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In order to understand the importance of redox signaling, we need to have a clear understanding of the metabolic process and some basic terms:
Free radicals form when a group of atoms, having an odd number of electrons, (resulting in one or more unpaired electrons) interact with oxygen. While this can be a bewildering idea, it’s true, our bodies rely on oxygen in order to survive. However, if not balanced by supplements or the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms, this oxygenation process is also expensive to our health and contributes to disease, aging, and deterioration.
Oxidative damage occurs when these unstable free radicals interact with other molecules in the body. As these unstable reactive radicals domino, one unstable molecule steals an electron from the next and so on. This results in a snowball effect and creating imbalance in reductants and oxidants greater than the body is able to remedy or mitigate.
The deleterious effects of oxidative damage affect DNA and cell function. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body must deploy its defense system of antioxidants including , Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), and Catalase, or utilize external supplemental sources of antioxidants. Redox signaling supplements can increase our body’s production of these endogenously produced antioxidants.
Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. work by reducing oxidants into their reduced form through donating electrons without becoming free radicals themselves.
Reduction is a type of redox signaling reaction. Every time molecules are reduced, they change shape and function. This is good news for our bodies. As the oxidative stress in our bodies is balanced, either through natural processes or with proper supplementation, remediation and recycling can occur in the following imperative areas: repairing damaged molecules including DNA, chelating or removing toxic metals, increasing natural endogenous production of antioxidants, enhancing protection from free radicals, or promoing apoptosis (death of cancerous or mutated cells).
Each person’s cell redox potential affects the whole mechanism of every cell in the body including the expression of genes. When redox signaling is operating well, genes then express the molecules that are necessary to restore the homeostatic balance that are either replacing, recycling, or repairing the cell. This homeostatic restoration balance takes place through redox signaling. Plainly put, if our redox signaling molecules are not functioning optimally, our genes cannot function optimally.
The importance of this cannot be overstated: redox signaling processes in the cells are the fundamental processes by which the cell detects damage and then start the repair and replace mechanisms taking place in the mitochondria, including autophagy and apoptosis.
Apoptosis is a process of cell death also referred to as cell suicide. Apoptosis should begin only two hours following detection of too high levels of oxidants in the cell. In , apoptosis does not occur, allowing cancer cells to become immortal. The cells are unable to detect damage and unable to repair themselves. In this case, the mitochondria have broken down as a result of their lost ability to carry on the network of redox signaling, impairing the apoptosis process from taking place. When a cancer cell goes rogue it continues to replicate itself and spreads to other parts of the body leading to death.
Autophagy is the single pathway to remove and recycle older mitochondria that are broken. This process removes poor functioning mitochondria without killing the cell. This process occurs most often during sleep. Autophagy has been of major interest to the Paleo and biohacking communities in recent years as we are learning of various supplements, lifestyle changes, and dietary changes that have the ability to increase autophagy, and improve redox potential and mitochondrial health.
Some of the most popular tools include implementing proper , use of Asea, and other supplements, including dietary tools such as , blocking the blue light spectrum, and cryotherapy.
With regard to chronic infection and chronic disease, , bacteria, and parasites thrive in bodies that have compromised mitochondrial function.
