Health - The Oxygen Paradox

The Oxygen Paradox

Early morning go out to the lawn, take a deep breath till you feel your stomach is full and then exhale by pulling your diaphragm up so your stomach goes inside. Do this ten times. You feel rejuvenated. Why? The fresh air carries a lot of oxygen into your lungs. Your lungs transfer this oxygen into the blood stream. That oxygen is carried by the blood stream to all cells into your body. Inside the cell this oxygen generates energy and life itself.  Oxygen is essential for humans and all true aerobic creatures.  The oxygen we inhale oxidizes food and converts their energy into ATP.  This is the bright side of oxygen.

Let us see what is oxygen paradox? Within every cell there is a small factory producing energy for our healthy life. This factory is called mitochondria. Mitochondria reduces oxygen by the transfer of electrons to create energy and the by product is water. For this production of water from oxygen molecule, four electrons are needed. This does not happen always and a “free radical” is produced.  A free radical is any atom or molecule with one or more unpaired electron.  The free radical missing an electron is, highly unstable and reactive.  The net effect of free radical is almost always net oxidation. They try to stabilize themselves by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules ‘chain reaction’ which in turn become unstable due to loss of their electrons. If the neighboring molecule is a lipid, protein, or a DNA they begin to malfunction. This malfunctioning leads to different types of chronic degenerative diseases. Free radicals also contribute to the aging process in the body.

In addition the free radicals come from atmospheric pollution, sunlight, certain chemicals and cigarette smoking. Physical and mental stress also adds to the quantum of free radicals in the body. To give an example for oxidative stress, the LDL molecule, by losing electrons becomes more reactive and adheres to the side of the vessels wall and begins to accumulate there in the form of plaques or deposits increasing the risk of coronary disease, including stroke. We all know that oxygen is essential for life itself, yet oxygen is also inherently dangerous to our existence. This is known as the ‘oxygen paradox’.  Go To HEALTH INFORMATION

Health - Causes of Free Radicals

Free radicals are naturally produced in our body.  Chemical reactions occurring in our body leads to the production of free radicals.  Another cause is our immune system; they create free radicals to fight off diseases.  A free radical is any atom or molecule with one or more unpaired electron.  The free radical missing an electron is, highly unstable and reactive.  The net effect of free radical is almost always net oxidation.  READ MORE.....