Healing Power of the Terrain: Oxidation

What is oxidation?

It’s iron rusting, a sliced apple turning brown and aging skin that wrinkles. Oxidation means the loss of an electron from an atom or molecule. Because atoms and molecules like to have their full complement of electrons, the loss of one (or more) makes them seek replacements. In other words, the atom or molecule becomes a highly reactive free radical, driven to combine with other molecules in order to grab their electrons. For a free radical, any molecule is a potential target, including DNA. If a free radical reacts with DNA, the result can be a mutation that initiates cancer, promotes growth and progression, alters the cell in a way that makes it resistant to radiation or chemotherapy, or makes it metastasize. 

Said another way, these are some of the potential consequences of oxidative stress a cancer patient may face: faster tumor growth, an increased resistance to radiation and to many chemotherapies, increased risk of neuropathy, cardiotoxicity, kidney damage and liver toxicity, increased fatigue, and progressive weakness, which can lead to inactivity and muscle wasting. 

So, what can patients do to manage oxidative stress? There are two options: decrease the production of free radicals from processes that you can control, and increase the production of antioxidants that mop up free radicals. 

Eliminate Oxidative Offenders:

• Don't smoke! And stay away from secondhand smoke! 
• Don’t drink alcoholic beverages (the possible exception to this is red wine, which has health-promoting polyphenols. However, drink red wine only with a meal, since drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can cause blood sugar surges, and drink only in moderation. Remember, there is research that suggests that as little as one alcoholic beverage per day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer). 
• Manage psychological stress.
• Avoid radiation exposure, such as what you’d get from sun tanning and tanning booths and minimize any workplace exposure.
• Exercise regularly.
• Improve your diet: reduce the total fat content of your diet (fats are the main dietary oxidizers), eat plant foods in a rainbow of colors, consumer organic foods whenever possible, choose grains for their antioxidant capacity (barley, millet and oats have higher antioxidant levels than some other whole grains).
• Choose oils and nuts that are high in antioxidants and not easily oxidized, such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, extra-virgin olive oil and almond oil.
• Spice up your meals with high-ORAC spices and seasonings such as oregano dill, fresh garlic and fresh gingerroot. 
• Avoid high doses of single antioxidant supplements: Just because the bottle says “Antioxidant” doesn’t automatically make it a sound choice! We suggest an antioxidant support formula composed of micronutrients and plant extracts, in addition to whole-food concentrates. A good antioxidant support formula should contain a diverse group of antioxidants from natural sources. AS ALWAYS, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND ALL SUPPLEMENT REGIMENS BE TAILORED TO YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS AND BASED ON DETAILED LAB TESTING.

For more information on The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, visit BlockMD.com.