Antioxidants

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This section of the website is devoted to the subject of Antioxidants.  A subject that is far more complex than most people are initially aware of.  Antioxidants are an extremely hot topic.  A topic, which is it seems forever being written about in both the scientific and the popular press.  The role of antioxidants has been publicised as the key to the fountain of youth by every dietician and health guru out there.  This is mainly due to a number of positive studies, which were conducted primarily with Vitamin A (Retinol or Carotene), Vitamin C and Vitamin E.  Not to mention research into the intracellular antioxidants Glutathione Peroxidase, Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase.

A great deal of the observed affects of antioxidants in vitro have however been difficult to reproduce in vivo.  Despite this however, antioxidants remain extremely important in longevity research.  This is because, despite a number of non-conclusive results from experimentation with antioxidants, they have nonetheless been proven to be the primary mechanism for mopping up the highly damaging free radicals that are produced as a by-product of cellular metabolism.  These Free radicals (as discussed in other sections of this site) attack the organs and tissues of the body at a cellular and molecular level.  This includes attacking and oxidising the DNA of the chromosomes and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). 

In the sub-sections of this area of the site, I intend to outline the antioxidants that are the major players in the prevention of free radical accumulation and damage.  I will begin each sub-section with a definition of the antioxidant being discussed and its mechanisms of action.  I will then outline some of the current research and experimentation that involves that antioxidant. 

So now, as in other areas of the site, let’s throw forward a definition.

Definition of an Antioxidant

Antioxidant – substance that inhibits oxidation or inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen or peroxides.

More specifically, an antioxidant is a chemical that prevents the oxidation of other chemicals. In biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation (plus a minor contribution from ionizing radiation) produce highly reactive free radicals. These can readily react with and damage other molecules: in some cases the body uses this to fight infection. In other cases, the damage may be to the body’s own cells. The presence of extremely easily oxidisable compounds in the system can “mop up” free radicals before they damage other essential molecules.  http://dictionary.laborlawtalk.com/antioxidant

Mark S D'Arcy

Articles

  • What is Gerontology

    I think it might be worth defining on this site (just so there is no confusion) what exactly the science of Gerontology is.

    The subject known as Gerontology is the study of the process of aging throughout the lifespan of an individual. This multi-disciplinary subject analyses a variety of aspects of aging, including the physical, mental and social changes in individuals as they grow older. Professionals from a variety of diverse, but interconnected fields are known collectively as gerontologists.

    Gerontology covers such varied subjects as the effects of our aging population on society, including the financial effects of pensions, health insurance and retirement planning. How society itself views the elderly is also encompassed in this field.

    Gerontology distinguishes itself from geriatrics, the branch of medicine that studies the diseases of the old.

    12:18 10 October 2007
  • Research into Aging

    There are several other ways that are being looked into that may offer may anti-aging/life extension benefits that have not been mentioned as yet. IGF-1 has shown to be extraordinarily effective in reversing the aging process (up to 10X more effective than HGH). Resveratrol (found in red grape skins and hence red wine) has shown much promise in many studies; to the extent that several MIT researches doing one of the studies started supplimenting with it. Folate and B12 taken daily over a few months has been shown to drastically reduce the damage/mutation that can occur to DNA.

    With regard to calorie restriction Many studies suggest that it is not infact the calorie restriction as previously thought but rather maintaining low insulin levels, which happens to be a by product. So it is as much about what you eat as how much you eat. You could still each 3000 calories a day as long as they were from foods that didnt spike your insulin levels and mess with your insulin sensetivity ie not eating many simple carbohydrates etc

    There is also the energetic side of body or life force or call it what you will that when boosted has been shown to reverse chronic illness and aging with no form of supplements etc. Most of the centurian populations like the hunza etc incorporated some sort of meditation or practice that maintained their life force either knowingly or otherwise along with a good diet, exercise, sun etc and low stress.

    On a final note the human body is so remarkable and truely an amazing creation and we are still only so limited in our understanding of it and how it really works that rather than mess with it and start trying to fix or add this or that or think we can make part of it better we should instead address the cause of most of these problems. We drive ourselves and our bodies into the ground eat rubbish etc and program ourselve with mindless entertainment and wonder why we are falling apart and expect to be able to take a few pills and make it all better.

    We are creating and living in a society that is becoming void of any real sustanance whether it be nutritional, emotional or intellecutal. I am not pretending that i have all the answers but i know that if we keep heading in this direction i wouldnt want to live forever even if it were possible. What you do with your life is probably more important than how long it is. In any case given the right environment the body will flourish and the fact that it is still doing as well as it is despite what it is now subjected to is nothing more than a testement to how great it actually is.

    Rhonda Watson

    12:07 17 September 2007

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