What is Oxidative stress?

Oxidative stress is when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species – free radicals – and antioxidant defences. Basically, there are too many “bad influences” from our environment attacking the body and not enough soldiers protecting the body.

The free radicals or the “bad influences” attacking the body can be as a result of the following –

• Stress
• Poor sleep
• Unhealthy foods
• Pollution
• Sedentary lifestyle

Imagine you bite into an apple and leave it on the table for a couple of days. The environment will cause the bite in the apple to turn brown over time and eventually the apple will start to rot. This is when there is oxidative damage taking place within the apple. Over time the apple will age and the cells within the apple will break down. Taking a bite into the apple just accelerates the process.

Another example is when a car rusts. The rust is a form of oxidative stress taking place due to environmental damage. The paint on the car cannot protect the chassis anymore.

Therefore, oxidative stress in the body can lead to many chronic diseases such as the development of heart disease, type 2 diabetes & cancer and can also increase the aging process.

What is Obesity and what exacerbates it?

Poor food choices and lifestyle interventions can lead to obesity.  Being obese is characterised by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body. This is due to fat cells in the body that increase in size and numbers. The increase in fat cell size and numbers can be due to an unhealthy diet that consists of a regular intake of refined and unhealthy processed foods, a high intake of unhealthy fats and a lack of exercise.

Obesity represents a serious health risk as it increases the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cancer and sleep apnoea to name a few.

What is the link between weight and oxidative stress?

Extensive evidence has shown that obesity is a state of chronic oxidative stress. It is not completely understood though, if oxidative stress is causing the excess body weight or if it is being obese that leads to oxidative stress.

Overeating, high-fat diets – especially those rich in saturated and trans-fatty acids – and highly refined carbohydrates stimulate specific signalling pathways. These pathways promote oxidative stress and inflammation in different areas of the body.

However, research has also shown that oxidative stress in the body can affect food intake, nutrient absorption as well as stimulate fat cell size & numbers in the body.

According to literature there is a very close link between oxidative stress and being obese. This triggers a vicious cycle by activating inflammation in the body that in turn contributes to the onset and maintenance of oxidative stress.

What is the solution?

When we are able to decrease oxidative stress in the body, we can help to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Thus when we are able to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, it will contribute to decreasing oxidative stress. Ultimately we will improve our overall health.

This balance can be achieved by implementing the following –

• Achieve a healthy body weight and maintain it long-term

For successful long term healthy weight loss, we recommend that you implement healthy eating habits, healthy lifestyle strategies and continuous support and follow up with your dietician, health coach, counsellor and/or home support system. Speak to your nearest dietician to assist with individualised meal planning, healthy weight loss strategies and accountability.

Where needed, discuss alternative strategies to assist in weight loss with your general practitioner that could include medications and/or supplements. It can also include Cryo-lipolysis which is a non-surgical body sculpting technique that uses controlled cooling for localized fat reduction.

A study done by D.J. McKeown et al – 2021Mar;34(2):e14850.doi:10.1111/dth.14850. Epub 2021 Feb 21 – indicated that “multiple cycles/sessions of Cryo-lipolysis can safely improve overall treatment benefit in body contouring, with greater decreases in skinfold thickness than have typically been previously observed.”

Please see below for links to the relevant The Goddess Factor® blogs.

• Include regular physical activity

The WHO – World Health Organisation – recommends 150 to 240 minutes per week of moderate intense exercise. Remember, however, it is not only exercise that will help you lose or maintain weight loss. Successful, healthy weight loss includes a combination of dietary and lifestyle interventions too!

• Include antioxidant rich foods

Whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish, olive oil, beans and legumes help build your defence systems in your body to protect against oxidative stress.

• Have a beneficial supplementation regimen

Supplements are recommended according to your age, gender, physical activity and dietary intake. Discuss any supplementation with your general practitioner before using them. A combination of nutrients including, but not limited to, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids, glutathione, vitamins A, C and E, phytochemicals and probiotics may help in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in people who are overweight or obese.

• Ensure a healthy gut balance

By including fermentable fibres and probiotic rich foods, it has shown to assist in decreasing oxidative stress in the body and help with weight-loss.

Summary

Achieving a healthy weight by implementing healthy eating and lifestyle habits will ensure sustainable weight-loss. This will in turn decrease your risk of oxidative stress and the development of chronic disease.

Developing healthy eating habits for successful, long-term weight-loss does take time, therefore take it step-by-step and reach out to a support system to assist you in this journey.

References used

• Savini et al. Oxidative stress and obesity. Obesity: A Practical Guide, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-19821-7_6
• J. McKeown et al. Significant improvement in body contour with multiple cycles of CoolSculpting: Results of a prospective study. 2021 Mar;34(2):e14850. doi: 10.1111/dth.14850. Epub 2021 Feb 21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33533560/

The Goddess Factor® – Medical Aesthetic solutions for Body sculpting of Fat pockets, Cellulite reduction, Weight & Centimetre loss on legs, arms & abdomen, Lymphatic drainage plus Firming, Lifting & Tightening of skin.

For more information peruse the following Blogs –

• Fat Freeze – https://www.thegoddessfactor.co.za/cooltech-fat-freeze/
• Cellulite Reduction – https://www.thegoddessfactor.co.za/cellulite-reduction-goddess-factor-solution/
• Presso-therapy – https://www.thegoddessfactor.co.za/presso-therapy-lymphatic-drainage
• Safyre Radio Frequency – https://www.thegoddessfactor.co.za/skin-tightening-2/

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