What Kind of Stress?

Any action that occurs in our bodies on a cellular level will leave a residue, if you will, or a trace of activity which is referred to as oxidative stress. We have oxidative stress just from being alive, but it is also exacerbated and accelerated by exposure to toxins and by inflammation from illness and even from exercise. Left unchecked it can cause free radical buildup and DNA damage and disease.

What you may not know is that the body has a mechanism for clearing up this damage and for the most part, oxidative stress is normal and not a cause for alarm. The body has its own little "pac men" (are you old enough to know what video game I am referring to?) and they are antioxidants.

We hear about antioxidants all the time, but they don't start in our diet they start in our body. In other words, we have endogenous antioxidants that clean up this residue. I understand that there are five main ones, but the one that I am most familiar with is called superoxide dismutase which is abbreviated sod.

Two things can happen that lead to disease processes from free radical damage. The diseases include cancer and cardiovascular disease. Either the stresses are too much for the endogenous antioxidants to clear up or the body is exposed to other elements that actually reduce the amount of natural antioxidants in the body (the chemicals in tobacco smoke can do that).

Either way, it is important for us to also take advantage of outside or exogenous sources of antioxidants which can be found in our fruits, vegetables and grains - and a plant based diet. The science that supports the positive effect of introducing antioxidants and phytochemicals is in large part related to foods, not supplements. At least one study found supplements to be harmful in smokers, even though they are antioxidant deficient.

A diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and all the vitamins they provide can protect the heart and brain from the effects of cellular damage. This damage would include problems with blood flow. It is our blood that provides nutrient rich oxygen to all our tissues, cells and organs - so your fruits and veggies along with Omega 3 fatty acids can protect against heart attack, stroke and apparently dementia related illnesses.