What is Oxidative Stress? - 11 Alarming Causes

Are you aware of the process your body undergoes when it starts decaying? A bit harsh, but as we age, our body functions decrease, making it vulnerable to oxidative stress. 

Take a look at what this means, what causes oxidative stress, and what you can do to delay its adverse effects.

What is Oxidative Stress?

An imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body causes oxidative stress. Free radicals are molecules containing oxygen with an uneven number of electrons. They can react with other molecules due to their uneven number - causing chemical reactions in your body. 

The reactions are both harmful and beneficial. 

Antioxidants help free radicals to stabilize. They are molecules that transfer an electron - without making themselves unstable - to neutralize free radicals, becoming less reactive.

What Causes Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress occurs when the body produces or uses more oxygen than it can neutralize. 

The body breaks down glucose and converts it into energy, the by-product of this process is oxygen. While oxygen is essential for good health, too much can lead to oxidative stress - because oxygen can damage cells and lead to the formation of free radicals. 

Naturally, free radicals form when we exercise or due to inflammation. It is part of the body’s system to keep itself healthy.

Environmental factors also influence the production of free radicals. 

• Ozone
• Toxic chemicals in cleaners and pesticides
• Cigarette smoke
• Radiation
• Pollution 
• High sugar intake 
• Excessive consumption of processed food 
• Elevated quantities of alcohol

Which of these do you think you have the most control over? 

Effects of oxidative stress

When too many free radicals roam in your body, they can cause damage to fatty tissue, DNA, and proteins. You don’t want to harass these protagonists because it can lead to diseases over time.  

What kind of distress can it cause to your body? 

• Diabetes
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessels)
• Inflammatory conditions 
• High Blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart disease
• Neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s)
• Cancer
• Autism
• Depression
• Chronic fatigue syndrome

Were you aware that oxidative stress is the leading cause of DNA fragmentation in spermatozoa? High levels of oxidative DNA damage are associated with male infertility and abnormal spermatozoa.

How to Prevent Oxidative Stress?

While eliminating oxidative stress is impossible, you can change course and take action by providing your body with sufficient antioxidants to balance it out with free radicals. The word antioxidant gets tossed around a lot. 

Are you not amazed by the critical role in your body system?

Antioxidants are molecules that help protect cells from the damage caused by oxidative stress. They do this by neutralizing the free radicals - they form when there is overproduced oxygen. 

Antioxidants are in a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables. You can also take antioxidant supplements, which are available in pill and liquid form.

• Berries
• Cherries 
• Pecans
• Dark Chocolate
• Citrus fruits
• Prunes 
• Dark leafy greens
• Artichokes
• Beans
• Beets
• Spinach
• Garlic

But if a plant-based diet isn’t your thing, here are some meat aliments to boost antioxidants. 

Some examples of animal-based antioxidants include omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). These nutrients are in foods like fish, eggs, and meat. 

Let us recommend that you focus more on plant-based antioxidants. They have a higher amount of antioxidants than meat.

Other ways to prevent oxidative stress

Consider spicing up your lifestyle to decrease oxidative stress with the following suggestions.

1. Regular & moderate exercise: Keeping your body in shape isn’t only for a hot summer body. It will also make you feel good inside! (Well, minus the sore part but no pain, no gain). Constant exercise can influence lifespan, reduce aging effects, and minimize the risk of cancer or other diseases. 
2. Avoid smoking: Consider quitting and stray away from secondhand smoking. (It’s hard but do it for your future self). 
3. Protect against harmful chemicals: The world is full of them, from cleaning utensils to pesticides in food or gardening. Become aware of these to gear up in case of contact. 
4. Have an environment-friendly attitude: Since pollution contributes to free radicals, implement practices with less environmental stress. (Bike ride or carpool).
5. Protect your skin with sunscreen: Don’t walk out your door without shielding your skin from the sun. Free radicals go on a field day with the sunlight, accelerating the formation of wrinkles and fine lines. 
6. Don’t drink too much alcohol: A no-brainer, but we understand that it is the most difficult to deny. But again, what would your future self appreciate? 
7. Sleep!: Plenty of sleep can do wonders for your health! It allows your body to recharge and maintain itself. Body functions depend on sleep, so coordinate a good sleeping schedule to allow yourself to rest. 
8. Careful, don’t overeat: Life comes with a bundle of stress and work, but don’t let it take over your decisions to be healthy. Overeating may spark oxidative stress. Accustom your body to eat moderate portions through spaced intervals. 

Bear in mind that baby steps can lead to a road of abundance! Don’t get overwhelmed but create consciousness of what is happening inside your body; take charge of your surroundings.

Start your journey away from free radicals with ÆTHEION®! 

ÆTHEION® ZC50 Cellular Support Cream is a skin repair cream that clears superoxide radicals from the body. It is one potent cream that combats free radicals damage and oxidative stress. You can find Cellular Support cream here.

What makes it so effective? 

It has an innovative technology that supports the bioavailability and physiological repair of the skin’s cellular membrane. So there is no need for expensive treatments or invasive procedures! 

The cream offers hydration, elasticity, barrier function, and natural cell renewal - essentials for healthy skin. 

Our products contain the proprietary Redox Technology. Capable of simulating an ionic zinc-copper superoxide dismutase effect. It is a process that reduces the skin’s oxidation by transferring electrons from a radical state to a stress-free normal condition.  Don’t miss out on our one-of-a-kind cream! Visit our professional series. 

What are the benefits of free radicals? 

Remember how free radicals can be harmful and beneficial? Well, apart from accelerating age and damaging cells. Free radicals also help your body fight infection and kill cancerous cells. They do this by damaging the DNA of these cells, ultimately killing them. 

During physical activity, the free radicals regulate tissue growth and stimulate the production of antioxidants. 

To keep them in check, you must eat sufficient antioxidants and practice healthy habits to avoid overflowing your body with free radicals. 

The Bottom Line 

What causes oxidative stress? 

Life! There is no denying that it is part of our body functions. And cutting ties with it is out of the question. But there is a limit to how much oxidative stress your body should generate before going overboard. 

Excessive production of oxidative stress can have negative consequences on the health of your body, including an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

So, balance them out with the intake of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are essential to balance the chemical reactions caused by free radicals. Doing so will improve the vitality of your skin. And with healthy skin, your confidence will lead to amazing things!

There are a lot of foods that have antioxidant properties, so adding them to your diet shouldn’t be hard! Consider mixing five sources per day to obtain the most benefits. 

Reduce the causes of oxidative stress through better habits. If you are serious about cutting off negative factors, start small. Add fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and sleep well! 

Manage your stress by spending time with your family and friends. Take a short walk around the block, cook a nice homemade meal every other day, and seek healthy ways to vent other related factors that are keeping you down. 

The purpose is not to eliminate oxidative stress but to tame it. Doing so will benefit your body! Rapid aging is associated with oxidative stress and free radicals - don’t lose control of the vitality of your body! Practice disciple to accomplish a healthy lifestyle, and your body will be grateful. 

Now that we understand what is oxidative stress. What actions will you take to slow down the unwanted effects caused by free radicals?

Learning how to ride the waves of uncertainty can comfort your mind and overall health! 

Treat oxidative stress with ÆTHEION® 

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With ÆTHEION®, achieving a youthful look and reversing the severity of skin damage is possible! 

Our products will deliver results. They are the best to complement your lifestyle and ensure the wellness of your being. We strive to provide the highest quality formulas and help you feel your best self. 

Still not convinced? Read more about our technology in skincare. 

Have any questions? Write us. We can help you decide on the best product based on your needs. Visit our online store to compare our products and review their ingredients.

There is something for everyone! Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated. Let us be part of the process.