Antioxidants help combat free radicals, which occur naturally in the body but can also be introduced from sources outside your body (like pollution and cigarette smoke).
Antioxidants work by freely giving up some of their own components, such as electrons, to neutralize free radicals and stabilize them. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage by reacting with and damaging other molecules, including proteins, lipids, and DNA. This damage can contribute to various health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, and aging.
Antioxidants can prevent or reduce the damage caused by free radicals by donating an electron to the free radical without becoming unstable themselves. This helps to stabilize the free radical and prevent it from reacting with and damaging other molecules. In addition to this scavenging activity, some antioxidants can also repair the damage that has already occurred by interacting with and repairing damaged molecules.
When there are not enough antioxidants to stop oxidation from happening, then free radicals start damaging healthy cells—which may cause problems for us down the line.
For example, when a dog or cat has a less-than-stable immune system thanks to free radical damage from too many oxidant levels around, that dog or cat will eventually suffer from an increased risk of infection.
The Role of Healthy Red Blood Cells
Healthy red blood cells play an important role in the body’s ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues. When red blood cells are healthy, they can effectively transport oxygen throughout the body, which helps to support normal cellular function and metabolism.
Antioxidants are molecules that help to neutralize harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can damage cells and contribute to various health problems. While red blood cells themselves do not contain antioxidants, they can benefit from the presence of antioxidants in the body.
Cellular BOOST stimulates the red blood cells allowing an increase in osmotic pressure and allowing nutrients to enter the cell more easily.
Nutrients and antioxidants are both important for overall health and well-being. Nutrients are substances that are essential for normal growth, development, and maintenance of the body, while antioxidants are molecules that can neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals, which can damage cells and contribute to various health problems.
Here are some examples of nutrients and antioxidants and their roles in the body:
- Vitamin C: This nutrient is an important antioxidant that can help to protect cells from damage, support immune function, and enhance collagen production.
- Vitamin E: This nutrient is another important antioxidant that can help to protect cells from damage, particularly in the cardiovascular system. It may also play a role in supporting cognitive function and skin health.
- Beta-carotene: This nutrient is a type of antioxidant known as a carotenoid, which can help to protect cells from damage and support immune function. It is also important for maintaining healthy skin and eyesight.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: These nutrients are essential fatty acids that play a role in supporting cardiovascular health, brain function, and inflammation regulation.
- Zinc: This mineral is important for immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis. It also has antioxidant properties.
Health Benefits of Antioxidants
Antioxidants play a key role in maintaining your pet’s health. They are beneficial largely because they counter the effects of harmful free radicals within the body.
Free radicals are created naturally due to metabolic activity and produce more than average quantities when pets become sickly, aged, exposed to toxins, or live with poor nutrition.
Free radicals contain oxygen and lack an electron– making them highly reactive toward cells & DNA molecules’ membranes & other important biomolecules.
This results in free-radical chain reactions that lead to oxidative stress inside the cells (and outside) – causing all sorts of problems.
Here are some examples of the problems associated with oxidative stress:
- Cellular damage: Free radicals can damage proteins, lipids, and DNA within the cell, leading to cellular dysfunction and death.
- Aging: Oxidative stress is believed to contribute to the aging process by damaging cells and tissues.
- Inflammation: Oxidative stress can trigger inflammation, which is a contributing factor in many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
- Cancer: Oxidative stress can cause mutations in DNA, which can lead to the development of cancer.
- Cardiovascular disease: Oxidative stress can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
- Neurodegenerative diseases: Oxidative stress is believed to contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
- Immune system dysfunction: Oxidative stress can impair the function of the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
However, antioxidants work differently; once consumed by food sources, they can transfer electrons back to these free radicals without becoming one themselves– thus breaking this destructive cycle!
Therefore, it is best for your pet if you provide adequate supplies of antioxidants so it may maintain a strong immune system throughout its life– enabling it to age beautifully.
Antioxidants have been shown to help pets with allergies or coat and skin problems. They also increase immunity in young animals before vaccinations are administered.
Green-lipped mussels are a natural source of antioxidants, and antioxidant co-factor minerals (zinc, copper, and manganese) in addition to the third unique omega-3, ETA (eicosatetraenoic acid), responsible for the regeneration of cartilage. Adding Essential OMEGAS to your pet’s daily diet will provide much-needed antioxidants.
Antioxidants and Immune Response
Antioxidants are important components of the immune system. One study found that cats with low levels of antioxidants were more likely to have allergies and upper respiratory infections, and those with high levels were less likely.
Recent research has shown that antioxidants also protect animals, such as dogs and cats, from suffering from weakened immune systems. Additional studies have found that their immune response abilities may also diminish as they age.
If your dog or cat does not have a diet rich in antioxidants, the free radicals will have free reign, so to speak, and lead to health issues such as:
- Respiratory diseases
- Skin allergies
- Eye problems such as cataracts and blindness
- Immunodeficiencies and autoimmune disorders
- Cancer
- Arthritis and joint problems
- Heart disease
Vitamin E is an essential vitamin for both dogs and cats. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports the body’s ability to neutralize free radicals—the cause of oxidative stress. Vitamin E promotes a healthy heart. Dogs and cats must have Vitamin E in their diet to maintain optimal health. Because Vitamin E is an antioxidant, it plays a key role in protecting cells from oxidative damage. Vitamin E is one of three ingredients in Essential OMEGAS.
Antioxidants and Inflammation
Along with cellular damage, free radicals can result in chronic inflammation throughout the body if they are not stabilized by antioxidants. This sort of inflammation can be extremely damaging over time. Chronic inflammation has been associated with a wide range of pet health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, digestive problems, and cognitive decline. You may be able to reduce your pet’s risk for these diseases by ensuring they get enough antioxidants each day.
Green-lipped mussels contain omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and carbohydrates. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and are important for maintaining joint cell structure and function. Adding the recommended dosage of Essential OMEGAS to your pet’s diet will assist in fighting these free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation.
