Recent publicity about antioxidants has created widespread understanding that antioxidants are good for you. It has led to popularity of certain antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries and pomegranates and – among the more seriously health conscious – Açaí berries. However, much of the talk about antioxidants has been long on claims and short on explanations.
Siberian chaga is the most concentrated natural source of antioxidants known. Rather than simply boasting about numbers, however, we at Sayan Health believe that a responsible way to present our products is to offer a basic explanation of what antioxidants do in the body.
As you probably know, our bodies are made up of cells. The integrity of these cells is vital for our health. Substances that damage cell structure or integrity are the cause of many disease conditions and symptoms. Breakdown of cell structure is also one of the hallmarks of the aging process
Like everything else in the universe, our cells are made of molecules, groups of atoms joined by electro-chemical bonds. The outer layers of atoms, electrons, are the key player in this bonding process. These electron layers seek a state of balance by forming pairs or even-numbered groups.If these bonds are split, atoms with unpaired electrons are formed, and these unstable atoms are called free radicals.
The unstable free radical always attempts to return to a stable form, either by getting rid of its extra electrons or bonding with another atom to pair up electrons. Free radicals tend to “attack” the nearest molecule, trying to steal electrons. When that molecule loses electrons, it becomes a free radical itself, and then the whole process starts over again. One free radical can start a chain reaction.
When this kind of chemical activity occurs in the body, the molecules getting attacked are parts of your cells. An abundance of free radicals in the body can disrupt cell structure, setting the stage for disease and premature aging.
Excess of free radicals may be caused by stress, aging, smoking, environmental factors such as pollution, or a weakened immune system. Another common source of free radicals is exposure to ultraviolet radiation, one of the significant components of sunlight (another reason why you should wear your sunblock every day!). In other words, free radicals cannot be avoided.
However, free radicals can be dealt with. Antioxidants “neutralize” free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, halting the chain reaction. However, antioxidants have the special property of being stable molecules even after donating an electron, so they don’t become free radicals themselves. They act as free radical “hunters”, thus helping to prevent molecular and cellular damage that could ultimately lead to disease.
Scientific research (e.g. the study by Cui, Kim, and Park, 2003 – see Chaga Science), confirms that Siberian chaga, with it high antioxidant concentration, possesses the capacity to “search and destroy” free radicals and protects cells against oxidative stress.