Oxidative Stress Part 1: Exploring the Best Antioxidant Supplements

Every day, we all hear reminders and horror stories of the seriousness and finality of heart disease. We all probably know relatively healthy people who passed away suddenly from a heart attack with no warning – a silent killer.

As you may have read or heard, cholesterol is one of the original culprits. How many of us have been told by our doctor that one key to preventing heart disease is keeping bad cholesterol levels low? I was shocked when my research into antioxidants told a different story.

The real villain was oxidative stress. There seemed to be a strong correlation between the inflammation of the blood vessels brought about by oxidative stress and all underlying causes of heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, and aneurysms.

I should point out that the research explained in this blog article is based on Dr. Ray D. Strand’s (M.D.) research and writing on oxidative stress. Dr. Strand is a medical doctor, researcher, and author based in the USA with a subspecialty in oxidative stress, the role it plays as an underlying major driver in many degenerative and chronic diseases, and how to combat it best using preventative, powerful antioxidant supplementations.

His findings, amongst other medical researchers and doctors, are revolutionary in the treatment and prevention of heart disease. He claimed that part of this issue is the oxidative stress, the inflammation it causes, and how it can turn cholesterol bad.

Rather than relying on cholesterol-lowering medications alone, he incorporated a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and taking strong, high-quality antioxidant supplements for a far superior outcome in his patients.

Dr. Strand explains that in the 1980s, we believed that not all cholesterol was bad. HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins) are actually good; the higher, the better. LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins) are bad. They can build up along artery walls, forming plaque and narrowing or blocking the artery.

This is why when your doctor orders a blood test, it looks at not only the total cholesterol level but also the ratio of good cholesterol.

This is common knowledge. Ready for the bit not many are aware of? LDL is not “bad”. In fact, it is integral in many important processes, such as making cell membranes and producing different hormones.

Problems only seemed to happen when free radicals (oxidative stress) occurred to LDL native to the body and damaged, changed, and modified it to a bad LDL cholesterol.

Research then showed that with enough antioxidants to quell oxidation, this damage to LDL is also quelled. This was such breakthrough research that Dr. Daniel Steinberg published it in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1989.

• According to studies, Vitamin C is the best antioxidant within the plasma or fluid as it is water-soluble.
• Supplementing with Vitamin C preserves and protects the endothelium function, hence preventing endothelial dysfunction – a major driver behind inflammatory processes.
• Vitamin C helps prevent LDL oxidation.
• Vitamin C helps regenerate Vitamin E (and glutathione, another potent antioxidant), so they can be used repeatedly.

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• One of the most potent intracellular antioxidants, present within all cells naturally.
• Studies show that patients with coronary artery disease have lower levels of glutathione.
• Glutathione is a key antioxidant as it is contained in all the cells that surround the epithelial space.

To make healthy levels of Glutathione you need:
   o    Selenium
   o    B2
   o    Niacin
   o    NAC

• Bioflavonoids are the famous colour-giving ingredient of fruits and vegetables. Thousands exist.
• The rule of thumb is the more colourful the fruits and vegetables in your diet, the greater the variety of bioflavonoids you get.
• These super antioxidants have specific anti-inflammatory effects.
• Red wine and grape juice contain polyphenols - another antioxidant that reduces the oxidisation of LDL cholesterol.

Grape seed extract is understood to be the best bioflavonoid for preventing chronic inflammatory disease. Check out THORNE Grape Seed Oil for a high dose superior grapeseed oil supplement. We also recommend keeping a well-balanced diet for the best capturing of multiple bioflavonoids and beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A that helps support our antioxidant support mechanisms.

To conclude Part I of our series, I would like to answer a common question that may be in the back of your mind: If antioxidants are so good for me, a powerful preventative tool, why isn't my doctor or pharmacist recommending these?

Dr. Strand explains that doctors often treat nutrients or supplements like drugs, meaning they test the body's response to just one nutrient at a time to learn its potential benefits.

This approach ignores the synergistic benefits that supplements have. Antioxidants work best together! As oxidative stress occurs, the body needs multiple antioxidants to combat the damage, and at the same time, the antioxidants need all the supporting nutrients to do their job well.

If you’re interested in finding some powerful antioxidants from Matakana Pharmacy, we offer a range of practitioner-only products, including Metagenics, Pure Encapsulation supplements, and other trusted brands.



Disclaimer: Please note that Mina our resident specialist pharmacist and natural practitioner  is not an MD, and does not give medical recommendations. He stresses the importance of talking to your doctor & pharmacist before making changes to your supplements.