In 1960, researchers uncovered a groundbreaking connection between cellular health and the aging process—a discovery that sparked decades of scientific exploration. Since then, over 346,000 studies, trials, books, and reviews have delved into this vital area, with interest absolutely surging since 2020 as new insights continue to emerge.
So, what is oxidative stress?
- autoimmune disorders
Almost everything (including natural body processes) creates oxidative stress. The problem today is that we have too many ADDITIONAL things that create it and/or stop the body from neutralizing it, and our bodies just can't keep up!
Ever hear of the Blue Zones where people live independently to 90-100 years or more? Here's what they all have in common that we need to copy:
Follow a Plant-Based Diet: Meals center around vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and minimal processed foods or meat. If you need a plan, think Mediterranean Diet.
Eat Moderately: The 80% rule—stopping eating before feeling full—helps maintain a healthy weight.
Drink in Moderation: A glass of wine or other alcohol, often shared socially, is common but always consumed in moderation.
Move Naturally: Regular physical activity is built into daily routines, like walking, gardening, or manual labor.
Manage Stress: Practices like meditation, prayer, or napping are essential for reducing chronic inflammation and maintaining mental health.
Supportive Social Circles: Spending time with like-minded, health-conscious friends encourages positive habits.
Nurture Relationships: Building close ties with family, friends, and community strengthens emotional and social well-being.
Live with Purpose: A clear sense of purpose, like "ikigai" or "plan de vida," provides motivation and direction in life.
Value Family: Prioritizing strong family connections ensures emotional stability and support throughout life.
Embrace Faith or Community: Belonging to a faith-based or social group fosters connection and belonging.
Oxidative stress damages the mitochondria—the energy factories of your cells—reducing their ability to generate ATP, the fuel your body runs on. This can leave you feeling chronically fatigued and struggling to power through your day.
Excess oxidative stress can weaken your immune system’s ability to fight infections or cause it to overreact, triggering chronic inflammation or autoimmune conditions. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have been linked to this imbalance.
Oxidative stress accelerates skin aging by degrading collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles and sagging. It also triggers inflammation that causes redness, irritation, and breakouts, impacting skin’s radiance and health.
Your brain is highly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which damages neurons and disrupts communication between brain cells. This can contribute to memory loss, brain fog, and conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Oxidative stress disrupts hormone production and signaling, contributing to imbalances that affect mood, weight regulation, and reproductive health. This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, irregular cycles, and difficulty losing weight.
Your heart and lungs are under attack!
See how oxidative stress connects to what you’re experiencing.
Oxidative stress plays a major role in heart and lung diseases by promoting inflammation, damaging blood vessels, and impairing oxygen transport. It’s linked to conditions like arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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