Humans are subject to oxidative damage. This is why the name oxidative gives us a clue. Our bodies use oxygen to produce energy. Basic metabolism is what causes oxidation. What is oxidation? Oxidation is a process which damages DNA. Nearly every cell in the body has DNA as its instruction manual. This DNA instruction manual tells cells how to behave and when. You can understand why oxidation is bad for DNA by looking at rusting. Rusting is caused by oxidation in the surrounding environment. Metal that has rusted will no longer function as it should. The same thing happens in the body.
Oxidation
Although we don’t rust, we do suffer from the same type of oxidation. This oxidation damages the DNA instruction manual. Problems can be caused by a gummed-up instruction manual. Our cells can’t function properly without proper instructions. Some oxidation can be normal. Our immune system uses oxidation to kill parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Too much oxidation can be dangerous. A delicate balance is necessary to keep oxidative damage at a safe level. Disease can occur if the balance is too high. The major diseases we face today are believed to be caused by oxidative damage. This includes cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and arthritis.
Would you agree to a test that would show how much oxidative harm is occurring in your body? You might want to reconsider before you say “yes”. How does Oxidative damage testing work? Recently, I’ve heard a lot about the test for oxidative damages. It’s called urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine test (going forward, I’ll refer to it as “Urinary 8-h-2-d”). It sounds impressive, but what does it tell us? DNA is constantly exposed to oxidative damage from multiple sources. This includes daily living and breathing.
Oxidized Organism
This is simply because you are an aerobic organism (oxygen-using). Our bodies are constantly working to repair oxidized DNA. This repair process produces oxidized DNA fragments. These oxidized DNA fragments, which have been discarded, are excreted in urine. Urinary 8-2-d is therefore a non-specific measure of oxidative DNA damages. It doesn’t indicate where in the body oxidation has occurred. It doesn’t tell you why the oxidation is occurring. It only tells us that there is oxidation. This type of oxidative damage testing has a problem.
Normal circumstances can only repair DNA in certain cases. It varies from one person to another. Some people are “good DNA fixers.” Others don’t have the ability to repair damaged DNA. In fact, inability to quickly and effectively repair DNA may be one of the lesser-known causes of cancer. This may explain why some people are more susceptible to cancer than others. There are a range of “normal” Urinary 8-2-d levels. Most people will fall within this range. What would you do if your Urinary-8-h-2-d levels were found to be high for oxidative damages? One measurement of Urinary-8-h-2-d won’t tell much. It wouldn’t change my advice much if I was advising someone with higher levels of oxidative stress.
These test results may have influenced my conversations. You’ve spent a lot of money on a fancy test. You’ll be told something we already know at the end. This is the best way to eat, regardless of your level of oxidative damage to your DNA. The Urinary 8-2-d test may be a good option if you have extra money (which is unlikely in this economy). The test could be used to prove that a healthy diet is worthwhile. The test could be useful if you are struggling to eat well because of lack of motivation. The test could be taken. Next, focus on eating a stellar, clean, plant-based, and “best diet ever.” Next, retest. Enjoy the improvement in your level of oxygenation. This test is unnecessary for most people. You now have your marching orders. Go forth and eat whole, healthy foods! There is another thing to remember. Obesity and overweight significantly increase oxidative damage to the body.
Metabolic Bases
The metabolism determines how much and what foods people can eat and how fast they can lose or gain weight. It is a mystery why people who follow a strict diet plan and eat well seem to miss the benefits that most people experience when they follow the same diet plan. They have a problem with their Metabolism and don’t know how to fix it. This article will provide enough solid information to allow you to work with nature in order increase your rate. Hypothyroidism is a condition that causes a slowing down of your metabolism, which can lead to rapid weight gain.
A simple blood test can determine if you have hypothyroidism. You can treat it with the right medicine if you have it. Gender: Men have a faster metabolism than women, because they are more muscular and have less body fat than women. The basal metabolic rate of men is around 10-15% higher that of women. Genetics: Some people are born with a fast metabolism, while others are not. Our Age: The rate at which metabolism slows down after age 40 is usually 5% per decade. This is because as we age, we lose muscle mass and gain weight. However, lean muscle mass is more metabolically active that fat tissue.
Metabolism
Your metabolism slows down when you lose muscle mass. Limit your daily intake to no more than 1,000 calories. If you eat less than 1,000 calories per day, your body will go into survival mode and store fat. Eat every 3-4 hours. Your metabolism increases the amount of gas that your body uses to digest and absorb the food we eat. This is known as the heating effect of food. You can take full advantage of this by scheduling meals and snacks every 3-5 minutes. Consume protein with every meal. All foods have a thermogenic effect, which can slightly increase your metabolism.
Eating protein will give your body a greater metabolic boost than carbohydrates or fats. The best protein sources are fish, chicken breast, turkey, lean red meats, nonfat yogurt and eggs. Egg substitutes and tofu are also good options. Breakfast should be a priority. Research shows that people who eat a healthy breakfast within the first two hours of rising are more likely than those who don’t.
Streng Training
Strength training should be done at least two to three times per week. Your resting metabolism rate will be boosted by lifting weights and engaging in strengthening activities like push-ups and crunches on a regular basis. Muscle burns more calories than fat, again. You can actually burn more calories if your body has more muscle than your body fat, even if you sit still. Cardiovascular exercise should be done four to five times a week. Aerobic activities such as running, biking, swimming, and brisk walking can help you burn calories and increase your metabolism while you work out. Numerous studies have shown that aerobic exercise can increase your metabolism for a time after you’ve finished exercising. You can’t control your metabolism rate 100%, but you can control enough to make a slow metabolism rate a fat blasting furnace.
