Cell Protection: Antioxidants and Your Health
By Michele Bahns, M.S., R.D., L.D.
You may have heard the terms antioxidant and free radical before, but you may not know exactly what they are and how they relate to HIV and your overall health. In simple terms, free radicals are highly reactive, unstable molecules that are roaming around your body.
These molecules are unstable because they are missing an electron and they want to "steal" electrons from other healthy cells in your body. When a free radical steals an electron from a healthy cell, that healthy cell then becomes a free radical, and a chain reaction occurs. This chain reaction, called oxidation, can cause damage to the cells of the body. Unfortunately, there is an increase in oxidative stress among people with HIV.
So where do these free radicals in our bodies come from? Just the simple act of breathing results in the production of free radicals. During respiration, some electrons leak away from the normal respiratory pathway during electron transport. These electrons latch on to free oxygen molecules, resulting in the production of free radicals. Under normal conditions, approximately 1% to 3% of oxygen molecules are converted into free radicals. The air that we breathe is polluted with toxins, which can increase free radical production during respiration. Other environmental factors such as alcohol, cigarette smoking and radiation can also lead to an increase in free radical formation. In some cases, our bodies actually produce free radicals on purpose. For example, the body's immune system purposely creates free radicals to destroy unwelcome organisms, such as infections. The problem for people with HIV is that excess free radicals create a breeding ground for HIV. HIV thrives in an oxidized environment and uses free radicals to replicate. Fortunately, our bodies have a defense system to protect our cells from oxidative damage. Antioxidants, which are manufactured within our body or extracted from the food we eat, help neutralize the free radicals in our bodies. The term antioxidant means "against oxidation." Antioxidants work by giving up one of their electrons to free radicals, but unlike free radicals, antioxidants do not become harmful and reactive when they lose an electron. Unfortunately, the normal antioxidant defense system is compromised in people with HIV and antioxidant levels decrease as the disease progresses. In order to protect and repair the cells in your body, it is important to make sure you are getting enough antioxidants through the food you eat and/or nutritional supplements. The most studied antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium. Vitamin C, which is a water-soluble vitamin, cannot be stored in the body, so it is important to get some regularly in your diet. Sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables and strawberries. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it can be stored in the liver and other tissues of the body. Sources of vitamin E include wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains and green leafy vegetables. Beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body, is a scavenger of a particular type of free radical and has been found to decrease free-radical damage associated with HIV. Food sources of beta-carotene include green leafy vegetables, carrots and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. Selenium is a trace element with antioxidant properties. A selenium deficiency is associated with immune dysfunction and decreased CD4+ counts. Food sources of selenium include seafood, brazil nuts, eggs, meats and whole grains. It is important to get as many antioxidants as you can from the foods you eat by choosing a well-balanced diet including whole grains, lean meats and 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Since people with HIV have a higher need for vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, a supplement regimen may be beneficial, including a multivitamin/mineral supplement (without extra iron) with antioxidants and trace elements. Other antioxidant supplements that are gaining popularity among people with HIV are alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine, coenzyme Q-10 and pomegranate juice. Megadosing on supplements can be dangerous, so it is important to discuss your supplement regimen with your doctor or dietitian. There are many different types of antioxidants, including vitamins (C, E, beta-carotene), elements (selenium), amino acids (N-acetyl-cysteine, alphalipoic acid), herbs (green tea) and phytochemicals (flavanoids, polyphenols, allyl sulfides). It is important to find a regimen that meets your individual needs. You also need to reevaluate your food and supplement intake as your health status changes. It is important to do research and/or consult with a dietitian or other health care professional before starting a supplement regimen. If you are eating all of your fruits and vegetables and taking your multivitamin, you may be wondering if the cells in your body are healthy and benefiting from the antioxidants. Unfortunately, it is not very convenient for you to extract a sample of your cells and slide them under a microscope at a moment's notice, but you can get a good overall picture of the health of your cells by getting a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) test. A BIA is a simple test that measures lean muscle mass, fat mass and fluid levels in your body. A BIA can also measure cell capacitance. Cell capacitance is a measure of the integrity of your cell walls. A low cell capacitance (unhealthy cell walls) is associated with oxidative stress and can be an indication of poor health and/or disease progression. A high cell capacitance (healthy cell walls) is associated with adequate antioxidant support and can be an indication of good health.

Yeah, this is good article you have putted up here among with us. It supplies good information and shows your alertness about the subject which you have shared with us.

Thank you very much..........

you are welcome.

Hi chenhongxia,

I liked it also, I like to read the article for myself and I guess a lot of other people would agree with that so here is the link.

http://www.thebody.com/content/art32239.html

As you may have noticed we have a lot of salesmen/women on here and you never know whether they are making money from their advice, so it is best to look at the original research/article to see it hasn't been "adjusted" to suit their needs. For what it is worth I think you are doing a good job.

Cheers

Some studies say yes, others no:

"A study at the Charité Hospital at the University of Berlin in Mitte showed that adding
milk to tea will block the normal, healthful effects that tea has in protecting against
cardiovascular disease. It was claimed to do this because casein from the milk binds
to the molecules in tea that cause the arteries to relax, especially a catechin molecule
called EGCG. One of the researchers told New Scientist magazine that "It probably also blocks tea's
effect on other things, such as cancer." Other studies have found little to no effect from milk on the observed increase in total plasma antioxidant activity. Teas with high EGCG content, such as green tea, are not typically consumed with milk. Previous studies have observed a beneficial effect from black tea which was not attributable to the catechin content."

All red wines have beneficial anti oxidants - the trick is finding low cost tasty ones. If you live in California it's much simpler but other places can prove a challenge due to taxes and trade tariffs. There is even a new study that gives promise to people having trouble with weight loss due to thyroid - 1 glass of red wine may lower your cholesterol and increase your metabolism - the health benefits of wine are still being looked into but it is important to remember moderation- OK off the soap box - good cheap wine - Barefoot, Redwood Creek, Mondovi, Fetzer, Trinchero, Talus - there ore others but this is a good start. Chianti is great too and usually on the lower end of the cost scale. A good way to try several is to host a wine tasting have everyone bring 1 bottle under $10 and set out chips, dips, crackers, cheeses, meats, breads and flavored butters, also have sparkling and still water on hand (I put slices of cucumber or lemon in the still water for pallet cleansing). Have every one try some from each bottle one at a time and comment - it is great fun and a good mixer for the holiday. Good Luck!

Hi Willson,
I like a good red wine or three as well, another way to enjoy cheap reds is to contact a cellar door and purchase some "clean skins", in Australia we get some excellent "clean skins" for $6-$8 each, often they are as good as the $20 bottles.When my oldest son got married half the wine was clean skins and everyone remarked on how good the reds were.
You sound like your having fun.
Cheers