Inflammation! We usually think of inflammation when a cut on the skin becomes infected, swells up, turns red, and hurts; or when an injury such as a sprained knee swells and is red and hot to the touch. Those are signs of acute, or short-lived, inflammation due to injury or infection. What many of us do not realize is that inflammation can occur to your body’s cells or tissue and may not present any outward symptoms for years; this is called Chronic Inflammation. Chronic inflammatory diseases contribute to more than half of deaths worldwide. What causes this Chronic Inflammation to the cells? ROS.
Reactive Oxygen Species or ROS
ROS is the cause of Chronic inflammation. ROS is oxygen free radicals which are highly reactive and unstable molecules that are produced at the cellular level in the body as a byproduct of metabolism. Free radicals are atoms that contain an unpaired electron. Due to this lack of a stable number of outer shell electrons, they are in a constant search to bind with another electron to stabilize themselves—a process that can cause damage to DNA and other parts of human cells. This damage causes chronic inflammation and the development of many diseases and accelerates the aging process.
There are many causes for development of ROS including:
- Environmental chemicals - pollution, household chemicals, gas exhaust etc.
- Nutrition - Diets high in refined grains, alcohol, and processed meats/foods
- Social and cultural changes – Disrupted sleep patterns, shift worker,
- psychosocial stress, work stress, family stress
- Developmental origins – Childhood obesity, exposure to microbes in infancy, and prenatal conditions.
Antioxidants
"Antioxidant" is a general term for any compound that can counteract ROS. Because free radicals (ROS) lack a full complement of electrons, they steal electrons from other molecules and damage those molecules in the process. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. In making this sacrifice, they act as a natural "off" switch for the free radicals. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell and other cells in the body. Glutathione is produced by the cell and is a natural antioxidant to fight the free radicals. Glutathione is produced naturally in the liver via the synthesis of certain amino acids. The production of Glutathione plays an essential role in setting up a delicate balance to maintain good health. However, as we age, women over forty men over fifty, the production of Glutathione begins to decline. When this delicate balance is upset, is when the increase of ROS begins to accumulate causing the development of chronic inflammation. Unfortunately taking supplemental glutathione by mouth does not appear to be an effective way to get it into your body. Glutathione supplements are broken down by the enzymes in the stomach. You must supplement with antioxidant foods that are able to be digested. ValAsta is a food supplement.
A measurement of chronic inflammation can be done through a simple lab test called a High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein test or HS-CRP. This measurement should be less than three.
Chronic inflammation is associated with many diseases:
- Autoimmune diseases - multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Cardiovascular diseases - high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
- Gastrointestinal disorders - inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis
- Lung diseases - asthma and COPD.
- Mental disorders - autism or depression.
- Metabolic disease - insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes.
- Neurodegenerative diseases - Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cancers - PDL-1 expressed cancers including colon, breast, lung, prostate, and others.
Fighting the Free Radicals and ROS
Preventing the excess production of free radicals in the body is often quite an easy task to achieve. You can enjoy a healthy and full life if you reduce the Chronic Inflammation. Some of the best ways to fight free radical damage and prevent Chronic Inflammation, includes:
- Consume foods rich in antioxidants. Taking Patented ValAsta Astaxanthin is the easiest way to good health. It is the strongest natural antioxidant known.
- Stop smoking! not easy but do it you must.
- Limit alcohol consumption. Enjoy a drink or two, but limit to that.
- Maintain an active lifestyle. Just a 20-minute walk per day.
- Abstain from consuming too many processed foods.
- Reduce the anxiety and stress in your life.
Call our consultants to discuss how you can get better health today.
Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span.
