HEALTH, by Herbalist – Wendy Wilson
THE STRONG ANTIOXIDANTS
I am continuing my series on how we can protect ourselves from the killer viruses and bacteria with our own immune system. Each day that goes by the scientific minds are discovering that what the ancients knew regarding living healthy. Our ancient ancestors may not have known what free radicals were but they knew which plants made them feel better and stronger against disease. They had no idea that the plants and herbs they were eating were rich in antioxidants. The term antioxidant is just what it means; “against oxidation.” Foods with chemical antioxidants will inhibit destruction to living tissue caused by oxidation. What chemicals give antioxidants their power? Is it enzymes, vitamins or minerals? If you answered enzymes and vitamins, you are correct. Your antioxidants are very important in developing a strong immune system defense against killer super bugs.
THE THEORY
In the 1950’s Dr. Denham Harman was the first to seriously link accumulative free radical damage to disease and premature aging. A nutrient problem America has faced is the government’s recommended daily allowance (RDA). One of the problems is that this system divides people into two nutrient categories; those below fifty-years-ofage and those above fifty. Do you think someone who is ninety would require the same nutrition of a fifty-one-year-old? Dr. Art Ulene has stated that there are scientific studies linking free radicals to a decline in immune system function. The elderly may not be eating well and their immune system is not getting old; it just isn’t getting the nutrients it needs to protect them. There is no doubt that antioxidant nutrition can enhance the human immune function and super charge it.
A CHEMICAL FIGHT
There are several ways to wage war. Our bodies encounter foreign matter every day. The job of our immune system is to neutralize any foreign invaders that are threats to our wellbeing and dispose of them. When our bodies do not get the nutrition it needs through vitamins and enzymes it is unable to stop the chain reaction of what are called free radicals. This is a transfer of electrons or hydrogen to an oxidizing agent. All this can occur in your cells and can damage or kill the cell. Your antioxidant nutrition in foods and herbs will terminate the replication of free radicals, which science declares as the cause and consequence of disease.
THE PETRO GUYS
Antioxidants are so powerful as a natural preservative that gasoline manufacturers will add antioxidants to gasoline to prevent the formation of gums, which clog engines. Likewise, we don’t want to gum up our bodies and make us targets to heart disease, neurological disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, cataracts, macular degeneration and so on.
THE MAJOR HITTERS
In the 1990’s researchers discovered that the most potent antioxidants as a human preservative were vitamins A, C and E. Biochemistry was revolutionized by the discovery of the influence these vitamins had on living organisms. The industrial world will use antioxidants to preserve their products; gas, tires or unsaturated fats. That’s great, but you want to use antioxidants to preserve YOU and to rebuild or boost your immune system to stay healthy.
MyAchingKnees comments: Vitamins A, C and E are the most potent anti-oxidants? Maybe not, or more correctly depending upon what degenerative disease your body is fighting. A, C and E are of course very important, so are all the other vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants....Resveratrol and Grape Seed extract among them,.....but we need all the nutrients in doses far exceeding the 70 year old RDA, so these nutrients can work synergystically (someone told me that means efficienctly and together!) to provide our bodies the best chance of fighting degenerative disease and sickness.
HOW MANY ANTIOXIDANTS?
How many antioxidants you have in your system depends on your lifestyle. Antioxidants are classified into two categories; the water-soluble antioxidants found in your blood and the lipid-soluble antioxidants designed to protect your cell membranes. Your body can make antioxidants but needs the right nutrition to do it. Foods and herbs with selenium and zinc will help the body built your antioxidant reserves. How? These minerals will help the body to utilize your antioxidant enzymes.
SELENIUM AND ZINC FOODS
You can tap into the foods that assist the body to make antioxidants with foods containing selenium and zinc such as; cashews, kidney beans, salmon, haddock, wheat germ, miso, beef, turkey, pumpkin seeds, pecans, pinto beans, walnuts, eggs, peanuts, oatmeal, almonds and anchovies.
FOOD
The general foods which will contain more antioxidants are; fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lentils and even chocolate. I love chocolate! Green tea and vegetables with dark green, yellow and orange pigments will have the most antioxidant nutrition.
ANCIENT HERBS
Way before microscopes and labs were created there were the ancient healers such as Pliny and Elder who wrote about the healing power of plants. Today we know these plants are supercharged with antioxidants and we can tap into them just like the people of ancient Rome. Herbs such as Milk Thistle, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Red Raspberry, Cayenne, Echinacea root, astragalus root, garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish and many others.
STUDIED THE MOST
It is interesting that modern science has focused on milk thistle and ginkgo herbs regarding antioxidants. Ginkgo is said to be the world’s oldest tree species. Science has studied these herbs for years trying to unlock God’s secrets.
IMPORTANT FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Fat and oxidized fat is deadly to the organs of the human body, especially theliver. Researchers and Dr. William Lee have stated that using Milk Thistle herb is a proactive way to help prevent fat and poisonous substances from hurting your liver.
Scientific studies have shown Milk Thistle to be effective in detoxifying the liver. So far the essential chemical nutrient identified in Milk Thistle to accomplish this is the antioxidant called silybum marianum (a.k.a. silymarian). Milk Thistle is originally indigenous to the Mediterranean region but is now cultivated all over the world. The early Europeans would also use the seeds of the Milk Thistle plant as a coffee substitute.
SUPPRESSED IMMUNITY
If you have used prescription drugs for heart conditions, infections, arthritis, blood pressure and other chronic disease; then you will also have a suppressed immune system. Your antioxidant foods and herbs can help revitalize the immune system function. It is estimated that between 75% and 85% of Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables for antioxidant protection. A good example of what free radicals can do to your cells is to cut an apple and expose it to oxygen and watch it turn brown and rot. What most folks don’t think about is that although free radicals are a byproduct of our lifestyle, they are also a product of exposure to chemicals, dust, mold, excessive sunlight, water and air pollution. So, your diet and immune support herbs will play a very important role in protecting you from free radicals and the killer viruses and bacteria.
MyAchingKnees comments: The apple test is a really good test. Dissolve your daily nutritional supplement in a bowl of water then add a sliced apple. If your apple turns brown within 12 hours or so (probably less) then you make want to re-think what you are spending money on.
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