What are free radicals? Why are they damaging to the human body? And
how does vitamin E and the other antioxidant nutrients help protect the
body against free radical damage? We’ll attempt to answer these questions
and help you understand why eating 5-8 servings per day of anti-oxidant
rich fruits and vegetables can benefit your health. But first, a little
background…
Background: A Brief Look at Chemical Bonding
To understand the way that free radicals and antioxidants
interact, you must first understand a bit about cells and molecules.
So here's a (very) brief refresher course in Physiology/Chemistry
101: The hu
man
body is composed of many different types of cells. Cells are composed of
many different types of molecules. Molecules consist of one or more atoms
of one or more elements joined by chemical bonds.
As you probably remember from your old high school days, atoms consist
of a nucleus, neutrons, protons and electrons. The number of protons
(positively charged particles) in the atom’s nucleus determines the number
of electrons (negatively charged particles) surrounding the atom.
Electrons are involved in chemical reactions and are the substance that
bonds atoms together to form molecules. Electrons surround, or "orbit" an
atom in one or more shells. The innermost shell is full when it has two
electrons. When the first shell is full, electrons begin to fill the
second shell. When the second shell has eight electrons, it is full, and
so on.
The most important structural feature of an atom for determining
its chemical behavior is the number of electrons in its outer shell. A
substance that has a full outer shell tends not to enter in chemical
reactions (an inert substance). Because atoms seek to reach a state of
maximum stability, an atom will try to fill it’s outer shell by:
- Gaining or losing electrons to either fill or empty its outer shell
- Sharing its electrons by bonding together with other atoms in order
to complete its outer shell
Atoms often complete their outer shells by sharing electrons with other
atoms. By sharing electrons, the atoms are bound together and satisfy the
conditions of maximum stability for the molecule.
How Free Radicals are Formed
Normally, bonds don’t split in a way that leaves a molecule with an
odd, unpaired electron. But when weak bonds split, free radicals are
formed. Free radicals are very unstable and react quickly with other
compounds, trying to capture the needed electron to gain stability.
Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, "stealing"
its electron. When the "attacked" molecule loses its electron, it becomes
a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is
started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living
cell.
Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes the
body’s immune system’s cells purposefully create them to neutralize
viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors such as pollution,
radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals.
Normally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are
unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage
can occur. Of particular importance is that free radical damage
accumulates with age.
How Antioxidants May Prevent Against Free Radical Damage
The vitamins C and E, are thought to protect the body against the
destructive effects of free radicals. Antioxidants neutralize free
radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the
electron-"stealing" reaction. The antioxidant nutrients themselves don’t
become free radicals by donating an electron because they are stable in
either form They act as scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue
damage that could lead to cellular damage and disease.
For the past three years our research team at Sharp Labs Inc. has been watching the outcome of many placebos for various tests on many so claimed "Super Antioxidants". We know now so much more about what vitamins and minerals work as true antioxidants for our immune system and what vitamin co factors work well together with regard to antioxidant performance. We are proud to offer our best antioxidant formula yet. "Cell Protect" is a super antioxidant formula that is dynamic and keeps changing with modern research results. We keep our formula top notch for only the best in aiding your diet for immune system boosting power.
For instance did you know?
1)Vitamin A has been ruled out as a super antioxidant in high doses and can actually be harmful and increase
cancer risk especially in smokers. Vitamin A in small doses such as in "Cell Protect" although works well with Vitamin E and other vitamins.
2)Flax Seed extracts have had good results while being tested for antioxidant performance.
3)Garlic is quickly becoming our most exciting antioxidant ingredient yet amd tests have shown that garlic
is all good and has no bad side effects. Garlic powder extract will be released in our newest "Cell Protect"
formula being released shortly.
4)Vitamin C can be used in large amounts and not be harmful but our bodies will only process set amounts for what it needs. We know this and apply this formula to the production of our super "Cell Protect" antioxidant supplement.
This is just a brief description of some facts that we have researched and uncovered throughout our antioxidant and immune system studies and hope you will choose "Cell Protect" as your daily antioxidant supplement. We offer you only the finest and purest extracts and strains in all of our supplements!
