VitalCare PT - October 2019

THE FREE RADICAL 411

How to Minimize Age-Inducing Atoms

If you’ve ever picked up a health magazine while waiting at the doctor’s office, then you’re probably familiar with the term “free radicals” — at least enough to know that they get a bad rap from doctors and beauticians alike. But what are they, exactly? According to Live Science, free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons that have split off from oxygen molecules in the body and started to “scavenge” for other electrons to pair with. That wouldn’t be problematic, except that these atoms tend to damage cells, lipids, proteins, and even DNA along the way, and that destruction has serious consequences. As Live Science puts it, “Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. They also may have a link to aging, which has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free-radical damage.” Unfortunately, it’s impossible to entirely avoid free radicals and the havoc they wreak. The process that forms free radicals, called oxidative stress, can be kick-started by a variety of different substances found in food, water, medicine, and even the air we breathe, according to the Huntington’s Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University. Unsurprisingly, these substances are things already considered unhealthy, like alcohol, exposure to X-rays, ozone, fried food, chemical pesticides, air pollutants, and tobacco smoke. Success Stories “My first week at Vital Care, I thought to myself, ‘There’s no way this is going to work.’ After having a total knee replacement, I struggled to complete any of the exercises the therapists asked because it initially hurt too much to try. As the days went on, I even contemplating quitting because the pain was that bad! Two and a half months later, I’m so glad I stuck with it! “Little by little, I started seeing some progress with every exercise they gave me. I kept track by writing down the repetitions and counts I completed each day, and I used my cell phone to time myself during each exercise. “At Vital Care, Michelle and Amber kept my spirits up and pushed me to keep going. While I was slowly getting better, I reached a major turning point when they asked me to ride a stationary bike. Pushing the bike pedal in a complete circle really tested my knee flexibility and strength. The first time I tried to pedal, I found it really painful, but, with the encouragement of my Vital Care team, I was able to get the pedal around six times that first day. “Then with my continued strengthening and flexibility exercises, I can proudly say that I can now get the bike pedel completely around the circle 129 times with stopping! Because of my team’s support and

That said, there is one molecule that is stable enough to stand up to and reduce free radicals: the antioxidant. According to a study published by Pharmacognosy Reviews, antioxidants can “donate an electron to a rampaging free radical and neutralize it, thus reducing its ability to damage.” Synthetic antioxidants exist but can sometimes have harmful side effects, so scientists advise protecting yourself by avoiding free radical triggers like alcohol, processed foods, and red meat, and ingesting natural antioxidants in the form of berries, stone fruits, olives, onions, garlic, and green and black teas. Herbs and spices like cinnamon, basil, turmeric, and fenugreek can ratchet up your antioxidant levels too. While it can’t guarantee immortality, the right diet can certainly help you stave off aging and disease, so why not start today?

OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST

dedication, I am able to do anything I like around the house without struggling through intense pain, and I was even able to go camping with my family this summer! Most importantly though, I was finally given the ‘okay’ to head back to work!

“From the bottom of my heart, I want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone at Vital Care. You all taught me to believe in myself.”

–Nancy M.

If you’re feeling like Nancy was — skeptical that you’ll ever be able to complete exercises or even bend down without experiencing extreme pain — we hope reading her story will encourage you to keep pushing forward. Our therapists don’t want you to spend another minute in pain, and we’ll support you from start to finish on this journey of getting your life back! Give us a call at (623) 544-0300 to find out how we can help you today!

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