Free Radicals and Your Health
Free radicals are part of the body's complex defense system and serve a vital role in your overall health. When uncontrolled, however, these chemicals can have devastating effects on your well being.
Normally, free radicals, sometimes called oxygen radicals, respond to combat bacteria, viruses, chemical pollutants, and other invaders in the body. In our chemically-saturated world, sometimes too many free radicals are produced and adversely alter normal health. The body uses its natural anti-oxidants to help control free radicals and prevent unwanted damage. These anti-oxidants include beta-carotene and others such as vitamin C, E, B-6, folic acid, niacin and the mineral selenium.
When the body is unable to control its own free radical activity, due to a lack of enough nutrient anti-oxidants, difficulties arise. Many conditions are associated with this problem: included are allergies, athletic injuries, inflammatory problems, pain, heart disease, and even cancer. Researchers have also related uncontrolled free radicals to rapid degeneration and aging.
One problem associated with free radical "pathologies" is diagnosis: many people undergo extensive medical testing and are told that "nothing is wrong."
Are there are ways to control excess free radicals from cumulating in your body? Keep your home and work environment as free from pollutants as possible. Here are some tips:
1. New building materials, even new carpet and furniture, may pollute the inside air. If this is the case, or if you have tightly sealed your home to save on heating costs (thereby sealing potential pollutants inside), keep two windows open just a bit to let in some fresh air to vent the areas your environment.
2. Clean out your attic, basement, closets or wherever there are potential pollutants: old cans of paint, aerosols, etc. There is constant leakage of vapors from these products. Store all needed chemical products outside—in a garage or shed.
3. If you are experiencing allergic symptoms, you can buy an air filtering device. However, these can be costly and their efficiency is often questionable unless their installation is done properly.
4. The best way to filter the air is nature's way: plants! Besides being visually attractive, they are very effective. Plants can be more effective than any mechanical filtering device. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide along with other gases, including the chemicals given off from furniture, cleaners, insulation, etc. The plant's leaves filter the air, and the roots break down the toxic chemicals into harmless ones because of their natural bacteria and fungi.
The best plants for the job include elephant ear and lacy tree philodendrons, golden pathos and the spider plant. Any green plant will work well. About ten plants per 1,000 square feet of living space is adequate. That's about one to three plants per room, depending on room and plant size.
Dietary pollution is another factor to consider. Avoid the use of chemical products in foods, whenever possible, as well as fried and charred fats. These substances can generate excess free radicals. Certain natural foods in large amounts can also increase free radical production. These include sassafras (used in root beer), black pepper, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, celery, parsnips, and other frequently consumed items.
The best approach to controlling the free radical problem is to be sure your diet is as complete and healthy as possible. This will provide you with all the nutrients your body needs to properly control these necessary but sometimes deadly natural substances. Eat plenty of vegetables and whole grains!
Two references for this topic include an article in Science (Sept. 1983, vol 221), and the book Antioxidant Adaptations by Stephen A. Levine, Ph.D, Biocurrents Division, San Leandro, CA 94577.