Oxidative Stress and Its Effect on Aging

Good health begins at a cellular level. The power house cells, known as Mitochondria, take our food and make energy for the cell and body to use. In essence, this is our metabolism. Our health and well-being, depends largely on how well our mitochondria function.

As cells utilize food and oxygen, waste products—known as free radicals—are also produced. These waste products are also known as oxidative stress–the root cause of many chronic diseases. When inundated with waste, mitochondria don’t function and cannot eliminate waste products, causing our body functions and health to become negatively impacted. Fatigue is an effect of oxidative stress, which can have long-term health consequences, and can be life threatening. In fact, having high amounts of waste products in the body is one of the main theories of aging.  A mitochondria can actually die from waste products—causing the cell it resides in to die. Overtime, more cells die and less mitochondria are available. As a result, our health declines, and ultimately we die.

Excess calories also create excess oxidative stress. But eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits which have antioxidants—substances that remove waste products can combat the oxidative stress. On the other hand, eating excess animal protein and not balancing with vegetables creates a lot of oxidative stress. For the same amount of calories, you can eat much more volume in vegetables than meat, gaining many more antioxidants. That is why vegetables are considered nutrient-dense.

Exercise triggers the body’s healthy genes that combat oxidative stress. However, if you are lacking in these healthy genes or over-exercise, you also need to be eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants. Supplementation is key; otherwise enormous amounts of food would be required, resulting in excess calories and weight gain.

Anti-aging medicine aims to balance oxidative stress and the body’s ability to get rid of it, keeping mitochondria working at optimum
levels to promote good health and longer life. Many age related illness such as hypertension, dementia, heart disease, cancer and
diabetes can be traced to oxidative stress.

Teresa Sievers, MD, MSMS, FAARM
Karen Callan, BA, CHHC, AADP
10201 Arcos Ave, Ste 201, Estero, FL 33928

239.948.7291
www.loveyourbestbodynow.com