Ninety-eight percent of the oxygen we breathe is utilized by small powerhouses within our cells known as mitochondria. These mitochondria convert sugar, fats, and inorganic phosphate by combining them with oxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal form of energy required for our survival. This energy production process in the mitochondria is a highly intricate and complex biochemical mechanism that relies on a multitude of enzymes (estimated to range from 500 to 10,000 sets of oxidative enzymes). These enzymes, in turn, depend on numerous nutrient factors and co-factors. During this metabolic process, a small fraction of excess oxygen loses electrons, resulting in the creation of free radicals. These free radicals can cause damage to our cellular membranes. Through these damaged areas, calcium can infiltrate our cells, leading to cell death. This weakening of tissues and organs results in our bodies becoming more vulnerable to various invaders like cancer, atherosclerosis, premature aging, and other health issues.
Given the amount of oxygen we inhale daily, our bodies are subject to immense oxidative stress. For example, our bodies endure 630 quadrillion damaging oxygen hits each day. On a cellular level, each of our cells experiences about 10,000 hits per day, with each DNA strand in the cell being struck approximately 5,000 times daily. This constant bombardment by free radicals leads to thousands of changes or mutations in a typical human cell daily. If one DNA strand is damaged and isn't repaired before its counterpart is affected, it can potentially result in lethal cancer.
Furthermore, free radicals can also originate from various sources, including environmental pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, chemicals, and herbicides.
The key to maintaining a healthy body lies in repairing the damage caused by free radicals before it's irreversible and protecting our body's tissue cells from free radical-induced mutations. Antioxidants are substances with the ability to break free-radical chain reactions. These antioxidants act as bouncers, deactivating potentially harmful free radicals before they can harm a cell's machinery. Many antioxidants are derived from plants and are known as phytochemicals. Over 60,000 of these plant chemicals have been identified. Some of the most effective and dedicated antioxidants include Vitamins A, C, and E, collectively known as the ACE trio. Among these, Vitamin C is considered the most potent.
While each cell produces its antioxidants, the capacity to generate them decreases as we age. Therefore, our diet should provide antioxidants, phytochemicals (found in fruits and vegetables), as well as additional vitamins and minerals.
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