Your body is under attack from free radicals, they are a by product of our body's natural process of creating energy. Oxygen reacting with glucose allows our muscles to work. However this natural process also creates a potentially harmful by product that can cause damage to both bones and tissue. This by product is called free oxidising radicals or free radicals for short.

Your body's natural immune system is prepared for this by product and combats these free radicals with anti-oxidants such as vitamin A, C, E, and enzymes that contain Zinc and Selenium.

However excessive free radical activity can occur through consumption of fried foods, foods with high sugar and salt content and stimulants such as coffee and even smoking. The same occurs when we fail to consume sufficient amounts of anti-oxidants which are our primary defence again these free radicals and so increasing the risks of arthritis symptoms.

Think of your body as a sponge, it can only absorb so many chemicals before it becomes overwhelmed and things begin to go wrong. If you are taking in more chemicals and producing more toxins than your body can neutralise then we you will have an imbalance. When this occurs your body is more prone to illnesses and diseases - because of this you must stay within our body's tolerance levels to maintain a healthy body and immune system.

You need to ask yourself, what are you going to do about it? Well, you basically only have 2 real choices, either increase your intake of antioxidants to neutralise the free radical activity or decrease the intake of foods that create free radicals in the first place. The second option is the healthier of the two!! So I know which one would choose.

Tell a lie there is one other choice, DO BOTH, increase your intake of anti oxidants and decrease the intake of unhealthy foods. This will give your body a surplus of vitamins that your body can use for other beneficial uses ie strengthening your immune system.

Michelle Armstrong