Free Radicals, Antioxidants, and Your Immune System
Advertisements, news articles, blog posts, nutritionists, and trainers, all encourage you to increase your intake of antioxidants and fight dangerous free radicals. However, not many of us know a lot about free radicals and antioxidants and the effect they have on our immune system and health. We hear about the damages free radicals can do to our bodies and how antioxidants can stop aging and fight oxidative damage. But do we have all the facts? It is important to remember that both free radicals and antioxidants have a role to play in our well-being. And here is why!
What are free radicals and why should we fight them?
Free radicals are indeed damaging compounds associated with various illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer. They have the power to damage DNA, proteins, and cell membranes, as well as cause chronic diseases and tissue damage. Why are we so susceptible to free radical damage?
Oxygen in the body divides into single atoms with unpaired electrons, called free radicals. Since electrons are designed to be in pairs, and free radicals lack their complementary electron, they have no other choice but to steal some from other molecules. Once a molecule is attacked by free radicals, it is destabilized and turned into a free radical. It then has to steal an electron from another molecule and so the vicious cycle begins.
Nevertheless, free radicals are a part of our lives. Our body produces its own free radicals in response to environmental attacks, such as air pollution, UV rays, chemicals in pesticides, tobacco smoke, and fried food. Moreover, free radicals are a result of our body’s normal cell function and are used by our immune system to defeat viruses and bacteria. Our body also produces free radicals every time we exercise and perform physical activities.
So, free radicals are not all bad per se! They have their purpose and battles to fight to keep you active and healthy. Too many free radicals, on the other hand, are responsible for the much-feared oxidative stress and damage to cells. Oxidative stress can damage proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids and contributes to the development of a plethora of medical conditions.
What are antioxidants and why should we include them in our diet?
The role of antioxidants is to be the knights in shining armor that fight free radicals. They are molecules that interact with free radicals and stop their devastating cellular damage on our body by generously donating the electron they so desperately need. And the best part is that they do not become free radicals following this process. Thus, antioxidants successfully stop the free radical chain reaction.
Fortunately, your body produces a decent supply of antioxidants, such as alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione, which prove to be very efficient in the fight against free radicals. However, many times, our body doesn’t produce sufficient antioxidants to cancel the oxidative damage that may appear following our exposure to free radicals.
This is when dietary antioxidants take action! Various foods abound in antioxidants and augment their beneficial effects. Citrus fruits and berries provide the essential vitamin C, while carrots contribute to our fight against free radicals with beta-carotene.
Soybeans bring phytoestrogens to the table, while coffee, green tea, and dark chocolate add antioxidants like flavonols and catechins to our diet. As long as you have a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you will access various natural antioxidants that will help you win the battle against free radicals.
Are antioxidant supplements a good idea?
Science hasn’t given us a way to monitor or measure the level of antioxidants we have in our bodies. However, many studies have shown that too much of a good thing can do more harm than good, and this applies to antioxidants too.
While antioxidants in foods are beneficial for our health and are available in reasonable quantities, antioxidant supplements are not recommended. Some research has found that high doses of antioxidants are harmful and can have toxic effects.
Moreover, some studies claim, paradoxically, that an excessive intake of isolated antioxidants encourages oxidative stress instead of fighting it and can even increase the risk of death.
Consequently, many health professionals recommend avoiding any high-dose antioxidant supplement and rely on food to benefit from the effects of antioxidants and reduce oxidative stress.
The antioxidant effect of sea moss
If you are not satisfied with your current intake of antioxidants but you want to avoid the potential risks associated with antioxidant supplements, sea moss might be the perfect solution for your well-being. This phenomenal marine vegetable abounds in natural antioxidants and vitamin C and is excellent for fighting free radicals without any harmful side effects.
Sea moss has been proven to promote a strong immune system, prevent heart diseases, protect thyroid health, and nourish your body with essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Moreover, due to its antioxidant molecules, sea moss can successfully contribute to combating free radicals and reducing oxidative stress.
Containing more than 90% of the nutrients we need for a healthy body, sea moss is easy to consume and can become a part of your daily diet without much effort. You can add it to smoothies, soups, jams, ice cream, and cakes, or simply buy it as capsules. You can enjoy all its benefits without worrying about negative impacts on your health.
Try the Bey Moss 7-day sea moss challenge to familiarize your body with the beneficial effects of sea moss and see for yourself what miraculous power lies in this fascinating alga. While 7 days will not be enough to make a long-term impact on your well-being, it’s definitely a good start to position yourself on the trajectory to a healthy body.
Sea moss is the natural weapon you never knew you needed against free radicals and oxidative damage. Bey Moss delivers high-quality sea moss in all forms to facilitate your intake of nutrients without exposing your body to any harmful compounds.
Additional Reading: Where does Sea Moss come from?