Antioxidants: The Secret to a Long and Healthy Life?

Posted by georgel on May 2, 2010 |

I just finished reading the “Antioxidant Miracle” by Lester Packer, PhD and Carol Colman. The book was fascinating and was a wealth of information. Dr. Packer is a world renowned expert and researcher in the field of antioxidants.

I wanted to share with you some of the most important information in the book and provide you with an understanding of and insight into free radicals and antioxidants, specifically the network antioxidants and how they can be used to improve overall health and prevent disease.

For busy people like you and I who may not necessarily have the time to eat enough of the right foods often enough, his supplementation plan and the end of this post is worth considering.

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. To put it simply, free radicals are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. These molecules are very unstable, therefore they look to bond with other molecules, destroying their vigor and perpetuating the detrimental process.

Free radicals are produced in two ways:
1. By the body in the normal course of energy production
2. Triggered by our environment such as cigarette smoke, solar radiation and pollution

The most important thing to remember is that free radicals are indeed a significant threat to our well being and longevity. According to Dr. Packer: “Scientists now believe that free radicals are causal factors in nearly every known disease, from heart disease to arthritis to cancer to cataracts. In fact, free radicals are a major culprit in the aging process itself.” (Packer, 1999)

Antioxidants

Antioxidants, which are present in many foods, are molecules that prevent free radicals from harming healthy tissue. They do this by binding together with these harmful molecules, decreasing their destructive power. Antioxidants can also help repair damage already sustained by cells.

Some antioxidants, such as glutathione are produced naturally by the body but many antioxidants are found in foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables. Antioxidants are commonly found in fruits and vegetables, those with the strongest colors often being the healthiest. Orange and red peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and carrots are good examples.Dietary supplements are also available for those that do not consume enough antioxidant-producing foods.

Network Antioxidants

Dr. Packer observes that it wasn’t very long ago that scientists believed that each antioxidant worked separately in the body, independently of each other. However, science discovered that there’s a dynamic interplay among certain key antioxidants that Dr. Packer refers to as the “antioxidant network”.

Of special interest is Dr. Packer’s belief that network antioxidants have special powers not shared by others. He believes that they can “recycle,” or regenerate one another after they’ve neutralized a free radical, vastly expanding their antioxidant power.

As far as modern science can tell, there are five network antioxidants: Vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, ampicillin 250 mg class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-size: medium;”>lipoic acid, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

What follows is a little more information about each one of the network antioxidants. Remember, the dosages below are recommendations; each individual has different needs. With that in mind, there are also recommendations for people with special needs at the end of this post.

It is recommended that if you plan on taking any supplements that you educate yourself further on each one and discuss them with your doctor before deciding what is right for you.

Lipoic Acid

Dr. Packer calls lipoic acid “the most versatile and powerful antioxidant in the network”. The reason he says that is probably because of its ability to enhance all of the other antioxidants in the body.

Important things you should know about lipoic acid:

Found in: Lipoic acid is synthesized by the body but it’s also present in small amounts in potatoes, spinach and red meat.

Believed to protect against: stroke, heart disease and cataracts. Also reported to strengthen memory and brain aging. Is reported to reverse mushroom poisoning of the liver and has been used to treat hepatitis C.

RDA: Although there is no RDA (recommended daily allowance), Packer recommends 100 milligrams daily (50 milligrams in the A.M. and 50 milligrams in the P.M.)

You should know: It has been used in Europe for more than two decades to prevent and relieve the westernunion florence complications of diabetes.

Vitamin E
Found in: Raw vegetable oils, nuts, nut butters, rice bran oil, barley and in smaller amounts in green leafy vegetables.

Believed to protect against: wrinkles, brown spots and skin cancer. Relieves symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Reduces the risk of prostate cancer in men and can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.

RDA: 30 I.U. Packer recommends 500 milligrams daily of mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols (these are forms of vitamin E).

You should know: According to a study done at the National Institute of Aging, Americans who took vitamin E supplements were 41 percent less likely to have died from cancer and 40 percent less likely to have died from heart disorders than those who did not.

Vitamin C
Found in: Red peppers, broccoli, cranberries, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and citrus fruit.

Believed to protect against: Reduces risk of dying from cancer and heart disease. Protects sperm from free radical damage and strengthens the immune system. Protects against cataracts. It’s also great for the skin.

RDA: 60 milligrams; 100 milligrams for smokers. Packer recommends 500mg of ester C (250 in the morning, 250 in the evening)

Coenzyme Q10
Found in: Synthesized by the body but is also found in seafood and organ meats.

Believed to protect against: Treats gum disease. May help to prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by rejuvenating brain cells.

buy levitra medication style=”font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;”>RDA: None. Packer recommends 30mg a day.

You should know: For more than two decades, Co Q10 has been used successfully to treat and prevent heart disease in Japan and by innovative U.S. physicians.

Glutathione
Found in: Fruits, vegetables and freshly cooked meat.

Believed to protect against: Important for a strong immune system. Instrumental in the detoxification of drugs & pollutants for a healthy liver.

RDA: None. Packer recommends 100mg of lipoic acid daily (will boost glutathione levels)

Network Boosters

The antioxidant network doesn’t work alone. There are network “boosters” that help the network antioxidants do their job. They are the flavonoids, carotenoids and selenium.

Flavonoids

According to Dr. Packer, “Flavonoids are a group of more than 4,000 individual compounds that are found in plants, notably in the pigments of leaves, barks, rinds, seeds, and flowers.” All flavonoids are antioxidants.

Found in: Not produced in the body. Best sources include tea leaves, oranges, citrus fruit, apples, onions, red grapes, berries and pine bark.

Believed to protect against: Improves memory and concentration. Used to treat ADD. Keeps your heart healthy by: preventing clots, protecting against the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and lowering high blood pressure. Improves sexual function in men. Reduce inflammation and bolster immune function.

RDA: None. Packer recommends 30mg daily of Ginkgo biloba and 20mg daily of Pycnogenol

You should know: In a study reported in the Journal of Urology, half of the impotent men who used gingko biloba supplements regained potency within six months.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids are natural pigments found in both plants and animals.

Found in: Brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

Believed to protect against: Cancer. Lycopene specifically has been associated with lower rates of prostate cancer. The flavonoids lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with a decreased risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. May also reduce the risk of heart disease and boost immune function in older people.

RDA: None. Eat three orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and two dark green leafy vegetables daily. Supplement only if you do not eat adequate amounts of carotenoid rich foods.

You should know: In a 6 year study of 48,000 male physicians conducted by Dr. Edward Giovanucci at Harvard Medical School, researchers found that men who consumed tomatoes, tomato sauce or pizza more than twice a week showed a reduced risk of prostate cancer of 21 to 34 percent as opposed to those who did not eat those foods. (Packer, 1999) USDA research also showed that eating two carrots daily appeared to reduce cholesterol levels in some people by 10 to 20 percent.

Selenium

Carotenoids are natural pigments found in both plants and animals.

Found in: Selenium is not produced by the body. Food sources include garlic, onions, wheat germ, red grapes, broccoli and egg yolks.

Believed to protect against: different forms of cancer including lung, prostate and colon cancer.

RDA: 50 to 100mg daily. Packer recommends 200mg daily.

You should know: People who live in areas where there is little selenium in the soil are at higher risk of dying from stroke and heart disease. New York is one of those states.

The Plan

According to Packer, the following basic antioxidant plan is designed to boost your network antioxidants to optimal levels:

A.M.

· 100 mg tocotrienols (vitamin E family)

· 200 mg mixed tocopherols (vitamin E family)

· 30 mg Co Q10

· 50 mg lipoic acid

· 250 mg ester vitamin C

· 400 mcg folic acid

· 300 mcg biotin

· 2 mg vitamin B₆

P.M.

· 200 mg natural alpha tocopherol

· 50 mg lipoic acid

· 250 mg ester vitamin C

· 30 mg ginkgo biloba

· 200 mcg selenium

Although this is a good baseline to begin with, Dr. Packer recommends that people with special needs might want to consider a special boost:

Smokers

Smokers should add the following to either their morning or evening regimen:

· 100 mg tocotrienols

· 50 mg Co Q10

· 100 mg lipoic acid

· 20 mg Pycnogenol

Diabetics

· 100 mg lipoic acid

· 1,000 mg GLA capsule

· 200 mcg chromium

Athletes

· 250 mg of L-carnatine

Menopausal Women

· 1,200 mg calcium

· 100 mg tocotrienols

People at High Risk of Cancer

· 50 mg Co Q10

· 100 mg tocotrienols

·cozaar generic medium;”> 100 mg lipoic acid

· 20 mg Pycnogenol

Picky Eaters

· Flavonoid complex

· Cruciferous-plus

· Mixed carotenoid complex

I hope you find this information as helpful and as eye-opening as I did.

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