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Oxidative Stress

Live blood is an extremely useful tool for testing many root causes of health issues in our bodies. One thing a live blood analyst (LBA) can see in your live blood is cellular damage or free radical damage, also known as oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is when the body’s cells become imbalanced with free radicals (reactive oxygen species) compared to the number of antioxidants. Having too many free radicals in the body can cause cellular damage and even cell destruction. Too many free radicals will cause tissues to start degenerating and even damage the cell DNA.

This damage can lead to many health issues in our body. Some of the most common symptoms are inflammation in the body, early signs of aging and fatigue. Other more specific symptoms are:

  • Wrinkles
  • Weak eyesight
  • Memory loss or brain fog
  • Hair loss and greying hair
  • Muscle and joint pains
  • Poor digestion
  • Weaker nails and bones
  • Blood sugar imbalances
  • There are many ways we can avoid oxidative stress in our bodies. Most damage occurs due to the following reasons:

    Avoid

  • Eating fried foods (especially cooked in oils that are hydrogenated i.e. vegetable or canola oils)
  • Nitrates and nitrites in meats
  • High sugar diet or processed foods
  • Toxic airborne chemicals
  • Cigarette smoke or smoke from fires
  • Exposure to radiation (medical or EMFs)
  • Strenuous exercise
  • Chlorinated water
  • High fat diet
  • Prolonged physical or mental stress
  • To further ensure you do not have this free radical imbalance in your body, eat plenty of foods that are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and help heal and repair cellular damage. Antioxidants enhance cell turnover and prevent cell damage from occurring. This can improve your overall health by boosting energy and balancing hormones. The key to longevity is to always have more antioxidants in your body to combat any free radical damage. Here are some whole foods to add to your diet that are high in antioxidants:

    Antioxidant-Rich Foods

  • Blueberries or other berries
  • Dark leafy greens
  • Citrus fruits
  • Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower)
  • Alfalfa sprouts
  • Dark chocolate
  • Beets
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Spices: turmeric, cinnamon, thyme, clove and ginger
  • Seeds: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds
  • If you suspect that you may be suffering from oxidative stress symptoms in your body, book a live blood cell test to investigate your internal health further. Viewing the live blood cells can tell us how healthy your cells are and if you need to make some improvements. We can also test for free radical damage using urine tests. Ask us more by emailing or booking your appointment today!

    Nindy Grewal
    Live Blood Analyst, Certified Nutrition Practitioner