The Antioxidant Advantage by Ryan Mace

Hundreds of various health promoting antioxidants can be found throughout nature. And while all antioxidants are great for the body, the purpose of today’s article is to focus in on five specific nutrients that form what is called the network antioxidants. Scientists have singled out these key players due to how they interact with one another and play an essential role in promoting optimal health. The network antioxidants consist of alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, and glutathione.

Before we go any further, I want to be sure that you understand what antioxidants are and the role they play in the human body. In short, antioxidants are chemicals that help prevent cellular damage by blocking the harmful actions of free radicals.   A free radical is an atom with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons.   Free radicals cause damage by attempting to steal electrons from our healthy cells in effort to become stable (paired).   This process can cause a domino effect in the body and wreak havoc on our health. Free radical damage has been linked to numerous maladies such as premature aging, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, periodontal disease, stroke, inflammation, and more.

In effort to quench their need for an electron, free radicals will attack any molecule including our very own DNA! However, with that said not all functions of free radicals jeopardize our health. Believe it or not, free radicals actually have an essential role in the body. For example, free radicals help regulate the diameter of blood vessels, neutralize harmful microbes, and destroy cancer cells. It is only when free radicals are present in excess or in the wrong place at the wrong time that the seeds for disease are planted.

In order to disarm free radicals and prevent them from making an onslaught on our vitality, it’s imperative that our bodies have an ample supply of antioxidants. According to Dr. Lester Packer, a leading expert in the field of free radicals and antioxidants, the network antioxidants play a major role in this battle. The network antioxidants have certain qualities that separate themselves from other antioxidants due to their keen ability to regenerate and increase the effectiveness of one another.
Alpha-lipoic acid is widely regarded as the most versatile and powerful antioxidant in the entire antioxidant defense network. According to Dr. Packer, alpha-lipoic acid is a metabolic antioxidant that plays an important role in energy production and can help in the prevention and therapy of chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as preventing damage from a stroke. The body is capable of making alpha-lipoic acid but it can also be supplemented and found in red meat, organ meats (such as liver), yeast (particularly brewer’s yeast), and spinach.

Vitamin E is perhaps one of the most widely known and studied vitamins and antioxidants.  It has been linked to reducing the risk to heart disease and cancer as well as preventing the oxidation of cholesterol and relieving symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin E can be found in many foods including vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, eggs, avocado, and wheat germ oil. It is also available as a supplement.

Vitamin C is a potent free radical quencher that plays a pivotal role in promoting a strong immune system. Research suggests that vitamin C can help in the prevention of cancer, boost immune function, strengthen and repair tissues in all parts of the body, and protect the eyes against cataracts. Fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamin C and include citrus fruits, mango, papaya, berries, broccoli, peppers, leafy greens, and tomatoes.

Coenzyme Q10 (CO Q10) has been dubbed the heart healthy antioxidant and commonly used in the treatment of heart and blood vessel conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chest pain (angina), and high blood pressure. CO Q10 plays an essential role in producing energy within our cells. With over 2 million heart cells working around the clock, you can begin to see the direct correlation between CO Q10 and heart health. CO Q10 has also been shown to be helpful in the treatment of periodontal disease, strengthening the immune system, and preventing cancer.   CO Q10 is made by the body but can also be taken as a supplement. Food sources of CO Q10 include oils, seeds, nuts, meat, fish, and sulfurous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Glutathione is coined the nature’s master antioxidant and widely considered the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia and more! Glutathione is produced by liver and has been shown to promote healthy liver function, rejuvenate the immune system, regulate inflammatory responses, and prevent damage to our cells and tissues. Medical professionals use glutathione injections to help offset the poisonous side effects of chemotherapy. Natural sources of glutathione include sulfur-rich vegetables such as garlic, onions, parsley and cruciferous vegetables, high-quality whey protein, eggs, and meat.

Medical professionals estimate that more than 70 percent of Americans will die prematurely from diseases caused by or compounded by oxidative stress and deficiencies in antioxidants. Although antioxidants are readily available in supplemental form, it’s encouraged that you make natural foods your primary source. Just keep in mind, despite the ample evidence to support the health promoting effects of antioxidants it’s a person’s age, lifestyle, and genetics that will ultimately determine one’s overall state of health.

To learn more about antioxidants and their health promoting effects I encourage you to read the work of Dr. Lester Packer. Dr. Packer is a leading expert in molecular, cellular, and physiological aspects of free radical and antioxidant metabolisms in biological systems.

Type 2 Diabetes: The Preventable Pandemic by Ryan Mace

John Hopkins Medicine reports that more than 25 million Americans currently suffer from diabetes.  And perhaps the most alarming statistic is that 90-95 % have a curable form called type 2. This means that every day, millions of Americans are suffering from a wide range of debilitating symptoms that can be fully prevented!  The symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly and may include:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination.
• Increased hunger.
• Weight loss.
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision.
• Slow-healing sores or frequent infections.
• Areas of darkened skin.

*** Left untreated, type 2 diabetes, also known as the silent killer, may cause irreversible eye and heart disease as well as nerve and kidney damage.***

Before presenting the preventative measures you can take to rid the body of type 2 diabetes it’s critical that you understand its pathology. First, there are two forms of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Although similar in name, they are vastly different ailments that involve the hormone called insulin and the sugar molecule called glucose. Glucose is the master fuel of the human body and insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin helps shuttle glucose into the cells where it will be used for energy production. Type 1 diabetics rely on injecting themselves with insulin, because the beta cells located inside the pancreas no longer function properly. In contrast, the pancreas of type 2 diabetics still produces insulin, but due to the body’s poor state of health, the body’s own cells actually start rejecting the insulin; causing glucose to congregate in the bloodstream and increase the risk factors associated with this silent killer.

Medical professional utilize several classes of medicine to help treat type 2 diabetes. Each of these drugs work in a different ways to lower blood sugar and are accompanied with their fair share of side effects.

These drugs may work by:

• Stimulating the pancreas to produce and release more insulin.
• Inhibiting the production and release of glucose from the liver.
• Blocking the action of stomach enzymes that break down carbohydrates.
• Improving the sensitivity of cells to insulin.
• Inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys.
• Slowing how quickly food moves through the stomach.

 Potential side effects of common diabetes drugs may include:

•  Low blood sugar, upset stomach, and skin rash or itching.
• Sickness with alcohol, kidney complications, upset stomach, tiredness or dizziness, metal taste
• Gas, bloating and diarrhea
• Weight gain, risk of liver disease, anemia risk, swelling of legs or ankles,

A healthy lifestyle should be at the forefront of treating diabetes.  Restoring the body’s intelligence at a cellular level will require dedication, discipline and patience. Type 2 diabetes does not develop in the body overnight and, as a result, will not go away overnight. However, working with a medical professional to form a strong plan of action that includes an abundance of health-promoting foods and moderate amounts of physical activity will certainly help improve your overall state of health.

One of the most powerful steps you can take to promote optimal health and ward off disease is eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the day. I have encouraged people to follow the 90/10 Rule – eat healthy foods at least 90% of the time and only 10% of the time indulge in not-so-healthy foods. Your daily intake of nutrient-dense foods will have an accumulative effect on your health and help restore the body’s intelligence. Diabetic-friendly recipes can be found at http://www.diabetic-recipes.com.

Another critical aspect in the treatment of diabetes is physical activity.  Exercise increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin and promotes overall health. The great part about exercise is that it comes in many forms – weight training, walking, bike riding, yoga, etc.  Which activity you choose isn’t nearly as important as simply committing to an active lifestyle.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days per week. Just like nutrition, exercise also has an accumulative effect on the body.
If you or someone you know are part of the millions of Americans suffering with type 2 diabetes it’s imperative you understand that you can live diabetic free!  As mentioned, this battle will require dedication, discipline and patience. Armed with knowledge, The 90/10 Rule, The Healthiest Foods on Earth (located below) and an unwavering commitment to take control of your health, you will beat type 2 diabetes!

*** Copy of HealthiestFoodsOnEarth ***


Ryan Mace can be reached at ryan@ryanmace.com and followed via:

Twitter @RyanMace3,
Google+ @ https://plus.google.com/+RyanMace1/about, and
LinkedIn @ www.linkedin.com/pub/ryan-mace/15/2bb/34b/

The 90/10 Lifestyle– Your Guide to Optimal Health By Ryan Mace

For a moment, let’s compare health and nutrition to how we maintain a bank account. Our goal with a bank account is to make as many deposits as possible, while minimizing  withdrawals – we want to accumulate savings! How this relates to health and nutrition is simple – healthy foods make deposits into your health account (promote health) and unhealthy foods make withdrawals (promote disease). In other words, responsible spending will not jeopardize your ability to save money. Thus, one healthy meal will not make you the poster child of health, nor will a single unhealthy meal send you to your grave early.

It’s your lifestyle, what you do day-in and day-out that will determine whether you are nutritionally rich or poor.

The body is resilient and life is too short not to indulge from time to time. A fair balance that allows you to promote health, yet still have fun is found in the90/10 rule: Eat healthy foods 90% of the time and indulge the remaining 10%. With this philosophy your overall lifestyle will have an accumulative effect on your health and set the stage for a rich health account!
As Hippocrates originally said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

•  The Healthiest Foods on Earth Guide (provided below) is a helpful tool that identifies more than 200 power foods you should eat 90% of the time, with the most power foods in bold. The remaining 10% of the time, you can commit nutritional sin – indulge! This document should be taken with you every time you shop for groceries.

Remember, lifestyle is the single most important factor in determining your overall health and fitness. There is no need to embrace fad diets and extreme exercise.

*** Copy of HealthiestFoodsOnEarth ***


Ryan Mace can be reached at ryan@ryanmace.com and followed via:

Twitter @RyanMace3,
Google+@ https://plus.google.com/+RyanMace1/about,
LinkedIn@ www.linkedin.com/pub/ryan-mace/15/2bb/34b/