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| ... life giving supplements! |
During the 1980s, scientists discovered a strain of bacteria that could survive the lethal environment of radioactive waste water. Radioactivity kills most forms of life including bacteria, by releasing cascades of free radicals.
But this particular bacterium generated high levels of antioxidants, as much as fifty times more than other bacteria, and was able to survive the radiation.
Think about this: A high level of antioxidants enabled these bacteria to survive the equivalent of nuclear fallout from an atomic war! But this particular bacterium generated high levels of antioxidants, as much as fifty times more than other bacteria, and was able to survive the radiation.
Today we know that in humans heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. In the U.S.A. someone dies of this disease every 34 seconds! Taken as a whole, the disease costs that nation billions of dollars per year.
However, your doctor will probably tell you that high cholesterol causes atherosclerosis. That’s only half the story. The medical profession is some years behind on this. They used to believe all cholesterol is bad. Then they figured out that only one type of cholesterol (LDL) is bad. But they still haven’t got the whole story.
The research shows clogging of the arteries is actually caused by LDL, one type of cholesterol, that’s gone “rancid” because it’s been attacked by free radicals. When LDL goes bad it becomes a free radical itself and attacks other cells. Eventually the chain reaction affects all the arteries. This is precisely the mechanism that causes atherosclerosis.
Recent research indicates that LDL cholesterol undergoes oxidation, similar to butter becoming rancid, when exposed to certain toxic particles called oxygen free radicals. The “oxidized” LDL seems to promote atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty plaque in the walls of arteries.
A few years ago the American Heart Association published reports that large doses of vitamin E can prevent free radical damage to LDL, the so-called “bad” cholesterol. However, the head of the AHA’s nutrition committee said, “Until scientists determine the correct doses of these vitamins and whether they actually provide any protection, people who buy vitamin pills may be wasting their money.” He added, “At present the AHA has no plans to recommend the use of antioxidant vitamins.”
Anyway, there is impressive evidence that antioxidants prevent cancer, stroke, and heart disease. They are natural nutrients found in food. They are known to be harmless even in huge doses. I don’t know about you, but I’m not waiting to take these life giving supplements.
Healthy aging … <>
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