To understand the vital role that antioxidants play in keeping the body healthy, we must first understand free radicals. Let’s take a look at how a free radical is created:
Free Radicals and Oxidation
In the body, oxidation is a chemical reaction involving oxygen molecules (or atoms) and various other substances, which results in the loss of an electron. Have you ever cut an apple and let it sit for too long on the counter? That’s oxidation; so is rust. After an electron is lost, the molecule becomes unstable, and turns into an electron-hungry, free radical.
This by-product of oxidation causes a chain-reaction:
The free radical steals an electron from another stable molecule, turning that molecule into an unstable, free radical and so on.
It’s a vicious cycle that can eventually cause cellular damage. Free radicals are known to be a causal factor in just about every disease. They’re also a major factor in pre-mature aging.
Oxidation is a part of life and, quite frankly, it can’t be avoided. It starts with the air we breathe and can be exacerbated by countless factors including stress, pollution, chemicals, etc.
So, if we can’t get away from it, how can we fight it?
Enter the antioxidant. An antioxidant has extra electrons that can be donated without itself becoming unstable. These superheroes antioxidants go looking for free radicals and donate the lost electron, thus creating a stable, harmless molecule.
Antioxidants Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and pineapple contain a good supply of antioxidants. Vegetables such as peppers, kale, spinach, and beets are also good. And water — alkaline, ionized water.
Alkaline Antioxidant Water
Our alkaline, ionized water is very high in antioxidants. We measure this by ORP (oxidation reduction potential). Basically, ORP is the measurement of an oxidizing agent (accepts electrons) or reducing agent (donates electrons). So, in essence, the free-radical is the oxidizing agent and our superhero, the antioxidant, is the reducing agent. Water that has a high level of reducing agents (antioxidants) is measured in -ORP and water that has a high level of oxidizing agents is measured in +ORP.
The IonWays Athena alkaline water ionizer has undergone independent laboratory testing that showed it to produce an ORP of up to a -812mV under certain conditions. Watch the video here
A glass of alkaline, ionized water from your Athena can help to provide more antioxidants–up to two or three times more–than a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice!
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