x
Our bodies are made up of over 37 trillion cells. Each cell is composed of molecules which are comprised of one or more atoms, joined by chemical bonds. Within every cell in our body, throughout every second of the day, biochemical reactions are taking place. Many of these reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. And all of these reactions are essential to life: they enable each cell to perfectly perform the job it has been tasked with - like, helping our heart pump, our liver to detoxify, or our brain to send neurological signals.
One of the most important reactions is cellular respiration, which is the term for the cell’s energy production process. Cellular respiration happens deep within the mitochondria, the powerplants of the cell. Cellular respiration uses several molecules, including carbon atoms from the food we eat and oxygen from the air we breathe, to make a substance called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is the major fuel source of the cell and therefore, our organs and tissues.
However, this life-essential process generates waste products called free radicals. In a way, free radicals are like the polluting exhaust generated by an engine that is burning fuel. Free radicals are commonly oxygen or nitrogen atoms with an unpaired electron in their outer shell. They are very unstable and move quickly to steal their missing electron from the closest stable molecule in its vicinity and in doing so, damage its molecular structure; the process is like the corrosive reaction which produces rust, although in this case, the impact may be with a fat or protein molecule, or even a strand of DNA.
Although free radicals have some important functions when present in the right place, with the right numbers, they can cause severe damage if overproduction occurs and the delicate cell equipment is harmed. So, preventing free radical damage is an important aspect of our ongoing health and vitality. However, many variables can contrive to make this a constant challenge: higher than normal levels of free radicals can be driven by environmental toxins, such as UV radiation, pollution and cigarette smoke and in addition, diets deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, or high in trans fats and sugar, also stimulate excessive free radical production.
Because they are at the core of the energy production process, mitochondria are responsible for 90 – 95% of the free radicals in our cells and as a result, are 10 times more exposed to free radicals than any other part of the cell. Mitochondria work hard to neutralize free radicals and keep them confined within, preventing them from escaping into the cell and creating problems. But over time, because of the constant free radical exposure, mitochondria start to suffer wear and tear.
Damage inflicted on mitochondria can be enough to kill them, but usually, does enough to disrupt their normal function. If the mitochondrial membrane is injured, it is less effective at containing free radicals, meaning that some may leak into the cell. Free radicals left unchecked can inflict severe damage on whatever cellular component they encounter – like the fat molecule, the protein molecule, or the DNA strand we mentioned earlier. And to make matters worse, dysfunctional mitochondria send incorrect messages, decrease energy production and produce more free radicals.
Initially, the consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction may be minimal, but because mitochondria can self-replicate; defective mitochondria end up making even more defective mitochondria. There is an accumulative effect and gradually, symptoms start to become more apparent. We don’t notice at first, but over time, we start to have less energy; we don’t recover as quickly from injury or illness; our organs age; and we start to look and feel older.
Hundreds of other vital cellular processes can be disrupted, causing severe damage to the cell and ultimately cell death. When cells are overwhelmed in this way, our body is in a state known as oxidative stress. At this point, symptoms become more widespread, as the disruption starts to impact on the functioning of our brain, liver, heart, kidney, and several other organs. Whole body systems, such as our immune system, are also affected.
Downstream, oxidative stress can cause some serious health issues and is known to be a precursor to many different health conditions; in the developed world, this includes seven of the top ten most costly to human life. Research also shows that oxidative stress is a major contributor to the aging process itself.
Reducing the risk of oxidative stress should be a top priority for an effective health strategy.
Learn More: Click Here
