Free radicals are the mother of all degenerative disease. They steal electrons from weaker compounds. Normal biochemistry in the body produces some free radicals that cause oxidative damage and inflammation. The real culprits in free radicals are toxins and foreign substances. The body is equipped to handle some free radical damage but can easily be over whelmed by too many free radicals. Diet and foreign substances can do this.

The real warriors against free radicals are antioxidants found in the form of resident enzymes, in some vitamins and abundantly in fresh fruits and vegetables. The flavonoids are antioxidants that also give color to fruits and vegetables. There are over 4000 known flavonoids which are free radical fighters to help reduce oxidative damage and inflammation.

Anti oxidants have spare electrons available to satisfy the hungry free radicals that otherwise steal electrons and cause oxidative damage. Vitamins A, C and E are anti oxidant vitamin donors that help quell the appetite of the hungry free radicals. The problem is they become suicidal unless their spare electrons are replaced. The body has a provision for this with anti oxidants that are re-suppliers.

The master anti oxidant of the body is an enzyme called glutathione. Longevity is greatly helped by the anti oxidants glutathione. It is hard to believe, but longevity for U.S. residents is far worse that most developed countries in the world. It is even worse than many third world countries where residents do live longer.

U.S.A. life style, consumption of foreign substances (these include drugs and man made foods) reduce life spans more than 41 other countries of the world.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that we are 42nd in longevity worldwide. The World Health Organization's recent study in 2009 was better. It said that we are 24th in life expectancy worldwide. We should be number one!

Few argue that the U.S.A. does not have the most cutting edge, innovative health care for acute health symptoms. (Drugs and surgery do this.) We just die quicker from free radical, oxidative damage. It drives all degenerative diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and auto immune diseases.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported in December of 1994 that medical induced injury was the 3rd largest killer in the USA. It was exceeded only by heart disease and cancer. Another report by JAMA listed prescription drugs as the 4th leading cause of death.

Poor health treatment and misinformation is a huge factor that can shorten your life. Drug companies and the food industry are in business for profit, health easily becomes a secondary issue or totally forgotten.

What are factors that increase longevity? Numerous studies show that whole food and fresh vegetables are real assets to health. A well conducted study done at Harvard University found 30% to 70% reduction of certain cancers when 3 to 5 serving of fresh fruits and vegetables were consumed daily.

There are many phytonutrients (plant nutritionals) that are unknown in function but benefit you. Enzymes, flavonoids, polyphenols are known to benefit in studies that are done but many other factors that help are not known.

Some known specifically healthy foods that help are the cruciform vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & Brussels sprouts). Immune fighting ability is enhanced especially with glutathione... which get its needed sulfur from these vegetables. Glutathione is one of the most powerful anti oxidants your body has.

Just as oxidation rusts iron, oxidation "corrupts" your body's cells. Damaged cells weaken the body and cause premature death.

Whole, raw, healthy food is replaced by (oxidative) packaged foods, excess animal fats, sugar and preserved foods. This means that essential vitamins, enzymes, flavonoids, catalysts and phytonutrients found in whole, unprocessed food are deficient. You use over 3000 enzymes, many of them are found in raw vegetables and fruit; but many are lost with heat and preservatives. Supplements that help keep the body from deterioration and aging are vitamins A, E, and C. Other anti-oxidants are CoQ-10, a polyphenol of green tea extract, resveratrol in red wine and Omega 3's, the essential fatty acids. Foods that cause excessive free radical damage are too much sugar, too much animal fats and any trans fats. ( Trans fats are hydrogenated vegetable oils that have filled all docking sites on the molecule. This produces a nearly inert foreign substance that is hard to get rid of.)

According to Mark Hyman, M.D., large, regular doses of drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), deplete the important, natural anti oxidant, glutathione. Glutathione is a very powerful anti oxidant that is an immune builder and anti inflammatory agent.

Toxins that are not disarmed or eliminated can cause brain dysfunction and sickness. Glutathione is a champion for protection from free radical damage and toxic insults.

Glutathione is a potent immune builder. According to world authority on glutathione, Dr. Robert Kellar, all disease subjects manifest a deficient amount of glutathione upon testing. Conversely, optimal levels show huge reductions in numerous diseases in dozens of studies.

Many drugs can be harmful over time. Long term use of a drug, or a foreign substance, can cause cognitive decline. Drug are usually foreign substances and can become a neurotoxin that pollutes neurotransmission. (The communication and transmission of messages for body functions)

The importance of what is taken into the body cannot be overemphasized. When toxic substances, drugs or just foods that cause free radical oxidative damage are heavily consumed, it slows down and compromises you body's function. Your bio-chemistry is less efficient and more of the essential nutrients are needed just to maintain normal, healthy levels.