Oxygen free radicals; can you explain me the free radical scavenging in the body?

Free radicals are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons in the outermost orbital and are unstable and very reactive. Free radicals need one more electron to become stable and try to take an electron from the other atom. This atom in turn now becomes a free radical and the dangerous chain reaction starts. Free radicals can damage our cells, particularly DNA and can do harm to our health. The well known oxygen free radicals or reactive oxygen species are superoxide ion, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is not a free radical but it is involved in the formation of many reactive oxygen species.

What are the sources of oxygen free radicals? The body uses oxygen to convert sugar and fat into energy. In this process oxygen is converted to water. However, about 2% of the oxygen may escape before the conversion is complete. These become the different oxygen free radicals. There are many other enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions in the cells which also produce continuously free radicals.

The external sources of free radical production include cigarette smoke, radiation, environmental pollutants, ultraviolet light, chemicals including pesticides and drugs and ozone. Excess exercises or physical activities can also produce more free radicals.

Free radicals are responsible for aging. Cancer and cardiovascular problems are the very important diseases caused by free radicals. The damage of DNA in the cells and the oxidation of the LDL-cholesterol are the main reason for these diseases. Cataracts, maculopathy, the age-related disorder of the retina, auto immune diseases like arthritis or fibromyalgia, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and many other diseases go to the account of free radicals.

Does the body need oxygen free radicals? Phagocytes produce excess free radicals to destroy invading pathogenic micro-organisms and this is part of the body’s defense mechanism against many diseases. Complete elimination of free radicals is not possible, but it is possible to control the production of free radicals. This is also very important for anti aging.

The body needs mechanisms to control the amount of oxygen free radicals and the excess must be scavenged continuously. If the free radical production is high and there are not enough antioxidants to neutralize them the condition, oxidative stress is developed and this is bad for the health. The two possibilities to control free radicals are antioxidants to limit oxidation and the enzymes which can neutralize the free radicals. The important body’s own antioxidants include ubiquinol, glutathione, uric acid bilirubin and even cholesterol.

The enzymes include glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutases and catalase. These enzymes need copper, manganese, selenium and zinc and these must be taken from the food.

There are more than 4000 identified nutritive and non-nutritive antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables. The important antioxidants from the foods include vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, natural beta-carotene, lycopene and many others including the polyphenols. This is an important reason to take several servings of fruits and vegetables in a day.

We all can do a lot for anti aging and start from today to think and do something for this. It is easy and worth doing.

What are the healthy foods for eyes?

Eating the right and healthy food are very important for eye care. The food must contain the necessary vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Eating the right foods can lower the risk of many eye diseases.

The important nutrients for eye health include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin

A major US study has found that vitamins A, C, E, selenium and zinc can slow down the age-related macular degeneration in existing and low grade patients. Vitamins C and E may help to prevent development or to reduce the progression of cataracts.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are deposited in the eyes and these antioxidants help to scavenge or neutralize free radicals which can cause cell damage in the eyes. Overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation is a main cause of oxidative damage of the eyes. Dark coloured fruits and vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin and they include: spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, kiwi fruit, mango, prunes, water melon, squash, broccoli, orange peppers, grapes, papaya, pumpkin, sweet corn, green beans, peas, oranges, peaches, sweet potatoes and dark green lettuce.

For maximum benefit eat the vegetables lightly cooked so that the cells are break down and the bioavailability of lutein and zeaxanthin is increased.

Vitamin A is rich in liver, carrots, spinach, mango, cantaloupe and kale. Vitamin C is rich in papaya, green bell pepper, oranges and in other citrus fruits, broccoli, sweet potatoes and red chilli. Plant oils are rich in Vitamin E.

Brazil nuts, ground nuts and other tropical nuts contain lot of selenium. In countries where the soil is poor in selenium many foods are enriched with this important mineral. Meat, nuts, pulses and beans are rich in zinc.

What vegetables and fruits maintain or reduce the blood pressure?

Fibres and antioxidants of vegetables and fruits are capable of reducing the blood pressure. Comparatively the fibres and antioxidants of fruits are more effective than those of vegetables.

Celery is known to reduce the blood pressure, but it has also sodium which can increase the pressure. Take one to two stalks and this is enough.

Garlic is also important to reduce the blood pressure and the mechanism is dilation of the arteries. Onion and garlic have adenosine which is a smooth muscle relaxant. Raw or cooked, both are effective to control the blood pressure.

All leafy vegetables are good to reduce the blood pressure. All fruits are also good. 5 to 6 servings of fruits and vegetables are good in a day.

You must have a good lifestyle. Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Keep your weight normal. Have enough physical activity.

Above all, you must avoid all forms of stress. You must know how to manage your stress well. Avoiding mental stress reduces the blood pressure and keeps it normal.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder and the symptoms are tremors, rigidity, slow movement, poor balance and difficulty in walking. In the most common idiopathic Parkinson’s disease the cause is unknown and in the other forms, a cause is known or at least suspected.

Parkinson’s disease results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain and dopamine is the neurotransmitter which stimulates motor neurons, those nerve cells which control the muscles.

Millions of people in our world are affected by this disease, the average age of onset of this disease is sixty, but 5% to 10% patients experience symptoms before the age of forty.

A genetic predisposition for Parkinson’s disease may be possible and the risk increases with age.

The cause of Parkinson’s disease is not known, but many researchers believe that several factors like oxygen and other free radicals, environmental toxins, genetic predisposition and accelerated aging together may be the culprits.

Any oxidation in our body can damage nerve cells and the antioxidants from our food normally protect cells from oxidative stress and damage. Drugs, chemicals and other environmental toxins such as pesticides which inhibit dopamine production can produce huge amounts of free radicals which can cause oxidation damage and the genetic factor plays a role in 20% of the patients.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease and the treatment is the administration of drugs to relieve symptoms.

The drugs and drug groups used are levodopa and carbidopa, dopamine agonists, amantadine, MAO-B inhibitors, anticholinergics and catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors.

Are drumsticks and leaves good for postmenopausal women?

Drumsticks are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, E, calcium, iron and phosphorous. Thus it is a good vegetable for healthy vision, skin and bones.

They are rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids and the leaves contain glycoflavones.

Drumsticks and their leaves are good because they are rich in calcium, magnesium and other elements which are important to prevent osteoporosis. Apart from other vitamins, enough amount of vitamin A is also present. It is a good food for postmenopausal women.

100 g fresh drumstic contains 79.2 g water, 432 g calcium, 134 mg phosphorous, 0.26 mg iron and 139 mg vitamin C. It has less oxalic acid compared to many vegetables, 11.2 mg.

The ripe drumstic seeds are dried and roasted. These taste like roasted groundnut.

It is generally a very good food for children also because of the high amont of beta-corotene, from which vitamin A is produced.

Green tea...black tea...what is the truth?

Whether it is green or black or oolong or white tea all are coming from the same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Two leaves and a bud we take from the plant and prepare and cure it in different way to get all these four teas.

Tea is the most widely drunk beverage in the world after water. The way you prepare tea is important for its taste and they are

• For green tea - 80 to 85 degrees C (176 to 185 degrees F)
• For black tea - boiling water 99 degrees C (210 degrees F)
• For oolong tea 90 to 100 degrees C (194 to 212 degrees F)
• For whire tea 66 to 71 degrees C (150 to 160 degrees F)

During preparation green tea has minimum oxidation and this is the reason why it has more antioxidants. The polyphenols, catechins and epigallocatechingallate are powerful antioxidants. Green tea contain certain carotenoids, tocopherols, vitamin C, many important minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium and zinc and several other phytochemicals which are good for our health. Green tea also has caffeine, theophylline and theobromine and these belong to the methylxanthine. Methylxanthine stimulates the nervous system, relaxes smooth muscles in the airways to the lungs, stimulates the heart and acts as a diuretic (more urine). Even today thyophylline is the best medicine for asthma.

The amount of caffeine depends the amount of tea you take and the time you have taken to prepare irrespective of green or black teas. I has, anyhow, less caffeine than coffee. One cup of tea contains about 50 mg caffeine as compared to coffee, which contains 65 to 175 mg.

Black tea is also made from the two leaves and a bud but is dried during preparation and so more oxidation happens. This drying process of black tea is called fermentation and has nothing to do with normal fermentation. This reduces the amount of the antioxidants. Black tea contains the polyphenols like catechins, anthocyanins, theaflavin, thearubigens, phenolic acids and tannin, trace elements and vitamines. Black tea has also the methyxanthine chemicals.

Green tea is richer in antioxidants, has less caffeine and doen not stain the teeth, but black tea tastes more with its fuller flavour. So my advice is drink both the teas, pure drinking water and leave all the other soft beverages except freshly pressed fruit juices. This is very healthy. The recent research says not only epigallocatechin gallate found itn green tea but also the theaflavins and thearubigens found in black tea are responsible for the health effects.

There are many studies about the good effect of tea on heart, kidneys and its anti-cancer qualities. You must have your lifestyle in such a way that there are only little risk factors. If you live unhealthy and rape your body even the best green or black teas can’t help you

I have diabetes for the past six months, can I eat papaya?

Deliciously sweet with musky undertones and a soft, butter-like consistency have brought the name for papaya the “fruit of the angels” according to Christopher Columbus.

It is rich in vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, vitamins A, E, K and dietary fibre. It is rich in antioxidants.

Papaya is considered for the following conditions:

• It protects against heart diseases
• It has anti-inflammatory Effects
• It promotes digestive health
• It supports the immune system
• It protects against arthritis
• It promotes lung health
• It is a useful food against prostate cancer

Papaya has very low amount of carbohydrates, approximately 10 g in 100 g edible fruit and you can eat it.

A maximum of 200g papaya is recommended per day

Plant oils, especially Sesame oil

Sesame oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, groundnut oil, coconut oil, mustard oil is the mostly used oils in India. Olive oil is famous in many countries, but it is not suitable for Indian way of cooking with high temperature. Canola oil is genetically modified rapeseed oil from Canada; it is mustard oil minus the smelling erucic acid. Plant oils have no cholesterol. Coconut oil has around 90% saturated fatty acids, but nearly 70% are middle and short chain fats which are healthy. Persons with heart problem can use coconut as well as coconut oil. It is extremely stable and is good to cook. Do not forget all oils are rich in calories and use them carefully.

Sesame oil along with coconut oil and groundnut oil is the best oil to cook our Indian food. They stable to heat although 86% are polyunsaturated (omega-6) and monounsaturated (omega-9) fats and only 14% saturated fats in sesame oil. The antioxidants in it make this possible. It is healing oil and is antibacterial for pathogens. Its fat combination with antioxidants makes this to reduce LDL and increase HDL. It is used to cure many diseases in Ayurvedha.

My personal experience with Idhayam Sesame oil, including oil pulling, is very good and it helps to minimize the unwanted bacteria in the mouth. In the literature there are several applications are given. Western countries are not interested because it is not their product. With proper research it can be possible to prove several healing effects of Sesame oil. It is the oil of Tamil Nadu, one of the best oils in the world and it is the duty of the doctors, chemists and others to prove this. In Tamil Nadu it was given to the girls much when they come to age and sesame oil is one of the important substances which prepared them for pregnancy and child birth. Are today’s numerous caesarean operations the result of this lost virtue? Healthy sesame oil will help you a lot if you eliminate or minimize other risks.

In future we would have projects which study the clinical aspects of sesame oil to underline the use of this edible oil for its health properties. At the same time good oil is good oil if we master the right food for the right man or woman or child. Eating completely wrong food and telling sesame oil is not good is not acceptable. I believe in this particular field we could do research for decades.

Male Infertility

More than 16 hours away from home to work, tension, tiredness, poor water and fluid intake, processed or junk or fast food consumption regularly, environmental poisons, less physical work, almost no antioxidants in the food are reasons enough for the infertility in men. The expectation makes a man also psychologically in a bad position which is not also advantageous for the reproduction.

Are there more factors which affect the power of reproduction in a man? Yes, there are many and they include:

• diabetes
• undescended testicles
• hormone imbalances (hypothyroidism, hypogonadism)
• obesity
• hereditary
• sexually transmitted diseases – infection
• mumps
• autoimmune diseases
• liver, kidney diseases
• abuse of anabolic steroids
• certain medicines
• abuse of narcotic drugs and designer or party drugs
• chemotherapy
• diet low in antioxidants
• exposure to toxic metals
• exposure to xenoestrogens like pesticides
• erection problems
• premature ejaculation
• excessive exercise or physical activity
• wearing tight pants and underwear
• hot bath
• prolonged sitting work
• radiation and radiation therapy
• poor sperm quality
• poor movement of sperm
• low sperm count

If you want to avoid infertility the above conditions must be changed. For many men it helps to make the wife pregnant. It is easy with a counseling to change this. The medical provider, dietician and counselor must be good to solve these problems.

If there are other reasons, the necessary hormones and other estimations must be done in the blood. The medical history is also important here.

Do not forget, in infertility the problem lies on 30% with men, 30% with women and 40% on both.

The risks are completely avoided, the hormone therapy is also done, still no success, what to do? The other treatments considered may be:

1. Artificial insemination - placing sperm directly in the cervix or uterus.
2. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection - placing individual sperm cells directly inside the woman's eggs.
3. In vitro fertilization - fertilizing the egg outside the womb and then returning it to the uterus.

Next: Female Infertility