Recently, I wrote about free radicals, how they functioned and their link to disease. We discussed how they were linked to diseases such as Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Stroke and other degenerative diseases. We also talked about their link to the total aging process.
I mentioned that antioxidants, like those found in Acai berries, blueberries, etc are needed to fight them. But, we didn't really get into why these are so valuable.
You already know, that free radicals are particles that only contain one electron. This makes them unstable, and they "steal" electrons from you body’s cells causing new organisms that are linked to disease.
Antioxidants work by neutralizing these rogue agents before they have a chance to do damage in your body. They really are the opposite of these oxidizing particles, which don’t have enough electrons. These “Anti”-“Oxidants” have electrons to spare.
Just like in comic books you may have read as a kid, antioxidants are like the super hero with free radicals being the nemesis. The arch enemy if you will.
They work because they have plenty of extra electrons that they can "donate" to the free radical. Once it has 2 electrons, it is no longer unstable. It is just a neutral molecule.
And, as a neutral molecule, the body can just eliminate it. So, in a nutshell, that’s what an antioxidant is - Any substance that binds to free radicals and makes them powerless to steal valuable electrons from your other body cells.
Some of the strongest antioxidants are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene and Selenium. So, it is extremely important that your body receives high enough quantities of these substances.
Think of antioxidants as the super heroes fighting the radical free molecules or “villains”. They work because they can easily donate an electron to the free radical, making it powerless.
Many food items, like Acai berries are loaded with these vitamins and you should investigate ways you can add them to your diet. You should look for foods that are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene and Selenium. Just like with any other diet change, you should talk to you doctor. But, fortunately more and more food items, like Acai berry are being discovered to have high levels of antioxidants. That makes adding them to your diet safe and easy.
You have the chance to win the ongoing battle with free radicals. Fight them by adding strong antioxidants to your diet.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Who in the World is Dr. Denham Harman and What is His Connection to Free Radicals
Like you, I have a number of people who have made an impact in my life. Some I have met, others I have not. Some of them, I am not even aware of. Ironically, one of the people who has had the most impact on my recent life has no idea of who I am.
In fact, he probably had no idea that he would affect me, and so many people like me.
And, chances are very good that you have no idea who he is either. You have probably never even heard his name. Dr. Denham Harman.
Who is Dr. Denham Harman?
He is simply the man responsible for discovering what I think is one of the most important discoveries of our time. The free radical theory of aging.
Yes, that’s right; Dr. Harmon is famous for discovering the link between aging, and the damage done by free radicals entering your body. He is now known as the "father of the free radical theory of aging".
Dr. Harmon was born on February 14, 1916 and earned his Ph. D. in 1943 when he went to work for Shell Oil. Yes, that’s right, a petroleum company. While at Shell, he was responsible for 35 patents, including one for a fly strip. One of those sticky things you hang up to catch flies.
Kind of unremarkable in itself, but this is where his story gets more interesting. You see, it was interesting set of coincidences that brought us some of the most important scientific discoveries of our time. At least in my opinion.
First, Dr. Harman's his job at Shell was to study free radical reactions in petroleum products. At that time, no one including the doctor himself had thought anything about free radicals and aging.
The second "coincidence" was that Dr Harman became fascinated with aging. He became interested in learning what caused it, and if it could be stopped or at least slowed down. His interest in aging and with health - Dr. Harmon ran 2 miles a day until he turned 82, leads me to believe he had no interest in ever getting old.
In order to learn more about aging, Denham went back to school. Stanford Medical School to be precise. He was finally able to begin pursuing his passion of the study in aging at the Donner Laboratory in Berkley.
It was 1954, when Dr. Harmon came up with an idea. An idea that free radicals caused damage to molecules, which then caused aging.
He has spent the remainder of his life, including while holding a position as chair of cardiovascular research at the University of Nebraska, furthering the study of aging. He formed the American Aging Association in 1970 to create a society of scientists focused on this neglected area of study. In 1985 he founded the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology.
Most people have never heard of Dr. Denham Harman. And he will certainly never know how his discovery has changed my life because my interest in health and Acai berries got me interested in free radicals and antioxidants.
But, it often works out that way in life. One person makes a discovery, another expands on it and eventually we find a solution. I happen to think it’s important to give credit, where credit is due.
Many people have expanded the research on free radicals, antioxidants and aging. But Dr. Denham Harman will always be known as the "father of the free radical theory of aging".
In fact, he probably had no idea that he would affect me, and so many people like me.
And, chances are very good that you have no idea who he is either. You have probably never even heard his name. Dr. Denham Harman.
Who is Dr. Denham Harman?
He is simply the man responsible for discovering what I think is one of the most important discoveries of our time. The free radical theory of aging.
Yes, that’s right; Dr. Harmon is famous for discovering the link between aging, and the damage done by free radicals entering your body. He is now known as the "father of the free radical theory of aging".
Dr. Harmon was born on February 14, 1916 and earned his Ph. D. in 1943 when he went to work for Shell Oil. Yes, that’s right, a petroleum company. While at Shell, he was responsible for 35 patents, including one for a fly strip. One of those sticky things you hang up to catch flies.
Kind of unremarkable in itself, but this is where his story gets more interesting. You see, it was interesting set of coincidences that brought us some of the most important scientific discoveries of our time. At least in my opinion.
First, Dr. Harman's his job at Shell was to study free radical reactions in petroleum products. At that time, no one including the doctor himself had thought anything about free radicals and aging.
The second "coincidence" was that Dr Harman became fascinated with aging. He became interested in learning what caused it, and if it could be stopped or at least slowed down. His interest in aging and with health - Dr. Harmon ran 2 miles a day until he turned 82, leads me to believe he had no interest in ever getting old.
In order to learn more about aging, Denham went back to school. Stanford Medical School to be precise. He was finally able to begin pursuing his passion of the study in aging at the Donner Laboratory in Berkley.
It was 1954, when Dr. Harmon came up with an idea. An idea that free radicals caused damage to molecules, which then caused aging.
He has spent the remainder of his life, including while holding a position as chair of cardiovascular research at the University of Nebraska, furthering the study of aging. He formed the American Aging Association in 1970 to create a society of scientists focused on this neglected area of study. In 1985 he founded the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology.
Most people have never heard of Dr. Denham Harman. And he will certainly never know how his discovery has changed my life because my interest in health and Acai berries got me interested in free radicals and antioxidants.
But, it often works out that way in life. One person makes a discovery, another expands on it and eventually we find a solution. I happen to think it’s important to give credit, where credit is due.
Many people have expanded the research on free radicals, antioxidants and aging. But Dr. Denham Harman will always be known as the "father of the free radical theory of aging".
Free Radicals - What Do We Know?
Free radicals, oxidation, and cell damage. Its fairly common knowledge that our body's are constantly under attack. Chances are you have heard of antioxidants, Acai berries, grape seed extract or mangosteen for fighting them.
However, you may not know what any of this means. Its common to dismiss claims about products like Acai Berry as snake oil. This is because many people don't know what free radicals or antioxidants are.
But, we do in fact know a number of things, even though research is new. Scientists are uncovering new links between disease and free radicals, and are starting to understand why antioxidants are effective.
Research into free radicals really started to take place in the 90's, when it was discovered that they had a link to atheroclerosis, a type of artery clogging disease.
Scientists now believe that free radical damage is linked to stroke, several skin diseases, Alzheimer's disease and Cancer. Many scientists attribute all aging effects to this particles damage to your cells.
In a free radical molecule, only one electron is present. You might remember, from your science classes, that molecules are very unstable if they only have 1 electron. It is constantly looking for another electron to join forces with.
A typical example of this, is water or H2O. In water, there is one oxygen molecule, and 2 hydrogen molecules. Notice there is only 1 oxygen molecule, while the oxygen you breath is O2. O2 tells you there are 2 oxygen molecules. O1, or an oxygen molecule with one electron, cannot live on its own. Since it can't exist with only 1 electron, it joins with hydrogen, changing it into water.
This reaction is known as oxidization. The hydrogen oxidizes into water, once the binding occurs. The final result, is somthing totally different, water.
A more well known type of oxidization is rust. The scientific name for rust is Ferrous-Oxide. When an oxygen molecule binds with iron, rust is formed.
In your body, the reaction is similar. Pollution, cigarrete smoke and chemicals are a few of the known sources of free radicals.
Regardless of what causes them, we know that once these free radicals enter the body, they need to join with other molecules. Changes, at a molecular level begin as soon as these free radicals bind with the molecules in your cells. The molecule changes into something else, just like water and rust. In your bodies case this can be cancer, clogged arteries, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
There is a good understanding of how free radicals work, even though research is still ongoing. Free radicals need to attach to your cells because of their single electron structure. Just like oxidization that turns iron into rust, your cell becomes something different.
The best way to fight free radicals, is with antioxidants. Acai berries, blueberries, mangosteen and other high antioxidant foods should be added to your diet.
There are still many discoveries to be made in the links between disease and free radicals and how to fight them. But, we must fight back.
However, you may not know what any of this means. Its common to dismiss claims about products like Acai Berry as snake oil. This is because many people don't know what free radicals or antioxidants are.
But, we do in fact know a number of things, even though research is new. Scientists are uncovering new links between disease and free radicals, and are starting to understand why antioxidants are effective.
Research into free radicals really started to take place in the 90's, when it was discovered that they had a link to atheroclerosis, a type of artery clogging disease.
Scientists now believe that free radical damage is linked to stroke, several skin diseases, Alzheimer's disease and Cancer. Many scientists attribute all aging effects to this particles damage to your cells.
In a free radical molecule, only one electron is present. You might remember, from your science classes, that molecules are very unstable if they only have 1 electron. It is constantly looking for another electron to join forces with.
A typical example of this, is water or H2O. In water, there is one oxygen molecule, and 2 hydrogen molecules. Notice there is only 1 oxygen molecule, while the oxygen you breath is O2. O2 tells you there are 2 oxygen molecules. O1, or an oxygen molecule with one electron, cannot live on its own. Since it can't exist with only 1 electron, it joins with hydrogen, changing it into water.
This reaction is known as oxidization. The hydrogen oxidizes into water, once the binding occurs. The final result, is somthing totally different, water.
A more well known type of oxidization is rust. The scientific name for rust is Ferrous-Oxide. When an oxygen molecule binds with iron, rust is formed.
In your body, the reaction is similar. Pollution, cigarrete smoke and chemicals are a few of the known sources of free radicals.
Regardless of what causes them, we know that once these free radicals enter the body, they need to join with other molecules. Changes, at a molecular level begin as soon as these free radicals bind with the molecules in your cells. The molecule changes into something else, just like water and rust. In your bodies case this can be cancer, clogged arteries, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
There is a good understanding of how free radicals work, even though research is still ongoing. Free radicals need to attach to your cells because of their single electron structure. Just like oxidization that turns iron into rust, your cell becomes something different.
The best way to fight free radicals, is with antioxidants. Acai berries, blueberries, mangosteen and other high antioxidant foods should be added to your diet.
There are still many discoveries to be made in the links between disease and free radicals and how to fight them. But, we must fight back.
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