Oxidative stress can manifest many of the same symptoms of toxins. Altair promotes the body's production of natural Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). This increased production of SOD catalyses the body's increased production of two other primary antioxidants, Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase(Gpx). These three natural antioxidants are more powerful than CoQ10, Caratenoids, vitamins E, A and C and flavonoids in combating oxidative stress and strengthening the immune system. Liv Safe and Altair are designed to improve your long term quality of life.
Living with oxygen is dangerous. We rely on oxygen to power our cells, but oxygen is a reactive molecule that can cause serious problems if not carefully controlled. One of the dangers of oxygen is that it is easily converted into other reactive compounds. Inside our cells, electrons are continually shuttled from site to site by carrier molecules, such as carriers derived from riboflavin and niacin. If oxygen runs into one of these carrier molecules, the electron may be accidentally transferred to it. This converts oxygen into dangerous compounds such as superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, which can attack the delicate sulfur atoms and metal ions in proteins. To make things even worse, free iron ions in the cell occasionally convert hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals. These deadly molecules attack and mutate DNA. One theory, still controversial, is that this type of oxidative damage accumulates over the years of our life, causing us to age.
Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between antioxidant forces (antioxidant enzymes and antioxidants) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can irreversibly modify cellular components. The cause may be due to environmental exposure to oxidants, inadequate antioxidant ingestion, or enzymatic disorders, resulting in a pathogenic level of oxidative damage. There is strong evidence that oxidant stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of many human diseases.
Antioxidants to the Rescue
Fortunately, cells make a variety of antioxidant enzymes to fight the dangerous side-effects of life with oxygen. Three important players are Superoxide Dismutase, which converts superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide, and Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase (Gpx), which converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. These molecules patrol the cell, counteracting the steady production of hydrogen peroxide and keep it at a safe level. These molecules can decompose millions of hydrogen peroxide molecules every second.
Enzymes such as SOD, Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase are very large and complex organic molecules that are synthesized by the cell to perform very specific functions. These biological catalysts are important because they speed up the rate of the reaction they catalyze that would otherwise be too slow to support life.
Catalase is an enzyme present in the cells of plants, animals and aerobic (oxygen requiring) bacteria. It promotes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide, a powerful and potentially harmful oxidizing agent, to water and molecular oxygen.
Glutathione functions as an antioxidant and an antitoxin and is extremely important for the protection of major organs, the function of the immune system, and the fight against aging. It minimizes the damage caused by free radicals and is very important for the health of cells. Its major effect is inside the cells, especially within the mitochondria – the actual “power plants” of every cell in the body. Recent, extensive research has shown the direct relationship between decreased glutathione levels and the progression of many chronic diseases. In patients with coronary artery disease, a low level of activity of red-cell glutathione peroxidase is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Furthermore, increasing glutathione peroxidase activity might lower the risk of cardiovascular events.
