Not all free radicals are the same

Why do we age?

This is one of the great topics of debate. Why do we age? What makes us become more wrinkled, flabby, less energetic, and have fewer resources every day? And the question is, is it possible to stop this cascade of negative effects? The answer is yes and no. It depends. We age because our genes are damaged. They deteriorate over time because they wear down due to the attack of exogenous and endogenous agents. For example, pollution damages them, "dirties" them. We also age because telomeres shorten. Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes. Now, interestingly, Ángel Durántez was telling me the other day that he has seen them both shorten and lengthen! So we can intervene here too, although we don't know exactly how. This is the nature of science and medicine. It's highly multifactorial. Our bodies can develop degenerative diseases because we don't properly eliminate certain proteins that have a function and then need to be eliminated. This is the case with Alzheimer's. Here, the protein that clumps together and blocks proper neuronal function is called beta-amyloid protein. And finally, another reason we age is because we oxidize. Just as a screw rusts, our cells atrophy.

- A brief lesson in anatomy and physics.

Our bodies are made up of billions of cells. Cells are made up of molecules. Molecules are made up of atoms, and these atoms have electrons spinning at their centers, stabilizing the molecule. And that's how everything works. However, some of the functions our bodies perform, such as breathing or metabolizing food, destabilize this internal order of molecules. And chaos, which is order's close cousin (as Peterson so aptly taught us), generates free radicals. Here's a small defense against these unstable molecules that generate so much bad energy. One way our immune system fights off invaders is with free radicals that attack and bombard them. This is how lymphocytes work. They are our defenders, but we have to keep them in check. The problem starts when the number of free radicals skyrockets. Just like when our genes deteriorate, or when we don't properly eliminate proteins that are meant to perform a specific function and then leave, free radicals can't exceed a certain limit. The body is equipped to combat free radicals, which are essential for the functions we've already mentioned: breathing, metabolizing food, and fighting off invaders. The body generates molecular compounds called antioxidants. These neutralize the action of free radicals by releasing the electrons they seek, thus stabilizing or neutralizing excess free radicals. Oxidative stress arises when there are far more free radicals than antioxidants. At this point, the balance is disrupted, and the highly active free radicals begin attacking (seeking their electron), altering and damaging healthy cells. Oxidation, inflammation, and disease emerge if this occurs on a large scale. The good news, which you all already know, is that neutralizing agents can be used to completely neutralize these destabilizing forces in the body. Ways have been found to strengthen and slow down oxidation through diet and supplementation. But before we delve into the solution and the types of antioxidants available (which are fundamentally divided into two groups), I'd like to share another piece of good news. Today, it's possible to measure your body's oxidative stress level. Specifically, you can measure your antioxidant capacity and your body's oxidation level. The d-ROM test analyzes Reactive Oxygen Metabolites, also known as hydroperoxides. It's measured in Carratelli Units—named after the inventor of this tool. It's done through a blood test. According to Dr. Cardona, the normal range is 250 to 300 Carratelli Units. You can also have a test called PAT, which measures the antioxidant capacity of your plasma (PAT stands for Potential Antioxidant Systemic or Plasma). This is also a blood test. The ideal level is above 20,000 Carratelli Units, indicating that the body can effectively defend itself against free radicals. Now that we've seen that oxidative stress levels can be measured, I'd like to discuss some of the effects of having an uncontrolled overabundance of free radicals. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation accelerate aging and trigger diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular problems, arthritis, dermatitis, and autoimmune diseases. They reduce ATP energy production and, of course, all the visible effects such as sagging skin, loss of skin pigmentation, and decreased hair quality. So how can we help the body combat this excess of free radicals? By providing antioxidants. It's the only way.

- Types of antioxidants:

And here's the gift: I'm going to explain what you need to take to help your body stay balanced and prevent oxidation. There are two types of antioxidants: 1) Endogenous antioxidants—those that, as I mentioned, are produced by the body: coenzymes, catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, among others. 2) Exogenous antioxidants, those that the body doesn't produce but that can be obtained from an external source: minerals such as selenium, germanium, zinc, vitamins C and E, flavonoids, lycopene, lutein, etc. As the name suggests, endogenous antioxidants are those produced by our body, which, over time, is bombarded by an inadequate diet, insufficient or unbalanced micronutrients: vitamins, minerals, coenzyme Q10, omega-3, omega-6, amino acids, etc. Excessive pollutants, excessive sun exposure, and excessive exercise, along with alcohol, tobacco, medications, and even daily stress, deplete the body's antioxidant reserves, leading to an accumulation of free radicals that progressively deteriorate, oxidize, and atrophy the organism. On the other hand, there are exogenous antioxidants, those not produced by the body and obtained from external sources, primarily from nature: fruits and vegetables. For example, wine, thanks to its highly antioxidant polyphenols, has become so popular. But in addition to wine, there are fruits and vegetables in nature with ingredients that have proven effective in rebalancing—and we know this can be measured—oxidative stress levels. At Longevitas, we have addressed this topic from both of these perspectives. By helping the body to have access to antioxidants biosimilar to those it generates, that is, by providing ENDOGENOUS antioxidants or those identical to those the body generates: And that is our Ubiquinol Formula, and at the same time we have designed a formula to provide the body with EXOGENOUS antioxidants, those that come from nature, Mamberry.