What are free radicals and why should we learn about them? Free radicals are important to understand as they pertain to our pets health and well being (and ours too actually), and it actually determines how well our pets age! So, yes, that important! In the technical term, a free radical is an atom or group of atoms that contains at least one unpaired electron. Electrons are particles that are negatively charged that typically occur in pairs, thus forming a chemically stable arrangement. If an electron is not paired, another molecule or atom can easily bond with it, causing a chemical reaction. Free radicals are very unstable, and can create dramatic changes in the body, they can cause a lot of oxidative damage, however, each free radical can only exist for a tiny fraction of a second, it’s really the damage that it leaves behind that can be irreversible, particularly damage to heart muscle cells, nerve and certain immune system sensory cells. Are all free radicals bad? Not all free radicals are bad, free radicals are typically present in the body in small numbers, biochemical processes naturally lead to the formation of free radicals, and under normal and healthy circumstances, the body can and does keep them in check. There are even free radicals the immune system makes (which is why we must always keep the immune system strong), that destroys viruses and bacteria. There are other free radicals that are involved in producing hormones and activating enzymes, we even need free radicals to produce energy and various substances that the body requires. When do free radicals become bad? Free radicals become a detriment to health when there is excessive free radical formation, this is where damage to tissues and cells can occur. It can also become a chain reaction, when the formation of a large number of free radicals occur it then stimulates the formation of even more free radicals, leading to even more damage. The presence of dangerously high number of free radicals in the body can even alter the way in which cells code genetic material. Changes in protein structure can occur as a result of error in protein synthesis and that is very bad, as the immune system can see this error as a foreign substance and try to destroy it. The formation of mutated proteins can eventually damage the immune system and can lead to cancers such as leukemia, as well we other diseases. In addition to damaging genetic material, protective cell membranes can be destroyed by free radical damage, and can upset the calcium levels in the body. There are many different factors that can lead to free radical damage in the body, some that are not always in our control, such as the environment and the polluted air we breathe (think chem trails, pesticides sprayed, cell phone towers), and some that are such as diet and stress. When the body obtains nutrients from the diet, it uses oxygen to create energy, it’s a process called oxidation. Oxygen molecules containing unpaired electrons are then released, and if they are released in too high numbers it can cause damage to the body. Oxidation occurs more readily in fat molecules than protein or carbohydrates. This is why it is extremely important to only feed quality food and supplements to our pets! I’m an extreme advocate for quality supplements as I have found some pet guardians, even though they feed a quality diet, supplement using poor quality supplements, which can actually undo what they are trying to do with the diet, for example, most omega-3 supplements on the market (like 99%) are already rancid before the bottle is even opened! When you offer rancid oils and supplements, it causes a lot of free radical damage in the body in a concentrated way, so you are then spending extra money on something that actually does the opposite of what you are trying to do! Do free radicals accelerate aging?
Yes, excess free radicals do accelerate aging when the body produces more free radicals over time than scavengers, and that resulting imbalance contributes to the aging process. Which as we all know, our beloved pets don’t need help with that, they already age fast enough- that is why we take a dogs age and times it by 7. How do we effectively deal with excess free radical damage in the body, or slow down aging? Substances known as antioxidants neutralize free radicals by binding to their free electrons. Of course, not all antioxidants are created equal, and some have more specific purposes than others, for example, the antioxidant Coenzyme CoQ10 is especially beneficial for the heart. The antioxidant lutein is especially beneficial for the eyes (ocular health). There are water soluble antioxidants and fat soluble antioxidants. One of the most powerful antioxidant is called glutathione, which, if the body is overall healthy, it can make this antioxidant effectively, which the body actually needs to not only destroy free radicals but to detoxify and protect the body as well. To keep things simple, feed a fresh whole food diet, not kibble, as kibble goes rancid very quickly (before the bag is even opened unfortunately), add quality supplements yourself where you can control the quality of vitamins (also antioxidants), and of course, good quality fats, my personal favorite way of adding more antioxidants to my pets diet is by adding a quality greens powder to their food and a quality omega-3 supplement.
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We all want to see our pets thrive for life, which means less vet visits and enjoying our pets to the fullest, while maximizing the quality time we share them. While some might say there are many paths to Rome when it comes to health, we need to stick with the laws and principles of health, which I will explain in further detail, but a good example for this would be; if our bodies are made up of 60% water, then consuming water on a daily basis at a percentage that replenishes the body to maintain that 60% will be suffice, if you get dehydrated even 2%, it will lead to physiological stresses on the body with symptoms such as headaches and organ depletion. Losing up to 11% of water from the body can even be fatal. So, hydrating the body on a daily basis with the appropriate amount of clean water is a health principle, it is a natural law, we are made up of water, and therefore, we need to consume water. For our dogs and cats, there are also such principles. If I feed my dog and cat, who are carnivores that thrive on meat and some vegetables, a high carbohydrate and dry diet, I am breaking a law (or principle) to their health. Why? Because I am feeding an animal a diet that it was never designed and meant to consume. So, feeding a species appropriate diet will be the first and most important thing one can do to add life to years and years to life when it comes to their pets, a diet that is rich in bioavailable nutrition, anti-inflammatory, and proteins the dog or cat can have or tolerate, (not all proteins are beneficial to every dog and cat), some breeds tend to thrive on certain proteins while others do not, epigenetically speaking. The proper diet is key and crucial for thriving, no matter how much or how little you supplement, because you can’t out-supplement a bad diet. Next, seeing what your pet is lacking and supplying it. It can be as simple as adding a probiotic and digestive enzyme to their meals to help them digest and break down the food, such as with senior pets, as they get older they produce less enzymes, and so supplying your pet’s body with enzymes and a probiotic will help them to digest and break their food down properly to get the nutrition they need, which will get them to thriving. Another example would be, as your pets gets older, there will be natural cartilage and collagen breakdown, supplementing with either glucosamine and/or hyaluronic acid will help bring the pep back in their step, because you are supplying their bodies with what they need. Whatever is missing, we add. Another example would be supplying them with essential fatty acids like omega-3s, called essential because they don’t produce it in their bodies therefore they need to get it from outside sources. Super food concentrates add vitality back where diet falls short. The unique polyphenol properties actually help the body use food better, polyphenols help the micro biome utilize nutrition from concentrates. Here are just a few supplements proven to add vitality to your pet’s life and quite possibly, more (quality) years (these supplements were specifically studied for longevity) and have a very high ORAC value (high antioxidant value); -AFA E3 Live algae -Red algae -Wheatgrass -Phytoplankton -Spirulina -Medicinal mushrooms -Olive extract -Quality cold pressed oils such as a variety of omega-3s or olive oil. -Curcumin (extract from turmeric) -CoQ10 (Ubiquinol) -Ginseng -Astaxanthin Super food concentrates are a lot more efficient, and makes your pets more resilient. Again, aim for quality and organic as much as possible. However, to really understand optimal longevity we need to support the pathways and mechanisms to empower and improve health and vitality as our pet’s age. Mitochondria & Aging
What does the mitochondria do? The mitochondria is the engine of the cell, it is responsible for making ATP, which is a neurotransmitter at every synapse. It takes energy to heal! It is also responsible in determining the degree of inflammation and completeness of recovery and so much more. In one of our latest articles, we talked about the coined term, ‘Inflammaging’, age and systemic, cellular, and nuclear inflammation accelerates the mitochondrial breakdown of cells, this is chronic inflammation of course, as not all inflammation is bad, but it has been proven and shown that chronic inflammation will accelerate the aging process. This can happen in many ways, such as through a high toxin load (especially if toxins like heavy metals get inside of the cell), nutrient deficiencies, genetics, physiological stresses, aging, etc. Anything that damages the mitochondria of the cell, will lead to cell death, which will accelerate aging. All Paths Lead To Detox Those who know me know that I am very passionate about precision detoxing. Limiting and avoiding exposure to toxins, such as flea and tick medications, and over vaccinating is key to longevity, also be mindful of cleaning agents used to clean the house that can be very toxic to our pets. Also, don’t forget the water- If unfiltered water affects us in a negative way, then it will most certainly affect them as well, and I find most pet guardians forget about the accumulated dangers of unfiltered water for their pets. But what happens then if our pet(s) have already been toxified? Environmental and metabolic detox is needed, at least once a year. This will ensure that the immune system is not burdened, and all organ systems and drainage pathways are functioning optimally. As well as, protecting mitochondrial health from environmental and metabolic toxins, removing damaged mitochondria and damaged cells, initiating metabolic activation, and addressing accumulated damage and inflammation, hence increasing reliance in entire systems. Primary detox emunctories are; Liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, stomach and pancreas. Secondary detox emunctories are; Skin, mucus, nose, sex glands, nerves. Keeping these healthy and clean are extremely vital for the totality of health for your pets (and us too!). In conclusion, as long as we are honoring our pets by following their principles to health, and doing our part in making sure they get everything they need, physically, mentally and emotionally, then I believe we are doing our very best for them. |
AuthorLucy is an avid pet mom; with dogs, cats, goats and horses to keep her busy! All of her pet 'kids' are fed a species appropriate diet with proper supplementation so she can watch them thrive. Her expertise and experience lie in nutraceutical supplementation and is a health advocate for proper diet and nutrition. Her other passions in life are schutzhund and equestrian riding. Archives
January 2025
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