SO RADICAL

Mar 21

One of the benefits of working with the same clients on a routine basis is that patterns start to appear.

I’ve been working with a woman who has a few tricky health problems that she would like to resolve without medication. She’s trying to get to the root of her issues, and over three separate Body Code sessions, the same imbalances were identified - toxins.

Toxins, and specifically free radicals, seemed to be behind some of her issues.

Taking note of the pattern, I asked questions about her diet, pollution and pesticide exposure, and other lifestyle factors, and she was quickly able to identify exposures that her body was not responding well to.

She cleans homes for a living, inhales harsh chemicals regularly, and never imagined her daily work could be at the root of her health issues.

We discussed non-toxic cleaning brands to incorporate into her business. A few less-toxic brands to explore are: ÁTHOS Living , Supernatural, and Branch Basics. Also, wearing gloves may help prevent chemicals from being absorbed through the skin, and a mask may help to protect the lungs.

She is eager to make the necessary lifestyle and dietary changes to decrease her exposure to free-radicals and increase her exposure to antioxidants that fight them.

Because we live in a world with a lot of toxic potential, I thought I would share more about free radicals and antioxidants with you!

Stay well, check out my article on detoxifying the body, and let me know if you’d like a Body Code session of your own.

Schedule Here

Free Radicals

One of the most profound contributors to shortened lifespans are free radicals.

Free radicals can cause damage to other cells and they play a part in:

aging
heart disease
chronic illness
cancer
other disease processes

According to LiveScience.com:

"Substances that generate free radicals can be found in the food we eat, the medicines we take, the air we breathe and the water we drink, according to the Huntington's Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University. These substances include fried foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides and air pollutants.
Free radicals are the natural byproducts of chemical processes, such as metabolism. Dr. Lauri Wright, a registered dietitian and an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of South Florida, said, "Basically, I think of free radicals as waste products from various chemical reactions in the cell that when built up, harm the cells of the body."

Common foods that are high in free radicals:

Fried foods, processed foods and refined carbohydrates (soda, candy, pastries), processed meats (bacon, sausage, hot dogs), alcohol

Antioxidants

Antioxidants can help combat the damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. Antioxidants can be found in many plant based foods, supplements, herbs, and essential oils.

Diet

Diet appears to be the most effective way to maximize antioxidant effects in the body.

Antioxidant-rich foods:

Green tea, dark chocolate, pecans, vanilla, amla berries, rose hips, and blueberries, just to name a few.

Drinks:

The highest of coffees was “one type of double espresso coffee, the highest antioxidant value of all prepared beverages analyzed in the present study. Other antioxidant rich beverages are red wine, which have a smaller variation of antioxidant content (1.78 to 3.66 mmol/100 g), pomegranate juice, prepared green tea (0.57 to 2.62 mmol/100 g), grape juice, prune juice and black tea (0.75 to 1.21 mmol/100 g).”

Herbs:

“Sorted by antioxidant content, clove has the highest mean antioxidant value, followed by peppermint, allspice, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, saffron and estragon, all dried and ground.”

Soups, sauces, gravies and dressings

products with highest antioxidant content are tomato based sauces, basil pesto, mustard paste, sun dried tomatoes and tomato paste/puree, in the range of 1.0 to 4.6 mmol/100 g.

Essential Oils:

Some essential oils (EO’s) have antioxidant properties: cinnamon, thyme, clove, lavender and peppermint. Many of these oils are considered “hot” and should be properly diluted before being consumed or applying to the body. Some essential oils are safer when inhaled.

Lavender EO has an affinity for the skin, and is quite versatile in terms of methods of application.

Supplements:

There is much debate over supplements, as too-high supplement doses can actually create free radicals, and may interfere with medications. Always ask your doctor before beginning new supplements.

Sleep:

Good sleep habits and avoiding toxins can also support the body in fighting free radical damage.

Exercise:

While moderate exercise can help lengthen one’s lifespan, exhaustive exercise can actually CAUSE free radical production.

I would love to know if you are interested in learning more about how to incorporate plants, foods, essential oils, and herbs into your daily life to promote wellness and longevity.

Take great care of you!