Laboratory Tests
Free Radicals – Antioxidants
In recent years, medicine has developed a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of free radicals and antioxidants. But it still needs to be extended further because these mechanisms can influence every aspect of our metabolism.
In the course of evolution, we learned to use oxygen to produce energy. This process is so effective that it permitted the perfection of organs that consume a lot of energy. They include the brain and sensory organs and, above all, the organs of our hormonal system.
But benefits never come for free. Where lots of energy is generated and consumed, dangerous side-products can also be produced in the process. Fire not only warms, but can also burn you. The ‘free radicals’ are side-products of this kind. They are specific oxygen compounds that are very aggressive – literally ‘radical’. But even they provide benefits to us. For example, our immune system uses free radicals.
If a pathogen has found its way into our body and makes life difficult for us, we can use special cells and measures to make the free radicals attack the enemy and incapacitate it. However, this already shows how dangerous free radicals are when they kill a virus or destroy structures like membranes or cells. If that destructive force is directed against structures in our body, this can result in disease. In the least harmful form, this can be premature ageing or wrinkle formation. But the process can also lead to inflammations and cardiovascular risks and even promote cancer.
The body therefore has a vital interest in making sure that these disadvantages of free radicals do not run out of control. This is why we also have protective factors that serve to protect us against the side-effects of free radicals and neutralise them.
These protective factors include individual enzyme systems, cholesterol, uric acid and many other metabolic products. Above all, however, a number of vitamins and trace elements also provide these protective functions. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium are the most important ones. A good supply of these vitamins protects the organism against excessive strain from free radicals.
Today, we can measure the volume of free radicals as well as the protective functions. The total volume of free radicals should be low, while the protective factors – also called antioxidants – should be correspondingly high. If the ratio between both is balanced, no strain on the organism has to be expected.
But stress of any kind results in an increase of free radicals, so that the vitamins that are their natural antagonists are consumed. This is why it is necessary to consume additional vitamins regularly, so that the imbalance does not result in strain that can lead to health problems and ultimately act as a key factor in many diseases.
The ratio between free radicals and antioxidants can be determined by a simple measurement.
Acid-base balance
The acid-base balance is an important regulating principle of the metabolism – not only in the human body, but in nature as a whole.
It influences health and disease, and an unbalance plays a key role in the development of health risks and many modern diseases.
The central regulation of the acid-base balance takes place in our digestive system and, more accurately, in the stomach. This is where water, common salt and sodium react to form hydrochloric acid and bicarbonate. This conversion is performed by an enzyme that contains zinc. Gastric acid is important for digesting our food. It triggers the digestion of proteins. At the same time, sodium bicarbonate is emitted into the blood system and distributed through the entire body, where it is an important factor in the de-acidification and hence detoxification of the connective tissues. Following that, a large quantity of basic (alkaline) secretion is formed in the liver, pancreas and small intestine, which results in the neutralisation of the acidic food pulp delivered from the stomach in the small intestine. This is the process that ensures that digestion can proceed optimally even in an alkaline environment.
An acid-base imbalance or, in other words, excessive acidity is a burden on the metabolism. In addition to local complaints, it can lead to gastritis, heartburn, acid regurgitation and even stomach ulcers as well as general health disorders. They include virtually all inflammatory diseases, pains, inflammations of the joints, increased cardiovascular risk factors, a number of civilisation diseases and even cancer.
Since nutrition has an important impact on the acid-base balance, it deserves a closer look. We principally distinguish between acidic and alkaline foods as well as food that absorb alkali (base robbers). In addition, our personal behaviour (nutrition culture) has an influence on how our food is really metabolised.It is important to ensure that we take a balanced ratio of acidic and alkaline food. The vest ratio is 1 to 2 to the benefit of alkaline foods. This is why acidic food should always be combined with alkaline foodstuffs.
Nutrition culture is also important.
If primarily alkaline foods (vegetables, fruit) are eaten at a time and in quantities that mean they cannot be fully digested, they ferment and trigger an acidic metabolism. This is why raw fruit and vegetables should not be eaten in the evening.Meaningful exercise, which should not be too exertive, is also an important means of “de-acidification”. By breathing out carbonic acid, we quickly eliminate acidity from our metabolism. Drinking non-acidic beverages like water, herbal teas, vegetable broth or basic mineral water also supports the acid-base balance, as does the targeted consumption of base powder or other necessary minerals. But this latter measure should only be taken in consultation with your doctor.
In recent years, medicine has developed a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of free radicals and antioxidants. But it still needs to be extended further because these mechanisms can influence every aspect of our metabolism.
In the course of evolution, we learned to use oxygen to produce energy. This process is so effective that it permitted the perfection of organs that consume a lot of energy. They include the brain and sensory organs and, above all, the organs of our hormonal system.
But benefits never come for free. Where lots of energy is generated and consumed, dangerous side-products can also be produced in the process. Fire not only warms, but can also burn you. The ‘free radicals’ are side-products of this kind. They are specific oxygen compounds that are very aggressive – literally ‘radical’. But even they provide benefits to us. For example, our immune system uses free radicals.
If a pathogen has found its way into our body and makes life difficult for us, we can use special cells and measures to make the free radicals attack the enemy and incapacitate it. However, this already shows how dangerous free radicals are when they kill a virus or destroy structures like membranes or cells. If that destructive force is directed against structures in our body, this can result in disease. In the least harmful form, this can be premature ageing or wrinkle formation. But the process can also lead to inflammations and cardiovascular risks and even promote cancer.
The body therefore has a vital interest in making sure that these disadvantages of free radicals do not run out of control. This is why we also have protective factors that serve to protect us against the side-effects of free radicals and neutralise them.
These protective factors include individual enzyme systems, cholesterol, uric acid and many other metabolic products. Above all, however, a number of vitamins and trace elements also provide these protective functions. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium are the most important ones. A good supply of these vitamins protects the organism against excessive strain from free radicals.
Today, we can measure the volume of free radicals as well as the protective functions. The total volume of free radicals should be low, while the protective factors – also called antioxidants – should be correspondingly high. If the ratio between both is balanced, no strain on the organism has to be expected.
But stress of any kind results in an increase of free radicals, so that the vitamins that are their natural antagonists are consumed. This is why it is necessary to consume additional vitamins regularly, so that the imbalance does not result in strain that can lead to health problems and ultimately act as a key factor in many diseases.
The ratio between free radicals and antioxidants can be determined by a simple measurement.
Acid-base balance
The acid-base balance is an important regulating principle of the metabolism – not only in the human body, but in nature as a whole.
It influences health and disease, and an unbalance plays a key role in the development of health risks and many modern diseases.
The central regulation of the acid-base balance takes place in our digestive system and, more accurately, in the stomach. This is where water, common salt and sodium react to form hydrochloric acid and bicarbonate. This conversion is performed by an enzyme that contains zinc. Gastric acid is important for digesting our food. It triggers the digestion of proteins. At the same time, sodium bicarbonate is emitted into the blood system and distributed through the entire body, where it is an important factor in the de-acidification and hence detoxification of the connective tissues. Following that, a large quantity of basic (alkaline) secretion is formed in the liver, pancreas and small intestine, which results in the neutralisation of the acidic food pulp delivered from the stomach in the small intestine. This is the process that ensures that digestion can proceed optimally even in an alkaline environment.
An acid-base imbalance or, in other words, excessive acidity is a burden on the metabolism. In addition to local complaints, it can lead to gastritis, heartburn, acid regurgitation and even stomach ulcers as well as general health disorders. They include virtually all inflammatory diseases, pains, inflammations of the joints, increased cardiovascular risk factors, a number of civilisation diseases and even cancer.
Since nutrition has an important impact on the acid-base balance, it deserves a closer look. We principally distinguish between acidic and alkaline foods as well as food that absorb alkali (base robbers). In addition, our personal behaviour (nutrition culture) has an influence on how our food is really metabolised.It is important to ensure that we take a balanced ratio of acidic and alkaline food. The vest ratio is 1 to 2 to the benefit of alkaline foods. This is why acidic food should always be combined with alkaline foodstuffs.
Nutrition culture is also important.
If primarily alkaline foods (vegetables, fruit) are eaten at a time and in quantities that mean they cannot be fully digested, they ferment and trigger an acidic metabolism. This is why raw fruit and vegetables should not be eaten in the evening.Meaningful exercise, which should not be too exertive, is also an important means of “de-acidification”. By breathing out carbonic acid, we quickly eliminate acidity from our metabolism. Drinking non-acidic beverages like water, herbal teas, vegetable broth or basic mineral water also supports the acid-base balance, as does the targeted consumption of base powder or other necessary minerals. But this latter measure should only be taken in consultation with your doctor.
VIVA - Centre for MODERN MAYR MEDICINE
Seepromenade 11 | A-9082 Maria Wörth | office@viva-mayr.com | Directions
Reception Tel.: +43 (0) 42 73-311 17 0 | Medical Department Tel.: extension 137
Seepromenade 11 | A-9082 Maria Wörth | office@viva-mayr.com | Directions
Reception Tel.: +43 (0) 42 73-311 17 0 | Medical Department Tel.: extension 137
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