Ever read a vitamin container or magazine that says “high in antioxidants” or “helps combat free radicals?” I love how our social network uses words without even taking the time to alert the reader as to what those words actually mean. No worries ya’all, Super Chris is here to provide that needed education (it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no wait, its just Super Chris)! Are you ready for a quick chemistry lesson? Tough cow manure; here we go. Let me skip all the technical jargon and make it as easy as possible. Atoms are made up of a nucleus, neutrons, protons (positively charged particles) and electrons (negatively charged particles). Atoms usually complete their outer shells by sharing electrons with other atoms; like Romeo and Juliet or Chris and Milas Kunis, they are attracted to each other. This attraction or sharing of electrons makes the atoms more stable for the molecule. Sorry to bore you, but that stuff is important! Let me get to the point.
What are free radicals? For beginners, they aren’t as cool as they seem because they aren’t free and not that radical. Normally, bonds don’t split and leave a molecule with an odd, unpaired electron. But when weak bonds split, free radicals are formed. FINALLY! FREE RADICALS!!! Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, and ever so politely steal their electron (kind of like the Honey Badger, sneaky little critter)! When the “attacked” molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it turns quickly into a domino effect; resulting in the disruption of a living cell.
Why do we create Free Radicals? Don’t be fooled, because not all free radicals are bad. We do create them to neutralize and fight off viruses and bacteria. Bad things can happen when certain environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides spawn free radicals along with stress and alcohol.
How do we protect ourselves from Free Radicals? In a normally healthy body, one can fend off free radicals via antioxidants with proper nutrition. However, if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur.
What are antioxidants? Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating an electron. You can find high amounts of antioxidants in vitamins C and E, as well as FRUITS AND VEGETABLES!! Wow, are you saying that I can combat sickness and aging by eating wholesome, rich in color, fruits and vegetables? YEOP!!! Here is another brain buster; exercise may even purge these creepy little critters out of our system more effectively than antioxidants! Instead of debating which one is better, Show Up Fitness suggests exercising 3-5 times a week for 60 minutes. We also recommend a well-balanced nutritional plan that includes fruits and vegetables such as kale, red and orange bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, onions, grapefruit, pineapple and oranges!
So what if you are the average person and cannot exercise that much and/or consume a diet rich in the aforementioned foods? Enter Greens First! Not the infamously acclaimed 5 hour energy or other products that falsely misinterpret what energy is, Greens First is a natural, gluten free, nutrient-rich, phytonutrient and antioxidant that helps you maintain a natural healthy balance. The human body should maintain a natural pH of 7.35 – 7.45. Stressors, cigarettes, fast and processed foods and alcohol begin to alter our bodies into an acidic state which makes it more vulnerable to cancers and illness. This green spearmint shake gives you 15 servings of vegetables. Furthermore, there are over 49 different super foods, extracts and concentrates including organic fruits, vegetables, probiotics, soluble, insoluble fibers, herbs, spices, natural flavonoids and enzymes. It only has 40 calories and an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC value over 23,000 – A method of measuring antioxidant capacities and the highest I have seen on the market). Of course I am marketing this product because Show Up Fitness stands firmly behind its value and because I sell it.
Many of our clients cannot realistically consume the daily requirements of fruits and veggies, so this easy replacement helps get them onto the right path to success. Now I will include a few of our success stories: Client A was able to stop consuming coffee because Greens gave him natural energy instead without the use of a drug, i.e., a stimulant drug; Client B went on a trip to Ireland for more than 2 weeks and was one of the only people in her large group not to get sick – she now swears by Greens; Client C has more energy to play with her kids after work and now feels less guilty!
In the end, we need to exercise more, eat a lot more fruits and vegetables, stressing a lot less and of course, don’t forget to SMILE a wee bit too! This may seem far stretched for some, so we suggest beginning with a substitute such as Greens First. There are no side effects and it truly makes you feel better. Roughly 25% of our students and over 50% of our clients, who use Greens, indicate that it really helps! As I challenge all our students and clients, just give it 21 days – the average person stops their New Year’s resolution in 19 days – OUCH! If you are interested, stop on by for free samples. I hope I didn’t bore you with my chemistry; if you’re weird like me, you’re thirsty for knowledge! Keep on pushing yourself, never say CAN’T and Keep Showing UP!!!!
