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| Vitamins & Supplements with Dr. Kopko |
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Free Radicals
April 2002 |
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| in this issue: "free radicals" |
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- What are free radicals?
- Why are free radicals harmful?
- The importance of Vitamins A, C and E.
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| Overview |
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In
this issue we will discuss free radicals, how they can
damage the body and the role of antioxidant nutrients
in exercise and general health.
Your
"ACE in the hole" in the game of free
radicals.
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| What are free radicals? |
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| Free
radicals are not a product of the 60's. They are however
unstable, free-spirited and highly polarized. Free
radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd unpaired
number of electrons. Wow! What does that mean? It means
that when you inhale pollutants or consume toxins in your
food, these chemicals can and will react with oxygen and
tissues in your body and rip-off their electrons. The molecule
that was ripped-off becomes polarized and seeks out another
electron and a chain reaction starts called a cascade.
These free radicals are like magnets that oxidize
delicate tissues in your body, like your lungs. A good example
is how oxygen, which can itself be a free radical, oxidizes
a piece of metal left outside. It rusts, right? And the
metal is damaged, isn't it? You might say that free radicals
cause your body to "rust". |
| Why are free radicals harmful? |
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Did
you know that in every puff of cigarette smoke there are
10 to the 17th power of free radical molecules? That is
the number 1 with 17 zeros after it. Pretty big wouldn't
you say? These free radicals wreak havoc on your lung tissue
and cause lung cancer. It is believed by many researchers
that aging itself is caused by free radical damage. Other
sources of free radicals are ionizing radiation like x-rays,
ultraviolet rays from the sun, low level non-ionizing radiation
like microwaves and toxic chemicals. So how does the body
not rust itself to death?
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| The Importance of Vitamins A, C and E. |
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| First of all it would not be
fair to our free radical brothers and sisters not to mention
that many protective mechanisms in the body are self-generated
free radicals. For instance the very way that a white blood
cell kills an invading organism is by the body's production
of free radicals forming a bleach-like substance called
hypochlorous acid. This is called cytotoxicity and
the futuristic "magic bullets" that you read about
for the treatment of cancer are custom designed free radicals.
Free radical reactions are very efficient at killing cells
and modern medicine is trying to mimic this process.
On the other hand why not help the body eliminate or
neutralize harmful free radicals and their oxidizing damage
before the disease process ensues? And we can! They are
called antioxidants or free radical scavengers.
These substances donate electrons and stop the domino
effect dead in it tracks. Vitamins E and C are powerful
antioxidants and in fact help each other regenerate themselves
so that the body can use them more efficiently. Vitamin
A is a little tricky. It is really beta-carotene or pro-vitamin
A that has the antioxidant capabilities. Vitamin A helps
all tissues repair themselves but it is beta-carotene
that has the superior antioxidant quality. It is this
antioxidant quality that has prompted the skin care industry
to make products with vitamins E and C in them. Since
Vitamin E is fat-soluble it makes for a better skin care
product because the skin will absorb it better than water-soluble
vitamin C. Remember your body does not make these vitamins,
they must be consumed either through food or supplementation
on a daily basis.
There are many excellent antioxidant products available
today. I recommend antioxidant products made by PHYSIOLOGICS
and METAGENICS.
There are many products to choose from and an individual's
lifestyle and health risks are the key. For example, if
you smoke cigarettes obviously your lungs are at issue.
In my practice the product of choice is PNEUMO-CAROTENE.
Another example would be people who exercise by jogging
or completive running. Keep in mind that you are processing
extra oxygen that can potentially cause free radical damage.
The more oxygen you process the more antioxidants your
body needs. Researchers have reported that post exercise
muscle aches and pains are the result of oxidative stress
to muscles. The products of choice in this case would
be OXYGENICS.
A specialized form of vitamin E, which is water-soluble
for people who have problems absorbing oils, is available
and is called MYCELIZED
VITAMIN E. A good source of beta and all the carotenes
is MULTI
CAROTENE. My favorite vitamin C product is ULTRA
POTENT-C 1000.
As usual please e-mail me with any questions.
Yours For Better Health,
Dr. Peter L. Kopko, D.C.
Newsletter
Disclaimer:
“All
advice given to potential customers via email, phone or fax
IS
NOT intended to replace or supercede the advice of a
licensed
physician, and all persons are strongly encouraged to see
their
personal health care provider before beginning any
alternative
health or herbal regimen to rule out medical issues and to
ensure that said herbs or treatments will not interfere
w/any
current medications and/or conditions.
Any claims regarding the efficacy of said alternative
health treatments and/or herbal therapies have not been
substantiated by the FDA and should be taken at face value,
at
the customer’s own risk.”
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| Featured Guide |
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| Hello,
my name is Dr. Peter Kopko, D.C.
I am
a Board Certified Chiropractor and a devout practitioner
of
manual and nutritional therapy and I am YOUR
guide to Vitamins & Supplements!
You
can send an e-mail with your questions or comments to
me
by
Clicking Here!
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