Xocai Chocolate with Acai Berries - High in AntiOxidants
Cocoa has nearly twice the antioxidant levels of red wine, and up to three times the amount found in greetn tea!
What Are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are a byproduct of our body's natural process of burning oxygen for energy. Oxygen contains protons, neutrons and electrons. Just like cars burn gas and expend waste gases, when we burn oxygen it leaves behind an electron. This oxygen molecule that now has only one electron becomes a free radical, or unstable molecule. This natural process occurs in nano-seconds, trillions of times a day.
In addition to our body's natural process of burning oxygen for energy, free radicals are also caused by any compound that contains an oxygen molecule; such as, pollution, radiation, ultraviolet rays, smoking, pesticides, stress, and high sugar, high fat diets.
The instability of an oxygen free radical electron literally causes it to race out of control like a magnetized ball in a pin-ball game, looking for another electron to attach itself to; it does so by taking an electron from another molecule. When that molecule in turn loses one of its electrons, it too must seek out another, in a continuing reaction. Molecules attempting to repair themselves in this way trigger a cascading event called free radical damage. When free radical damage continues unchecked, the cumulative effects are oxidative stress and chronic inflammation; that is, aging and disease.
The body's defense mechanism is able to curb free radical damage by producing its own antioxidants. Antioxidants fight-off unstable free radicals by either donating one of their own electrons for the free radical to attach to; or by taking them out through chemical reactions.
However, according to Brunswick Laboratories, "The body's arsenal of antioxidants appears to be sufficient for keeping oxidation in check in children and in youths, but once we reach our twenties, the effectiveness of the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms appears to lessen, and free radicals are given greater rein to do damage. The results appear to be, that many of the diseases we associate with aging, including coronary heart disease, cancer, skin damage, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and rheumatoid arthritis are from free radical damage."
Although research has led many scientists to believe that aging and disease begins at the cellular level (through oxidation and inflammation) clearly, there's no way to completely stop oxidative stress or chronic inflammation; but if we look at how our bodies naturally attack free radical damage, there is something to be said about the possibility of slowing down the process; or at the very least, the possibility that we can choose to become an active participant in the process.
Choosing to become an active participant is to accept responsibility for that which we have control over; diet, exercise, stress management, the products we use, and the nutritional supplements we consume -- expressly, antioxidant supplementation to counter-act our body's weakening antioxidant defense mechanism.
"Free Radicals" [quoted], brunswicklabs.com/formation.shtml, Brunswick Laboratories
Free radicals are a byproduct of our body's natural process of burning oxygen for energy. Oxygen contains protons, neutrons and electrons. Just like cars burn gas and expend waste gases, when we burn oxygen it leaves behind an electron. This oxygen molecule that now has only one electron becomes a free radical, or unstable molecule. This natural process occurs in nano-seconds, trillions of times a day.
In addition to our body's natural process of burning oxygen for energy, free radicals are also caused by any compound that contains an oxygen molecule; such as, pollution, radiation, ultraviolet rays, smoking, pesticides, stress, and high sugar, high fat diets.
The instability of an oxygen free radical electron literally causes it to race out of control like a magnetized ball in a pin-ball game, looking for another electron to attach itself to; it does so by taking an electron from another molecule. When that molecule in turn loses one of its electrons, it too must seek out another, in a continuing reaction. Molecules attempting to repair themselves in this way trigger a cascading event called free radical damage. When free radical damage continues unchecked, the cumulative effects are oxidative stress and chronic inflammation; that is, aging and disease.
The body's defense mechanism is able to curb free radical damage by producing its own antioxidants. Antioxidants fight-off unstable free radicals by either donating one of their own electrons for the free radical to attach to; or by taking them out through chemical reactions.
However, according to Brunswick Laboratories, "The body's arsenal of antioxidants appears to be sufficient for keeping oxidation in check in children and in youths, but once we reach our twenties, the effectiveness of the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms appears to lessen, and free radicals are given greater rein to do damage. The results appear to be, that many of the diseases we associate with aging, including coronary heart disease, cancer, skin damage, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and rheumatoid arthritis are from free radical damage."
Although research has led many scientists to believe that aging and disease begins at the cellular level (through oxidation and inflammation) clearly, there's no way to completely stop oxidative stress or chronic inflammation; but if we look at how our bodies naturally attack free radical damage, there is something to be said about the possibility of slowing down the process; or at the very least, the possibility that we can choose to become an active participant in the process.
Choosing to become an active participant is to accept responsibility for that which we have control over; diet, exercise, stress management, the products we use, and the nutritional supplements we consume -- expressly, antioxidant supplementation to counter-act our body's weakening antioxidant defense mechanism.
"Free Radicals" [quoted], brunswicklabs.com/formation.shtml, Brunswick Laboratories
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Stacey on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
