About Free Radicals & Antioxidants
What are free radicals?
All living matter is composed entirely of molecules, which are made up of atoms and electrons. Ordinarily, electrons occur in balanced pairs and keep atoms and molecules stable. Sometimes, however, a molecule loses one of its electrons and therefore becomes unbalanced and highly reactive. The unstable molecule is known as a "Free Radical".
These unstable molecules spread a path of destruction by spinning out of control throughout the body in search of an electron that they can steal from another molecule. Free radicals damage healthy cells and impair the body's normal functions. Free radicals are products of normal respiration and metabolism. They are also produced during exposure to air pollutants, sun, radiation from X-rays, drugs, viruses, bacteria, parasites, dietary fats, emotional stress, and physical trauma, injury, or infections. Free radicals destroy cells by damaging their membranes. When the cell membrane cannot achieve proper nutrient intake and waste removal, then the cell cannot reproduce itself or function properly. The result is cell death and therefore, an accelerated aging process as tissues lose function due to steady depletion of cells.
How do free radicals affect the body?
Free radicals are known today to be one of the most destructive forces in the body of an aging pet. This is especially true when talking about your pet's joints and other tissues. Free radicals cause a loss of cellular flexibility and strength, and can cause joints to become stiff, vision to become cloudy, arteries to lose their elasticity. They can also be the cause of inflammation throughout the body. Research has shown that free radicals are involved in many age-related conditions such as arthritis, cancer, kidney and liver disorders, vascular disorders, and weakened immune systems.
Antioxidants - Combating Free Radicals
Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize and deactivate free radicals and prevent or reduce damage they may cause. By donating electrons, antioxidants can convert free radicals into harmless compounds that may be safely removed from the body.
In normal conditions, a system of nutritional and internal antioxidant defenses generally minimizes free radical production, thus minimizing oxidative stress and subsequent tissue damage. However, under conditions where excess free radicals are produced, the body needs additional sources of antioxidants. These additional antioxidants can be obtained through nutritional supplementation. Examples of well-known antioxidants are vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium. Bioflavanol, glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), alpha-lipoic acid, and coenzyme-Q10 are other potent antioxidants that have been documented. In fact, it has been shown that bioflavanol from grape seed extract is 20 times stronger than vitamin C and 50 times stronger than vitamin E. Supplementation with antioxidants has been shown to help reduce the effects of free radicals on the aging body. Antioxidants are likely to be most beneficial for older pets and for pets that are very active or undergoing strenuous training. However, in addition to the daily diet of any pet, antioxidants may help maintain optimum health in the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, liver, kidneys, eyes and immune systems. They help protect cartilage and collagen in the joints from free radical damage, and allow nutrients to be effectively used for new cell growth and cell repair. All animals are at risk for joint disease. Most animals have sustained damage to cartilage in joints by middle age. Many factors can affect joint and cartilage health. Among them are diet, genetics, injury, and activity levels. Each animal's genetic code, for example, can influence the thickness and durability of its cartilage and the predisposition to arthritis. Regardless of the cause for joint degeneration, nutrition is particularly important in maintaining healthy joints, especially antioxidant supplementation.
