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From the desk of Richard
Penfounde, your Naturally Healthy Lifestyle specialist.
We all know that pollution, radiation, ultra-violet lights,
computer screens, drugs both medical and street, chemicals in food
alcohol, antibiotics and hormones in meat, and numerous other toxins
are dramatically affecting our health.
I call the health problems that they cause “debilitating” in that
they affect our physiological and mental functioning and performance
on a daily basis.
We don't go to bed as a result but we walk around sick, suffering
from
arthritis, allergies, ME, MS, lupus, brain fatigue, mood swings,
etc.
The big question is how do these toxins cause these conditions? By
internal oxidation and by promoting the development of free radicals
inside our bodies.
Oxidation is the process whereby fats and oils become rancid (akin
to the rusting of metal). This doesn't happen suddenly but
cumulatively as our lifestyle speeds up.
Our cells start to behave abnormally, getting released into the
blood stream, causing a gradual degeneration of quality of life to
begin - tiredness usually being the initial symptom
Often something is diagnosed at this stage and medical drugs are
prescribed: these often exacerbate the condition.
Free radicals are teams of "fire-cracker"-like organisms which get
released randomly into our internal universe once cell behaviour
gets out of hand. They are so reactive, causing chaos like street
gangs, that each one burns up in one millionth of a second.
They can actually be seen under an electron microscope and they come
in all shapes, sizes and guises.
It is at this stage, when the free radicals start their rampage,
that we start to age biologically, physiologically and mentally.
Skin starts sagging as the supporting elastin and collagen collapse
like pillars crumbling under a ceiling: unfamiliar pains begin to
pop up here and there; mood swings and forgetfulness begin to
increase.
If that's the bad news then the good news is that nature anticipated
all this and, as has almost always been the case in history,
provided us with protection care systems.
These come in the form of vitamins and minerals, friendly bacteria,
and an ever growing team of anti-oxidants. It's only recently that
scientists have acknowledged these chaps.
They are needed in much larger doses than government Recommended
Daily Allowances and in far greater quantities than processed and
that intensively farmed foods can provide.
Organic foods are needed and/or supplementation to protect us from
toxins, and eliminate and reverse the conditions which result from
them.
Here are some ideas to help limit the punishment free radicals can
cause:
- Bring your elimination system up to scratch - overcome
constipation and diarrhoea.
- Aid digestion by eating enzyme-rich foods or supplements
- Ensure that urine is acidic in the morning - this kills pathogenic
bugs. By drinking cider vinegar and honey on retiring each night.
- Understand which anti-oxidants destroy free radicals:
- Beta-carotene and vitamin A, found in such foods as mangos,
papaya, green vegetables yellow vegetables, tomato, watermelons, and
red fruits.
- Vitamin C (a major free-radical scavenger) and vitamin E, which
teams up with vitamin C for cell membrane integrity and fighting
heart disease, both found in vegetables and fresh fruit juices.
- Pycnogenol, a powerful herbal antioxidant.
- Selenium, found in free range eggs, rice, oysters, lima beans, and
green vegetables.
- Taurine, an amino acid for liver disorders, found in poultry,
fish, nuts, beans, tofu, and mushrooms.
- GLA and flaxseed oil, which boost the immune system, and L
Acidophilus, which helps make folic acid and other B vitamins.
- Zinc, which teams up with selenium and promotes vitamin E
activity.
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