- Nuts Pecans
- Dark green vegetables such as Kale
- Tea
Nevertheless, it is impossible to avoid exposure to oxidative damage completely. For older adults, it is necessary to take medical advice to prevent diseases in their bodies.
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What To Know About Oxidative Stress
âOxidative stress is largely seen to harm your overall health. However, there can be some uses of this imbalance. Some research has shown that oxidative stress may play a role in certain diseases associated with peopleâs daily habits. Measuring oxidant and antioxidant levels in the body can help researchers know how these levels impact particular diseases. Genetic makeup is also factored in.
Oxidative stress has more harmful properties than helpful ones. It can break down cell tissue and cause DNA damage. This damage can also result in inflammation. These factors can lead to lifelong diseases like diabetes or cancer, in some cases.
âWhile the problem lies in having extremely low levels of antioxidants, simply supplementing antioxidants does not fully treat the issue. Thatâs why oxidative stress is a complex imbalance that affects many pieces of your overall health.
How To Fight Free Radicals And Oxidative Stress
If there are too many free radicals in our body, it means that we have too few antioxidants to counter them. A good balance between free radicals and antioxidants in our body makes it possible to avoid oxidative stress.
There are a few things we can do to reduce the number of free radicals in our bodies:
- Eating a diet rich in antioxidants
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding tobacco smoke and other environmental pollutants
- Limiting exposure to UV light
- Stressing less
Face masks, particularly those rich in antioxidants, will also help to reduce oxidative stress And stress in general!
- Carrots
Selenium
If you want to make sure youre getting enough antioxidants in your diet, try to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day. The brighter the colors, the more antioxidants they contain. Selenium is a mineral thats also high in antioxidants and can be found in Brazil nuts, tuna, and whole wheat bread.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral thats essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. Its also an antioxidant and can be found in oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and beans.
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