Stoke is an example of how free radicals do their dirty work, and how they can make a bad situation even worse. A stroke occurs when blood flow is cut off or restricted to a particular region of the brain. It could be caused by a blood clot, or by a piece of debris that breaks off from an atherosclerotic plaque and blocks the artery delivering blood and oxygen to the brain. Whatever the cause, the results can be devastating. You may be surprised to know that much of the actual damage to the brain does not occur when it is being deprived of blood and oxygen, but immediately following the stroke, when the blood flow is restored. This is called reperfusion injury. When it happens, there is a burst in production of superoxide free radicals that can attack nearby tissue, resulting in permanent brain damage.
The situation can get even more serious if in the process of damaging brain tissue, iron is released into sites where it is normally tightly bound or controlled. Iron is the most abundant mineral in the body and it is vital for life, but iron is not allowed to roam freely throughout the body. Free iron, not bound to protein, is potentially very dangerous because it can trigger free radical reactions. Not surprisingly, there have also been several studies that have linked high blood levels of free iron to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Glyconutrients are essential for optimal health.
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