Free radicals come from food
Sugar, when consumed in excess, generates more free radicals than your antioxidants can neutralize. Researchers have found that consuming the amount of sugar in two cans of cola doubles free radical generation. Chronic excess sugar consumption generates the tar-like Advanced Glycation End Products that create more free radicals. Sugar also interferes with absorption of powerful antioxidant Vitamin C. Cooking oils that have gone rancid are sources of free radicals. Rancidity can be due to heating an oil past its smoke point, re-heating oils that have been cooled (which occurs in commercial deep frying), and simply having a bottle of oil for too long (which occurs when consumers buy commercial-sized products). Unless otherwise marked, processed meats contain preservatives that can generate free radicals.Free radicals come from excess body fat
Excess body fat triggers the release of the protein adipokine, which induces free radicals. While normal adipose (fat) tissue contains protective factors, like adiponectin, these beneficial substances are found in reduced amounts in obese people. While the fat that accumulates just below the skin throughout the body (subcutaneous) is a source of free radicals, it’s the fat that accumulates in the mid-section around critical organs (visceral) that can be more dangerous. When that fat accumulates in the liver, it promotes oxidative stress while depleting master antioxidant glutathione. Because the liver depends on glutathione for removal of foreign substances from the body, the liver cell free radicals and simultaneous glutathione depletion are particularly dangerous.Free radicals come from environmental contaminants
Exposure to heavy metals can generate free radicals. And no, parents of 1980s teenagers, there is still no evidence that Judas Priest and Twisted Sister are bad for health. We’re talking about mercury, lead, and arsenic that industrial facilities release into the environment. Radiation — from Hiroshima to x-rays — causes free radical production. This includes UV radiation, e.g. sunlight. You can see the damage of UV-induced free radicals in sagging and wrinkled skin. And now to the big news: Huffing paint is bad for you. Chemicals used in paints, dyes, medical technology, fuels, and as industrial solvents cause free radicals.
Researchers have found oxidative stress in the brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood after sustained inhalation of toluene, which is used in consumer products including nail polish remover, paints, and glues. Pesticides have been correlated with oxidative stress biomarkers in farmers. These chemicals are specifically developed to kill species that impede the growth of crops, thus their ability to cause adverse effects on human health has been widely studied. While these chemicals absorb through different biological pathways — some through ingestion, others through the skin — many have been scientifically shown to induce oxidative stress. Air pollution itself is a source of free radicals, with some researchers claiming that if the circumstances are right the air itself can be as dangerous as cigarette smoke.
Free radicals come from stress
Two types of stress have been associated with biomarkers of oxidative stress: chronic and major acute stress. The latter is associated with trauma. Combat veterans show increased brain oxidative stress. Divorce has a similar effect on the couple as well as their children. Numerous studies have related chronic stress to higher oxidative stress levels. Most frequently examined are caregivers of chronically ill children or spouses as they exemplify high levels of daily stress. Researcher say that the stress is compounded by the psychological anticipation of stress, which often causes more stress than the situation itself.Free radicals come from drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol
Cigarette smoke is such a major source of free radicals that the National Institutes of Health recommends smokers consume more of the antioxidant Vitamin C on a daily basis than non-smokers. Smoking also depletes master antioxidant glutathione. Alcohol generates free radicals throughout the body while simultaneously — you guessed it — depleting critical vitamins and glutathione. While the latter is best known for its liver support, it’s also heavily concentrated in the lungs where it can experience 90% reduction in chronic alcoholics. While much of the recent research on THC and cannabis is positive, some studies indicate that its smoke can induce free radicals. A 2015 study in vitro study using rat brain mitochondria demonstrated that THC increases free radical production in the brain. And the bad news just keeps piling on for the Tiger King Joe Exotic: Crystal meth induces free radicals.Free radicals come from medications
It’s the job of the liver to break down all foreign substances and remove them from the body. This includes food, alcohol, and medications after they’ve done their job. Glutathione is a requirement for this function, and the use of medications places an extraordinary demand on the liver and quickly uses up glutathione stores. Acetaminophen-based drugs are particularly detrimental to glutathione levels. Many cancer patients opt for high-dose Vitamin C consumption because certain chemotherapy drugs generate large amounts of free radicals. Free radicals also come from some anesthetics and analgesics. Some researchers have implemented the opiate analgesic morphine as a cause of oxidative stress, and believe that other opioids — including oxycodone — have similar effects. Free radicals can also come from tricyclic antidepressants.How to mitigate free radical damage
Aside from just saying no to meth, an attempt to avoid all the factors that cause free radicals is an exercise in futility. Adding antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to your plate after you grab a hot dog off a grill is a good start. Many experts say that may not be enough to overcome all the free radical sources you encounter on a daily basis — some without even realizing it.
They often recommend antioxidant supplements like Vitamin C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Acetyl L-Carnitine, omega-3 fatty acid, Glutathione. While Vitamin E and Vitamin A are also antioxidants, they are not recommended supplements as these fat-soluble nutrients can accumulate in the body and possibly have detrimental effects. Vitamin C, on the other hand, is a water-soluble nutrient, so any excess is passed as waste, hence the need to supplement with Vitamin C on a daily basis to maintain optimal antioxidant levels.
