Causes of Aging and Degenerative Diseases
June 2nd, 2009 | 
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Longevity experts agree that one of the primary causes of aging is oxidative stress, the result of attacks on your cells from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable, highly reactive particles that are a byproduct of your metabolism. They are a response by your body to stress factors from your diet, lifestyle and environment.
In addition to accelerating the aging process, oxidative stress is an underlying cause of virtually all degenerative diseases–cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and more.
You’ve witnessed this phenomenon when you’ve noticed rusting metal–that’s oxidation at work. When free radicals attack your body, they create this same type of oxidation, except it’s from the inside out. Aging can be best described as the process that reduces the number of healthy cells in the body. As you age, and more and more cells are affected and die off, your body loses its ability to respond to emergencies and fight off these free radical attacks. Oxidative stress may be the sole cause of some diseases, but more often it weakens your immune system and makes your body vulnerable to diseases caused by other factors.
Degenerative Diseases.
There’s almost no common disease that is not associated with oxidative stress. cancer
heart disease and stroke
diabetes
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s
arthritis
macular degeneration and cataracts
rheumatoid arthritis
asthma and emphysema
kidney and liver disorders
Environmental Causes of Aging.
Sources of oxidative stress, and the free radicals that cause it, include:
environmental toxins and pollution
pesticides and herbicides
strenuous exercise
chronic illnesses
processed foods and food additives
chronic inflammation
smoking
electromagnetic radiation in your environment
emotional stress
Antioxidant Deficiencies and Oxidative Stress.
The growing rate of degenerative diseases in our culture today points to a widespread deficiency in antioxidants. Throughout our history, humans evolved eating a much more substantial intake of food, especially fruits and vegetables (which are rich in antioxidants), combined with an active lifestyle.
Today, we live a much more sedate lifestyle, combined with a lower intake of nutritious, unprocessed food that is rich in antioxidants. Combined with the increase in free radical attacks from our environment, this has created an unhealthy imbalance in the antioxidants and free radicals in our bodies.
Overeating.
Food requires oxygen to convert it into energy. Eating more food, especially poor quality food, requires more oxygen to convert it to energy. Laboratory animals live longer and healthier by eating a nutrient-dense diet with 40-50 percent fewer calories. With less food to metabolize, fewer free radicals are produced.
Our Toxic Environment.
The solution is to eat more foods exceptionally high in antioxidants, or take supplements. Educate yourself about good sources of antioxidants and start your antioxidant diet plan today.
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