Volume 1 Issue 5 July/August 1995
EDITOR UPDATE:
As most of you may know by now, I am engaged and will be married in the fall. I am happier than I’ve ever been! My new name will be: Frankie Avalon Wolfe. I promise not to change it again. You’ll be safe to put this name down in ink! (But be sure to keep my address in pencil.)
I have new brochures. One on Iridology and one on Reflexology. If any of you need one (or some of my new business cards) for yourself, your clients, friends, etc., let me know and I will send you some.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Most of us have all heard about antioxidants, but I still find there is some confusion about exactly what they are and what they do.
Antioxidants are exactly what the word says, substances that inhibit "anti", oxidation "oxidant"! The real question most people want to know is "What is oxidization and why would we want to prevent it?".
OXIDATION
Two billion years ago our earth changed when plant life began to cover it, releasing an abundance of oxygen. This excess of oxygen killed all organisms except those that developed mechanisms to deal with oxygen poisoning. As humans, we have those ancient mechanisms which are called superoxide dismutases (SOD). SOD’s are protective enzymes that assist the body in balancing the "free radical" damage caused through oxidation (breathing!). Yes, oxygen is vital to life but is also poisonous! Therefore, each time we inhale, the oxygen creates toxic by-products in our body called free radicals.
This is okay, since our bodies are able to handle these free radicals because of our SOD’s. What the body can not handle on it’s own very well is the EXCESS of free radical damage. An excess is caused by inhaling polluted air, smoking, being exposed to radiation, the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and a host of other things such as stress, injury and various metabolic processes such as weight loss! (Free radicals often get stored in fatty molecules).
We will always have free radicals in the body. It is a normal working function of being a human today. However, an abundance of free radical activity in the body is where trouble starts. Free radicals can take over and depress the immune system. Free radicals are the main reason we age rapidly. They also take a major role in cancer and related diseases.
The good news is, is that the body welcomes help from nutrients!! These nutrients are what everyone is raving about lately which are called ANTIOXIDANTS. They are vitamins, minerals and even substances found in pine bark and grape seeds! Many vegetables contain these natural occurring antioxidants. However, since our bodies are constantly being bombarded with things that cause free radical build-up, we cannot get all we need from the food we eat. Therefore, in this newsletter, we will be addressing the supplements that need to be taken ALONG WITH YOUR GOOD DIET THAT INCLUDE VEGETABLES, to insure your body adequate protection from free radical damage.
THE ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTS
VITAMIN C
The main known and widely used antioxidant is Vitamin C. Vitamin C protects the immune system.
Vitamin C is water soluble which means it is not stored in the body and must be replaced everyday. The best way to know how much Vitamin C your body needs (without being muscle tested) is to take it in 1,000 mg. tablets. Take 1,000/day then 2,000 the next day and so on. When you get diarrhea, back off 1,000mg. and that should be your safe dose.
VITAMIN E
Is another popular vitamin that is a powerful antioxidant which protects the coating around each cell. Studies show that Vitamin E with Selenium is the best combination for immune system response. The selenium stimulates increased antibody response to germ infection.
VITAMIN A/BETA CAROTENE
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin meaning that it is stored in the body and can be toxic at high doses. Toxicity levels seem to be different for everyone, however, unless you are taking more than 50,000 IU per day, there should be no need to worry. Beta Carotene cannot be overdosed on, however. Beta Carotene is the naturally occurring antioxidant found in foods such as carrots. Beta Carotene is converted into Vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A/Beta Carotene has a host of benefits, including slowing the aging process, preventing cancer and other diseases.
PYCNOGENOL
This newly found antioxidant proves to be 20% better than Vitamin C and 50% better than Vitamin E as a free radical inhibitor. It has been highly acclaimed by its users. I have a client who swears his hearing in one of his ears was restored because of the affects of PYCNOGENOL. I have heard and seen so many amazing stories about this fine gift of nature, that I could do a whole newsletter on it! I have included a handout on NSP’s new HIGH POTENCY PYCNOGENOL. for your further reading. There are no MAGIC PILLS, but this one comes close. I suggest using the ANTIOXIDANT ARSENAL from NSP which includes PYCNOGENOL. along with the other antioxidants which insure maximum protection!
Overall, Antioxidants have a positive affect on our health and the expansion and quality of our life. In another newsletter I might explain why we are not getting all we need from our fresh foods, but for now, eat your broccoli AND take your supplements.
Molistic Health??
Some people believe that moles on the skin are just free radical cells that the body has managed to push "out". Also people believe that if you are a person with many moles that this means you are more prone to cancer. I believe that if the first part of the belief is true, then your body is doing a good job fighting for you! I would assist yourself by adding the supplemental antioxidants, wear sunscreen always, and skin brush to help your skin in the elimination process!
NSP’s antioxidants:
Antioxidant Arsenal- a fourteen day vitamin, mineral and herbal supplement program including Beta Carotene, Zinc, PYCNOGENOL. w/Protectors, Citrus Bioflavinoids and Vitamin E w/Selenium. After being on this program for just a couple of days, I really notice a difference in my energy levels.
Super Supplemental- This all in one vitamin contains all the antioxidants along with the B-vitamins and all the other supplements to help augment any diet for normal body maintenance and repair.
Multiple Vitamins and Minerals
Contains 100% of the USRDI for 16 essential vitamins and minerals in the protector base. Please take note that all NSP’s vitamins are in a vegetable base! (Some manufactures use CLAY or TAR as a base for their vitamins!!
*(Each antioxidant described is available separately.)
Helpful notes: Vitamin E can go rancid after about three months of shelf life. Keep this in mind, as your old Vitamin E may be a "free radical pill"!
EXPERIMENT
As a graphic example of what oxidation does to the body, take an apple and slice it in half. Leave both halves out on your kitchen counter. You will notice that within a matter of minutes, the white part of the apple begins to turn brown and "rotten". This is an affect of oxidation. However, doing the same experiment and squeezing the juice of a fresh lemon on one of the halves, you will notice that the one with the lemon on it stays white much longer. This is because of the high level of vitamin C in the lemon. The vitamin C protected the cells of the apple.