The Most Powerful Anti-oxidant to Keep You Young

Oxidation occurs when oxygen quickly snatches electrons from molecules. The molecules that give up their electrons to oxygen are called free radicals. Everything exposed to oxygen oxidizes. An excellent example of this process is a hunk of iron left out in the backyard. Over a few weeks that iron will have a thin coating of rust on its surface. How did that happen? Essentially, the electrons in the iron molecules freely gave themselves up to the oxygen around them.

We breathe oxygen. And over time, we oxidize - or we rust. Though we don't necessarily turn brown with actual rust, we do get age spots, gray hair, wrinkles, aches, and pains, and are subject to various disease processes. This is evidence of oxidation, which is part of the aging process.

Electrons like to be in pairs. If something comes along (like oxygen) and strips an electron off this molecule, that molecule now has a free, unpaired electron. This makes for a very unhappy little electron because it is missing its partner. It now behaves very radically. We give it the name free radical. When this happens in the body, free radicals will look to find an electron anywhere. Unfortunately, when it snatches an electron from a cell, it damages it, creating another free radical. 

This process is repeated continuously until the free radical meets up with a molecule with an extra electron that can donate to the equation to stop the reaction. In the body, this donor electron might come from something like Vitamin C, which has extra electrons. This is why Vitamin C is called an "anti-oxidant". It is a substance that helps with less oxidation or less rust in the body for more Anti-oxidant Food.

The most potent free radical fighter you have is your lymphatic system. The body's lymphatic system holds 80% of your body's anti-oxidant capacity. The liver is filled with lymph, producing enzymes, which are powerful free radical fighters. Your lymphatic system is your body's second circulatory system. Wherever your bloodstream goes, the lymphatic system is right next to it. The lymphatic stream parallels the bloodstream. All your body's cells are between the bloodstream and the lymphatic stream. The bloodstream brings oxygen and nutrients to your cells, and the lymphatic stream carries out the waste and the garbage.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

The lymphatic stream moves in one direction. From the ends of your toes, the ends of your fingertips, and the tiptop of your head, the lymphatics move along slowly, going towards the thoracic duct. This is the pump for the lymphatic stream, and it sits inside your body just in front of the spine and runs from about the level of your collarbone down to your diaphragm.

As you know, the heart pumps and circulates the blood, and the thoracic duct also pumps, but not by itself. The way it pumps is through breathing, particularly deep breathing.

The entire lymphatic system moves by the movement of this pump and by your physical movement - like exercise. Along the lymphatic stream are tiny nodes called lymph nodes. These are like tiny purification plants that help clean up the lymph as it passes through.

One of the most important goals for optimum health is to move the lymphatic system. The objective is to release the garbage stored in the cells, kick it into the lymphatic stream, and get the stream moving. 

Sometimes, due to lack of exercise, poor diets, and toxic burdens, the lymphatics don't move very well, the cells clog up with garbage, and disease happens. This can take many shapes and forms, from localized areas of disturbance to systemic health problems and even obesity and the inability to lose weight. So that's why exercise is essential, but I also recommend monthly lymphatic drainage therapy to ensure your lymph is moving optimally. It could be more than once a month, depending on what toxins you are working on to move out of the body. 

We do a fantastic job at the office, and we can tell how backed up your lymph system is and if more treatments are needed. One way we can tell if your lymph is backed up is if you wake up with puffy eyes or face. I know I do when I feel sick or haven't had a good night's sleep. Also, if you have swollen eyes at the end of the day, your lymphatic system is too toxic and needs help. To keep your body healthy and slow aging, keep your lymphatic system toxins-free.