Free Radicals

Production of energy produce free radicals. They damage structures leading to cancer, alzheimers disease, parkinsons, diabetes, cataracts, arthritis and many other ailments. Antioxidant react with the free radical and becomes a weaker free radical.
Vitamin C and lipoic acid can recycle glutathione in the body.
Number of oxidative hits have been calculated as about 10000 per cell per day.  Vitamin E and Q10 protect the cell membrane since they are fat soluble. 
Lipoic acid works in both fatty and watery areas. It can regenetare all the other antioxidants. Lipoic acid can significantly boost glutathione in the cell by about 30 percent.
Vitamin E protects lipoproteins from oxidation thereby preventing heart disease strokes and alzheimers.
Vitamin C provides longevity. Ubiquinone (or Coenzyme q10) works with Vitamin E.
Ubiquinone is effective with heart failure, angina and hypertension parkinsons and alzheimers.
Glutathione is the most abandant antioxidant. At the age of sixty levels drop by 20 percent.
Antioxidants protect the genes from free radicals.
They also regulate expression of the genes.
 

Free radicals
 

Free radicals are necessary for critical functions of the body like fighting infections, controlling flow of blood through arteries.
Our immune cells produce nitric oxide and superoxide free radicals  to poisen bacteria and viruses.
The free radicals must be instantly trapped or they attack and oxidize DNA.

Ultraviolet produces singlet oxygen in the skin which is a potent free radical.
Ozone present in cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust is another free radical. Iron when not bound to protein can trigger free radical reactions.
High iron occur with alzheimers, parkinsons and heart disease and stroke. Nitric oxide in excess can be very dangerous.
Asbestos causes free radical and chronic inflammation of the lungs. Leading to fibrosis and lung cancer in the long run.

Alpha lipoic acid
 

Lipoic acid increase other network antioxidants. It is useful in mushroom poisoning and in hepatitis C.
Lipoic acid can recycle all other network antioxidants.
It is the only antioxidant which can regenerate itself. It takes 7 pounds of spinach to make 1mg of lipoic acid.

Alpha lipoic acid crossed the blood brain barrier and increased glutathione levels and protected brains in rats with induced stroke.
In a typical stroke the injury mostly occur with reperfusion (When blood supply is restored following the initial blockage) and explosion of the free radicals following that. It is similar to what happens with a heart attack.
Lipoic acid proptected hearts from reperfusion injury. When combined with L carnitine (promotes amino acid transport into mitochondria).
Amanita muschroom poisening destroys the liver by dramatically reducing glutathione. Lipoic acid treats them successfully.
(Usually 60-90 percent die but with lipoic acid 39 out of 40 survived. Lipoic acid supresses bad genes.
Free radicals can turn on bad genes. NF kappa B if activated by free radicals cause ageing heart disease and immune dysfunction.

Diabetes Mellitus
 

Diabetes increases with ageing. By the age of 70 likelihood of diabetes is 20 times more than at the age of fifty. Much of the damage is caused by free radicals.
DM patients have significantly low levels of antioxidants. Glycation causes cross linking of proteins. Damage to skin collagen causes age spots on the skin.
Glycation also causes free radicals. Peripheral neuropahty causes severe pain which is relieved with lipoic acid. (usually in three weeks.
Brain
Brain produces an enormous amount of energy and also produce a large amount of free radicals. Pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) Ginko Biloba and vitamin E is known to keep us smart and sharp.
 

AIDS
 

AIDs virus targets T helper cells which are the first line of defense against infection. Weaked T cells lose the ability to produce and transport glutathione.
Radiation cause a cascade of free radicals which are fatal.
Each puff of smoke contains thousands of different free radicals.
 

Vitamin E
 

Vitamin E prevents alzheimers better than a prescription drug. Also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
It keeps your skin youthful. Prevents breast and prostate cancer. Relieves symptoms of arthritis.
Needs 500mg of daily mixed trocopherols and tocotrienols. (four of each kind) Important to take mix of entire spectrum of vitamin E.
Extreme E deficiency caused wasting and sevre muscle weakness.
Vitamin E is recycled by vitamin C, lipoic acid and Coenzyme Q 10. It prevents lipid peroxidation.
Vitamin E is involved with turning genes on and off. It lowers rate of cancer. People taking Vitamin E supplements are 41 percent less likely to die from cancer and 40 percent less likely to die from heart disease.
Vit E inhibits protein kinase C which activates enzymes stimulating tumor growth. In experiments vitamin E prolonged the limit of doubling of cells. It takes a mnimum of 400 IU of vitamin E to prevent oxidation of LDL. With carotid stenosis 94 percent of patients taking tototrienols improved or stabilized.
 

Tocotrienols
 

Protect against liver disease, Reduce LDL and increased HDL reduce thromboxane A 2. It also protect against both estrogen positive and negative breast cancer. (TAmoxifen only against estrogen positive cancer and can cause uterine cancer. Tocotrienols are recycled 60 times more readily than totopherols.
Gamma tocopherol is usually found in soy and corn oil. Mostly removed during refining and used to make alpha tocoferol by the manufacturers. Gamma tocopherol decreases lung cancer in smokers 10 times more than the alpha tocopherol.
Immune Cells
Most T cells hunt down foreign invaders. Suppressor T cells help protect identify own cells.
By 70 or 80years half of T cells are not capable of responding to an antigen or foreign body. Vitamin E boosts T and B cell functions and reduces infections by 30 percent.
Alzheimers and cataract
10 percent of all americans over 65 years of age has alzheimers. Vitamin E works to lower the risk of alzheimers better than any available medication.
Two thirds of americans get a cataract by the age of 85. 10 percent of medicare budget is spent on cataract.
Ubiquinone
Ubiquinone regenerate vitamin E. It rejuvenates brain cells and may help prevent alzheimers. Coenzyme Q10 is only found in longer living animals. It has 50 carbon atoms. shortest living animals like insects mice and rats have shorter coQ. Ubiquinone improves effectiveness of T cells. It helps to protect brain cells. It helps heal gum disease three times faster.
Low Glutathione
Low glutathione is a marker for death at any age.
It is depleted in people with AIDS, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Cataracts are caused by years of exposure to sunlight.
After a stroke glutathione levels are plummeted.
Glutathione is produced by cells and also tucked away by proteins. Glutathione in the body is spent by alcohol, smoking, acetaminophen and other drugs.
Glutathione is important in DNA synthesis and cell replication. Is also does storage and transport of amino acids. It turns off inflammation gene.
Glutathione binds to toxins throiugh s conjugation making them soluble and able to be excreted through the kidney.
Steroid hormones
Steroid hormones are broken down in the liver. (estrogen, testesterone)Marathon runners develop respiratory infections following a big race due to reduction of glutathione.
Flavinoids improve memory and concentration.
Flavinoids regulate nitric oxide. and improve sexual function and reduce inflammation.
Can be taken as gingkgo biloba or pycnogenol.
Nitric oxide is a free radical found in smog, automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke. It damages ozone layer and is a potent carcinogen. It has beneficial functions in the body.
Its good functions in the body are.
It turns genes on and off. Regulates circulation, Important for memory and brain cell communication. With immune cells it fights infection, kills tumor cells and promotes wound healing. Translate sexual excitement into penile erections. Control gastric movements.
NO destructive functions
Its destructive functions in the body are>
Restrict blood flow contributing to heart disease and stroke.
When produced in excess by immune cells can trigger chronic inflammation, arthritis, IBD, even cancer.
It promotes free radicals, In brain causes memory loss and brain aging.
When NO meets superoxide becomes peroxynitritie which destroyes glutathione,
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo is one of the oldest trees of the world. It quenches free radicals, NO and superoxide and hydroxyl radical. Gingko can preserve and enhance sexual function. Haf of male impotence is caused by atheresclerosis. Gingko takes about eight weeks to work and resolves fifty percent of impotence.
It enhances memory.
Pycnogenol
Pycnogenol from pine bark tree can extend the lifetime of vitamin C. It enhance production of glutathione and Vit E. It reinforces capillaries. It works better than aspirin to reduce platelet aggregation. Glutamate in high doses destroy glutathione and cause apoptosis. Pycnogenol helps with ADHD as well.
Carotenoids
Carotenoids help prevent cancer. Lycopene lowers prostate cancer. Letein and zeaxanthin cause lower risk of macular degeneration. Only alpha carotene, beta carotene and cryptoxanthine are converted to vitamin Alpha carotene which is found in carot more than beta carotene is more protective against cancer.
Dark Green Vegetables
Diet rich in dark green vegetables prevent macular degeneration. 65 percent of all 65 years have evidence of this disease. Exposure to bright light accelerate retinal degeneration. Dark Green vegetables are rich in zeaxanthin and lutein which help with preventing macular degeneration.
Selenium
Selenium is a component of two important antioxidant enzymes. Glutathione peroxidase to produce glutathione and thioredoxin reductase to recycle vitamin C. Protect against lung prostate and coon cancer. Low selenium increase stroke and heart disease. It works in synergy with vitamin E. 200 mcg daily is recommended. Selenium also helps vitamin E function. AIDS patients are extremely low in both selenium and glutathione.
Vitamin C etc
50% of the people eventually die from heart disease. Ginkgo Biloba is an important brain antioxidant. Lipoic Acid and ubiqunone could even perform better. Antioxidants slow down formation of lipofuscin which is a direct result of lipid peroxidation. They prevent advanced glycation end products. Vitamin C gets destroyed easily on shipping and handling. Freeze dired products can have higher vitamin C than fresh fruit.
Apples and carrots
Apples have quercetin which is highly protective. Strawberries had ellagic acid which protect people from cancer.
Carrots, celery and parsnips all belong to umbelliferae family. highest alpha carotene next to pumpkin. Females taking five carrots a week had 68 percent less stroke risk. Two carrots daily can reduce cholesterol levels by 10-20 percent due to calcium pectin.
Other veggies
Limonene in citrus peel can decrease breast cancer risk. cruciferous vegetables can reduce cancer and protect against macular degeneration. S allymercaptocysteine in garlic breaks down testesterone so DHT is not produced. Onions also has quercetin which fights against cancers. Green vegetables are full of vitamin C E and Minerals.
Spinach prevent macular degeneration and is a good source of folic acid. Sweet potatoes are high in beta carotene and carotenoids.
Further info
Cooked tomato is the best source of lycopene. Turmeric is high in antioxidant curcumin. Add L carnitine 250mg for athletes to transport fatty acids across mitochondria. Sun screens do not protect against melanoma.
Vitamin C and E on the skin reduce ageing. D alpha tocoferol of vitamin E is easily available to skin cells. Pycnogenol cream helps fight against ageing.