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| Smoking - The Fatal Pleasure |
 Smoking remains the foremost cause of death and disease, other wiseeasily preventable, and has sure and deadly impacts on anybody and everybody exposed to it. It harms adolescents, adults, seniors and even unborn babies, infants, children. Let us take the help of the following figures to understand the severity of the situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide approximately 5 million people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. If this current trend of consumption continues, this figure will rise to an alarming 10 million such deaths per year by 2025.
Consumption rates of tobacco are reducing in developed countries while they are rising in developing countries. By 2030, a projected 7 million people in developing countries will be killed every year by tobacco. |
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| Seven million people in developing countries will be killed every year by tobacco. |
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| Quitting smoking is the best and actually the only way to fight
the disaster. But a ‘smoking-free’ world may not be yet an achievable task
due to the deep integration of tobacco in the population. Untill that time
when the people as a whole truly understand these risks and fatality, we
need a helping hand to alleviate some of the oxidative stress caused to the
body due to smoking. Antioxidants – Yes, an adequate consumption of
antioxidants is the most logical answer to this threat! |
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| Antioxidants And Smokers - The Life-Saving Relationship |
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To understand the role of oxidative stress in smoking it is essential to know about certain elements called as the free radicals.
An atom has protons and neutrons at its center and electrons revolving around the center in orbits. In normal conditions, these electrons are found in pairs. If an electron revolving around the center is not paired, the species is called as a free radical. Free radicals are unstable and highly reactive. To achieve stability they ‘rob’ electrons from the surrounding molecules to produce an electron pair. Due to this, the molecule from which the electron is removed becomes unstable and turns into a free radical. This process of ‘robbing’ repeats with the new free radical and the chain progresses. In this way, a single radical is capable of producing a sequence of electron transfer reactions. The process of the removal of electron is called as oxidation. And the stress thus generated by the free radicals is called as oxidative stress
These free radicals attack fatty acids and proteins in cell membranes and cause damage to it. Free radicals also damage the DNA. |
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| Free radicals, by their oxidant potential, play a crucial role in damage that is caused by smoking. |
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Cigarette smoke contains an estimated 6,000 chemical moieties.Many of these are highly reactive, including several powerful oxidant species.1 It was estimated that some 1×1017 oxidant molecules are present in each puff of cigarette smoke. These free radicals overwhelm the antioxidant defenses and produce a condition of oxidative stress that can result in damage to DNA and other cellular components.
Not only is the person who smokes adversely affected by the free radicals but even a non-smoker taking in this smoke unintentionally (secondhand smoke / passive smoking) is exposed to free radicals that cause oxidative damage. |
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| Antioxidants can take care of the oxidative stress that is generated by cigarette smoking |
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Antioxidants are substances whose presence, in relatively low concentrations, significantly inhibits the rate of oxidation. You surely must have heard of or read this word a lot by now. It is the counter to the Stable Atom Electron Transfer
process of oxidation. Antioxidants deal with these free radicals and control the oxidative stress. They do so by neutralizing free radicals - by donating one of their own electrons and promoting the end of the ‘electron robbing’action. The best part is thatthese antioxidant nutrients themselvesdon’t become free radicals after the donation of the electron because they have the ability to remain stab |
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| Why Smokers May Desperately Need Antioxidant Supplements |
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To neutralize the oxidative stress our body has a store of natural antioxidants present in the form of various secretions such as Albumin, Bilirubin, Estrogen, etc. These are the Natural (physiological) antioxidants that our body uses to fight off the potential (damage) threat posed by oxidative stress.
These natural antioxidants, which are synthesized in our bodies, may not be always sufficient to take care of the free radicals generated by smoking. This is the reason why we need to extract antioxidants from our diet.
“Developing” world has offered a lot of variety in food. But, unfortunately even the inclusion of this variety may not provide all the required antioxidants to the body in, most importantly, the correct amount. Various lifestyle changes like irregular dietary habits due to busy schedules, an unbalanced and lacking diet owing to the fast food ‘culture’, the unfortunate shift from coarse grains to refined products that do not contain sufficient amount of antioxidants and reduced appetite due to decreased physical activities are responsible for the inadequate consumption of dietary antioxidants. This change is the reason why smokers may need additional antioxidants to take care of the free radicals generated by smoking.le in either form. |
| Smoking Related Disorders And Antioxidants |
| Free radicals play a crucial role in smoking-related diseases |
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| Smoking is responsible for various disorders like cancers, heart diseases, respiratory disorders, etc. Free radicals generated by cigarette smoke play a crucial role in the development of these disorders. |
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| Smoking, Cancer And Antioxidants |
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| Cigarette smoking tremendously increases the risk of various cancers including cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, larynx (voice box), lungs, uterine cervix, urinary bladder and kidney. Carcinogens are the substances that cause cancer. Carcinogens present in smoke damage genes that control the vital action of cell growth, causing the cells to grow abnormally or to reproduce much too rapidly. This abnormal rapid growth of cells leads to cancer. |
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| The risk of dying from lung cancer is more than 22 times higher among men who smoke cigarettes, and about 12 times higher among women who smoke cigarettes compared to non-smokers |
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| Various studies have proven the role of different antioxidants in curbing the development of cancer. |
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| Antioxidants can induce apoptosis |
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 Apoptosis is a process by which normal cells undergo spontaneous disintegration. It is the process called as programmed cell death. Cancer causes some cells to lose this ability, thus making these cells live indefinitely and develop a tumor. Today, it has been shown that herbal antioxidants viz. Grape Seed extract, Goji Berry, Noni and Mangosteen induce apoptosis. |
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| Antioxidants prevent multiplication of cancer cells |
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Multiplication or proliferation of cancer cells is a crucial step in the development of cancer.
Grape Seed extract, Green Tea, Goji Berry and Mangosteen have been proven to have anti-proliferative properties, which means that they successfully prevent the multiplication of cancer cells and consequently the growth of cancer.6,7,8,9
The growth of tumor cells depends on an uninhibited blood supply. It has been seen through tests that Grape Seed extract stalls the growth of blood vessels supplying to the tumor and thus checks tumor growth.10 |
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| Antioxidants support chemotherapy |
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 The treatment of cancer making the use of various drugs is called as chemotherapy. Along with the therapeutic action, these drugs also present the risk of severe side effects.
During studies and tests it was observed that when antioxidants were used in conjunction with chemotherapy, it (the treatment) became more effective and the severity of the side effects was reduced. The use of Grape Seed extract, Noni and Green Tea was found to improve the efficacy of anti-cancer agents and reduce their toxicity.11,12,13,14,15,16 |
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| Antioxidants improve immunity against cancer cells |
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| Interlukins are substances secreted by the immune system that have a capability of destroying tumors. Aloe Vera, Noni and Goji Berry were seen to improve the functioning of interlukins and enhance the immunity against cancer cells.17,18,19 |
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| Smoking, Cancer And Antioxidants |
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| Cigarette smokers are 2–4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers. |
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 Cholesterol generates narrow and hard arteries. High cholesterol levels in blood lead to deposition of LDL-C (bad cholesterol) in the blood vessels. This results in the formation of plaque and loss of elasticity of the blood vessels. This in turn causes the hardening of arteries and is called as atherosclerosis. |
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 Though numerous reasons are involved in the development of heart diseases, free radicals generated by cigarette smoking are known to be the foremost factors in contributing towards the development of heart diseases in those exposed to it. It is proposed that oxidative stress generated by smoking mutates (alters) the DNA and promotes atherosclerosis,the first step towards heart disease. This is why smokers need an additional supplement of antioxidants that can offer timely protection.
Various studies have proven the role of different antioxidants in checking the development of atherosclerosis. |
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| Antioxidants improve lipid profile |
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It was observed in various studies that Aloe Vera, Goji Berry and Green Tea show potent LDL-C reducing properties. This effect of antioxidants was proven, by tests, to reduce the chances of development of atherosclerosis. It was also observed that antioxidants like Green Tea and Goji Berry increased the HDL-C levels and offered protection to the blood vessels from atherosclerosis.20,21,22
Oxidation of LDL-C (bad cholesterol) in the blood is the initial reaction that promotes the deposition of cholesterol on the inner walls of the blood vessels.
In a study, Proanthocyanidins, from Grape Seed extract were seen to prevent the oxidation of LDL-C and reduce the chances of cholesterol deposition.23,24
Research has shown that Green Tea consumption has been associated with decreased cardiovascular risks and reduced gravity of health problems associated with heart diseases.25 |
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| Smoking, Respiratory Disorders And Antioxidants |
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| Smoking may be responsible for COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders (COPD) is abnormality of the lung, which causes airway obstruction. COPD includes diseases like bronchitis, asthma and em- Graphic of respiratory system physema (destruction of balloons in the lungs). |
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| Cigarette smoking increases the risk of dying from COPD |
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There is now considerable evidence proving an increased oxidant burden in smokers, particularly in those who develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders (COPD). Increased markers of oxidative stress in the airspaces, breath, blood and urine further corroborate this finding. Cigarette smoking is associated with a ten-fold increase in the risk of dyingfrom Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders (COPD)26
Antioxidants, by reducing the oxidative stress, can offer vital protection in COPD |
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| An Additional Reason Why Smokers Need Antioxidant Support |
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| Smokers generate more free radicals and consume less antioxidants. |
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Free radicals generated by smoking increase the demand of antioxidants in smokers. But it is seen that unfortunately, smokers consume fewer amounts of antioxidants. Research studies conducted on smokers have highlighted some important differences in the dietary habits of smokers and non-smokers.27
Some of the conclusions of the studies are:
 Chronic cigarette smokers consume a smaller amount ofphytonutrient-rich foods.
Heaviest smokers invariably consume fewer fruits and vegetablesthan those who smoke a few cigarettes daily.
Male smokers are more likely than female smokers to consumefewer fruits and vegetables.
Cigarette smokers appear to make up for the calorific deficit created by consuming fewer fruits and vegetables by consuming more dietary fats, especially saturated fats. |
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| Smoking and Antioxidants |
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Smoking increases oxidative stress.
Antioxidants can take care of the excessive oxidative stress generated by cigarette smoking.
Inspite of having a higher demand for antioxidants, smokers consume less antioxidants.
Free radicals play a pivotal role in causing smoking-related diseases.
In cancers, antioxidants have the power to induce apoptosis, reduce cell proliferation, improve immunity and support chemotherapy.
In heart diseases, antioxidants have the power to reduce LDL-C, increase HDL-C, reduce oxidation of LDL- C and decrease cardiovascular risk.
Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress generated in COPD |
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| References |
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