Posted by larryhoover on June 16, 2011, at 19:56:32
In reply to Re: Fish oil brands. Re: Going back to .. » larryhoover, posted by Questionmark on June 16, 2011, at 16:55:39
> Oh, but so do fats that are oxidized produce free radicals? I thought that most molecules that are oxidized become pro-oxidants themselves.
Yes, but. The buts do matter.
Usually, you can plot the reactants and products on a reactivity chart such that what goes in is more reactive than what comes out. So, that's a general trend, entropy.
In a petri dish, or a test tube, you can get long-standing chain reactions. A candle flame burning sheep fat or whale oil is a chain reaction. In our bodies, we have protective mechanisms to break those chains. Antioxidants such as superoxide dismustase, glutathione, vitamins E and C, and a variety of supporting cast members such as CoQ10 or melatonin or heme-type structures quench the reactivity of the oxidizers.
Your own mitochondria are virtual free-radical machines, churning out massive numbers/types of oxidizers. Somehow, we keep ourselves from catching fire, and only maintain a temperature of 37C/98.6F.
The bottom line is, we're well protected, even from rancid fats. I think people get too caught up in the details.
> Why have we evolved to not want rancid food?
I think of it as a "lack of freshness" detection system. Given a choice, we choose the fresher food. I don't know about you, but when I'm cleaning out the fridge, the process is as much one of smelling the materials as it is about reading best before dates.
As I've become more mature, I find that I've trained my nose, also. Certain aromas from cheese I now find inviting, whereas before I'd have thought they indicated spoilage. But in contrast, I'm exquisitely sensitive to rancidity in nutmeats. I just can't bear nuts that aren't fresh, and it has nothing to do with what I think about the situation. When it comes to rancidity, I lean towards nature, rather than nurture.
> And thank you for that other info. Interesting. And helpful.
My pleasure. Truly.
Lar
poster:larryhoover
thread:904699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110610/msgs/988406.html