Oxidative stress, also known as oxidant stress or oxidative pressure, is a term that often comes up in discussions about cellular health, free radicals and cell oxidation.
It is important to understand how they affect our body and how to counter them in order to protect our long-term well-being.
Oxidative stress and free radicals in a nutshell:
Oxidative stress is a natural phenomenon that refers to the imbalance between the production of free radicals and the amount of antioxidants available to and usable by the body.
Much like what happens when you cut an apple, our cells react to oxidation. An apple tends to turn brown because one of its enzymes reacts with oxygen and converts a molecule (called a phenol) into another molecule (called a quinone), which then breaks down into a brown pigment.
Adding lemon juice slows this browning because lemon contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, which reduces the amount of quinones and so prevents the brown pigment from forming.
Read: Combating oxidative stress
The same balance between oxidation and antioxidant defence plays out in every one of our cells.
Free radicals, which our body produces naturally, are molecules involved in the chemical reactions that accompany cellular life. In excess, they are potentially harmful to the body and can damage our cells and cause premature ageing.
Scientifically speaking, they are unstable molecules in the body that seek out electrons to complete themselves.
The problem is that this damages our cell membranes, our DNA and other cellular components involved in our metabolism.
As a result, antioxidants such as astaxanthin and vitamins C and E play a crucial role by neutralising these free radicals and preserving the integrity of our cells.
By taking a holistic approach built on a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, and by using algae-based supplements containing astaxanthin and zinc, we can support our body in countering oxidative stress and protect our long-term well-being.
Investing in our cellular health today is a decision that brings lasting benefits for our overall health.
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