The causes and consequences of oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is one of the consequences of a number of processes that take place in the body. When it increases, it can be the start of other more serious conditions, so it is essential that you are aware of the following points so that you can combat it effectively.

What is oxidative stress?

An increase in free radicals and oxygen in the body causes cells to oxidise and be destroyed. Free radicals are electrons that are constantly interacting with all kinds of molecules. The only way to control their growth is by taking antioxidants to prevent it.

Causes

–  Diets low in antioxidants. Low consumption of fruit and vegetables, nuts and recommended drinks such as tea, or eating too much red meat and processed baked goods, leads to a shortage of antioxidants.

–  High-intensity physical exercise. The more energy you need to carry out your activity, the more oxygen you will use. The direct result is an increase in cellular oxidation. As you will also consume more animal protein to recover, the result will be a substantial uncontrolled increase in free radicals.

–  The environment. Environmental pollution levels and smoking (active or passive) are decisive factors in increasing oxidative stress.

–  Bad habits. Smoking and drinking alcohol accelerate cellular oxidation, leading to the consequences described below.

Symptoms

These are the main symptoms of oxidative stress:

– You notice your skin is ageing and start to suffer from diseases that you wouldn’t expect at your age. This is premature ageing, your body begins to decline and your skin, the largest organ, is the first to sound the alarm.

– Alterations in blood pressure and loss of muscle strength. You may notice irregular heartbeats and find it more difficult to carry out an activity that, until recently, you had been able to do without any difficulty.

–  Problems with memory and mental sharpness. You are becoming increasingly forgetful, your mind is not working well and you feel slower than ever.

–  Physical changes. You feel stiffness, your joints are no longer as flexible as before, and you notice mobility problems during movements that used to be comfortable and easy for you.

The consequences of oxidative stress

The  mitochondrion is the part of the cell that receives nutrients and gives us energy. If you don’t get the right antioxidants, your body will use what it receives to avoid other problems, so you will notice a drop in your usual energy.

This damage gradually spreads through the body. Firstly, you will notice changes in your metabolism and the symptoms described above. Cell death leads to tissue damage and tumours. Because cells are unable to process the fat that builds up in your arteries, your cardiovascular health suffers directly, leading to thrombosis, heart attacks and more serious illnesses.

One of the most severe consequences of this condition is the slowing of brain function. This can lead to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

It should be noted that oxidation spreads throughout the body from the heart to the respiratory, digestive, urinary and gastrointestinal systems, the eyes and back to the heart.

To prevent this, we recommend that you improve your diet and make sure you increase your consumption of foods or food supplements that are high in antioxidants, like Keriba Duo (which contains a high quantity of natural antioxidants from extracts of the fresh whole fruits of the pomegranate and olive) and Keriba Forte (a natural extract obtained from fresh whole pomegranates). As we have previously explained in our blog, this is the best way to prevent oxidative stress from marking the start of a host of diseases that have challenging prognoses and will have a direct impact on your health.