Macular Degeneration - Aging

What is macular degeneration in relation to free radicals and oxidation, as discussed in the previous BLOG?

The Macquarie Dictionary defines "macula" (noun) as a spot in the skin (adjective ) "macular", which is impurities.

Macular degeneration refers to a disease that affects central vision and leads to loss of vision, usually through spots or impurities forming behind the eye. Other symptoms are seen as "age spots" such as typically seen on the back of hands.

Although there are forms of macular degeneration that strike young people, the condition occurs most commonly in people who are over 60 years of age. This disorder is thus called age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration was formerly called "senile macular degeneration." This term was misinterpreted by many senior citizens as an unflattering reference and it has been discarded. "Senile" has been replaced by "age-related."

Health Best Buys offers all the important antioxidants such as Coenzyme Q10, Glutathione, Vitamin A, Beta-carotene, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, Lipoic acid, Zinc, Selenium and Grape Seed extract. St. Mary's Thistle, Bilberry and Ginkgo biloba are also available and are powerful antioxidant herbs that provide invaluable protection against free radical damage.

Anti Oxidants and Anti Aging

Health Club is dedicated to research that is providing answers and solutions to age old questions about the process of aging.

A key factor involved in the process of aging is the presence of free radicals circulating in your blood stream.

Free radicals are highly reactive oxygen molecules that can destroy normal cells and weaken the immune system. Free radicals are continuously being produced within the body as part of normal metabolic processes and are an essential part of energy production. Most of these free radicals are short-lived and do no harm. However, it is their excessive production or accumulation that poses a problem.

Various environmental and physical stresses contribute to the production of excess free radicals, such as cigarette smoke, alcohol, air conditioning, x-rays, air pollution and strenuous exercise.

As free radicals accumulate in your system, your health deteriorates and you become more susceptible to infections and a variety of degenerative diseases, from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Macular Degeneration, to Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Heart disease and Cancer. It is thought that free radical damage is a major contributing factor to the aging process.

In order to keep the number of free radicals under control, the body produces different types of antioxidants. Antioxidants, also known as "free radical scavengers", are natural substances that not only prevent the formation of free radicals, but can also bind to them and render them inactive once they have formed. Antioxidants have the ability to slow the aging process, reduce cholesterol levels, provide protection against heart disease and stroke, decrease the risk of cancer, slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and protect against the damaging effects of tobacco smoke and environmental pollution.

The most important antioxidants are Coenzyme Q10, Glutathione, Vitamin A, Beta-carotene, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, Lipoic acid, Zinc, Selenium and Grape Seed extract.
St. Mary's Thistle, Bilberry and Ginkgo biloba are also powerful antioxidant herbs that provide invaluable protection against free radical damage.

Most people do not obtain sufficient antioxidants through their diet to counteract the amount of free radicals generated, and may therefore require additional dietary supplementation. Antioxidants appear to work together synergistically in providing overall protection to various body systems. It is therefore more beneficial to take a combination of antioxidant nutrients in smaller doses than it is to consume higher doses of only one.

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