by Lawrence Wilson, MD

ANTI-OXIDANTS AND ANTI-OXIDANT THERAPY

By Dr. Lawrence Wilson

All information in this article is solely the opinion of the author and is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

Definition. Anti-oxidants are a group of nutrient substances that help counteract the damaging effects of singlet oxygen atoms, also called free radicals.

Examples of anti-oxidant nutrients are vitamins A, C, E and minerals including zinc and selenium. Others are coenzyme Q-10, beta-carotene, lycopene, alpha-lipoic acid, resveretrol, astazanthin, lutein, zeozanthin, and other proanrocyanidins found in cooked vegetables and other foods.

Anti-oxidants are part of a larger system of pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant substances in the body.

THE NEED FOR CAUTION

Many physicians are discovering the role of anti-oxidants in minimizing damage due to singlet oxygen atoms, also called free radicals. These doctors may recommend large quantities of anti-oxidant nutrients.

This may produce symptomatic relief. However, caution is warranted and a different approach is better for the following reasons:

1. Too many anti-oxidants are harmful. The body needs the correct balance of oxidant and anti-oxidant substances.

2. Anti-oxidants are generally very yin molecules in Macrobiotic terminology. This is quite harmful today. For details, read Macrobiotics.

3. Much more important than giving anti-oxidants, in most instances, is to reduce the amount of oxidants in the body. Then one will need fewer anti-oxidants.

Among the deeper causes of excessive oxidants are weak adrenal glands and improper diet. Another cause is negative thinking and negative emotional states. Lifestyle stress is a factor in some cases. As these causes are corrected, the need for anti-oxidants decreases greatly.

TAKING MORE ANTI-OXIDANTS DURING A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

A few clients ask if they can take more antioxidants as part of their development program. The answer is no. They will damage or ruin a development program. Here is why:

1. The program already includes plenty of anti-oxidant nutrients - over 100 - in the form of phytonutrients in the diet consisting of 70% cooked vegetables. In addition, the recommended supplements often contain more anti-oxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and selenium.

2. Other aspects of development programs help correct oxidative stress. These include:

- Using a red heat lamp sauna. This dramatically improves circulation, oxygenation and hydration of the tissues, which helps reduce oxidant damage.

- Daily coffee enemas. These benefit the liver, which has a powerful anti-oxidant effect. Coffee itself also contains anti-oxidant nutrients.

- Deep breathing and using an ozonator/ionizer air purifier in the home and office. This provides healthful oxygen.

- The other healing and detoxification procedures. All of them assist with the removal of oxidant-damage causing chemicals.

- Making the body more yang helps reduce oxidant damage.

- Development greatly helps balance the oxidant/anti-oxidant system of the body.

2. Anti-oxidant nutrients are almost all extremely yin in macrobiotic terminology. This will ruin a development program. For details, read Yin And Yang Healing.

3. Most anti-oxidant therapy is a symptomatic nutritional approach. We do our best to avoid this approach as it is totally inadequate, often unbalances the body, creates dependency and does little or nothing to really improve one's health at deep levels.

Taking anti-oxidants is a superficial healing method - a kind of Band-aid therapy that covers up deeper problems such as excessive AGES, excessive Amigos, excessive Aldehydes, and high levels of Toxic Metals.

A development program is designed to deeply balance the body chemistry, including the oxidant and anti-oxidant aspects of body chemistry. We find this approach works much better in the long run.

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