What Are Redox Signaling Molecules & How Does Redox Signaling Work?

Just like humans communicate to build structures and clean up systems, cells talk to each other too. In fact, every thought, feeling, emotion, food particle, supplement, toxin and life experience is "communicated" through ALL of your trillions of cells. 

Humans use email, phone, messenger apps, paperwork and all sorts of other means by which to "get the job done". Unfortunately, no matter how well we humans interact, we STILL can't seem to keep the billions of us from starting fights, creating war, inducing poverty and starvation.  

In contrast, your body is made of trillions of cells and these cells MUST keep the lines of communication open and peaceful in order to keep your body in a balanced, healthy homeostatic state...basically they are programmed to work together to keep you alive and thriving. We humans should all take some "life" advice from our cells! This cell communication is transferred via; hormones, chemicals, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, cell receptors and many other biological actions keeping you alive and flourishing.

Redox signaling molecules are activator molecules and more specifically, carry the messages that tell your cells to activate antioxidants stored in your body. 

Antioxidants are chemicals, wether naturally occurring or man-made, that keep oxidative free radicals in check and prevent them from causing other cellular damage which leads to internal war like sickness, cancer or other degenerative diseases.  

Antioxidants are substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage found in many foods, including fruits and vegetables, they're also available as dietary supplements.

Some examples of antioxidants are:

Vitamins like C, E, A, β-carotene & more

Minerals like Selenium, Zinc, Manganese, Copper & more

Even though antioxidants are substances that protect your cells against the effects of free radicals (unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and oxidative stress) antioxidants don’t work unless activated by redox signaling molecules . These molecules are produced within every cell in your body and act as either cellular messengers or cellular activators.  

Basically "redox" refers to reduction/oxidation, the loss or gain of electrons. Redox signaling is a process whereby free radicals and other compounds act as biological messengers communicating the need for action.

To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants, as stated above. Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and help “spare” our cells by becoming oxidized themselves to terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. 

Oxidants remove electrons; when they are exposed to oxygen they oxidize and change color—think rust on a nail or an apple turning brown.

For the most part, our antioxidant reserves can keep oxidation under control. But over time, cellular damage can result if we are exposed to more oxidative stress than the body can handle.

Things Like:

Chemically laden foods, water & beverages

Lack of activity or over activity

Chemically laden cosmetics     

Toxins like alcohol & caffeine

Lack of sleep

Dehydration 

Medications

Pollution

Poor diet

Stress 

& More!

All of this creates REALLY POOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATION & INTERNAL WAR leading to aging, sickness and disease...

Here's quick redox replay:

1. Free radicals form when a group of atoms, having an odd number of electrons, (resulting in one or more unpaired electrons) that interact with oxygen. 

2. Oxidative damage occurs when these unstable free radicals interact with other molecules in the body. One unstable molecule steals an electron from the next and this results in a snowball effect creating imbalance.

3. Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction of oxidation before vital molecules are damaged, through donating electrons without becoming free radicals themselves.

4. Reduction AKA redox signaling processes in the cells are the fundamental processes by which the cell detects damage and then starts the repair and replace mechanisms taking place in the mitochondria, including autophagy (self-devouring, toxin clean up system) and apoptosis (programmed cell death, for unhealthy cells).

All of this happens naturally if the cells are given the tools and environment to properly function. 

BEWARE: SOAP BOX MOMENT ABOUT TO UNLEASH...

There happens to be one Network Marketing (MLM) company that claims they are the the world’s only source for replenishing redox signaling molecules. 

In fact, here's some quotes directly from their website & other marketing material...

"The only available source for stable Redox Signaling molecules outside the body is a product called ASEA. Through research and development over a period of 16 years, ASEA has developed a process for producing Redox Signaling molecules that are perfectly balanced to supplement your body’s natural production. This product is only sold through private distributors such as Activate Health and many others." 

"Redox signaling molecules are cellular messengers created within every cell of the body and are vital to life. A proper supply of redox signaling molecules enables the normal cellular health process: damaged, dysfunctional cells fading away and healthy, vibrant cells taking over. Age, toxins, and environmental stress diminish the body’s ability to produce and maintain a proper balance of redox signaling molecules. ASEA Redox Supplement is the world’s only source for replenishing redox signaling molecules."

"ASEA is a mixture of 16 chemically recombined products of salt and water with completely new chemical properties. It is no longer salt or water just like table salt is no longer chlorine gas or sodium metal."

In ASEA’s favour, their scientist has stabilised the redox molecules outside of the body, which is great. And as a liquid magnesium based, mineralised saline solution I am sure it is a good product. However, it’s quite expensive and very unpleasant tasting. 

Comparatively, LifeForce fx costs pennies a day, stimulates the natural production of redox signalling molecules in your body and it tastes great too!

LifeForce FX contains natural vitamin C (organic lemon peel) which, when mixed with sulphur generates REDOX SIGNALING MOLECULES! 

Redox Signaling:

Combining sulphur (MSM) & natural Vitamin C (organic lemon peel) forms a synergy that creates reduction-oxidation or redox pairs. This amplifies the benefits of both nutrients as they combine together. Redox signalling molecules help the immune system to find and repair or destroy damaged cells. In fact, they participate in multiple pathways of tissue regeneration, hormonal reception, oxidative stress response, signalling gene expression and so forth.    

Walter Last, a renowned toxicologist explains: “In an oxygen deficient environment such as a cell with anaerobic metabolism a redox pair changes from their oxidized state to their reduced form by giving off one atom of highly reactive oxygen. When vitamin C or MSM return to the circulation and flow with the blood through the lungs they are again being converted to their oxidized forms. In this way the redox cycle can repeat several times until the chemicals are gradually being excreted through the kidneys, and an oxidative energy metabolism can be restored in anaerobic tissue where this is not possible with the oxygen in red blood cells.”

He goes on to say, “DHA is the form in which vitamin C gets into the brain and most other cells. Vitamin C cannot enter directly in its reduced form; it only gets inside cells as DHA. Inside the cell it is then reduced by liberating oxygen. With the normal intake levels of vitamin C and MSM the released amount of oxygen is so low that it does not make a difference, and especially not in cells that produce carbon dioxide and get their oxygen from haemoglobin. But it can make a world of difference in anaerobic tissue, and with high intakes of vitamin C and MSM. The oxygen released in this way is initially highly reactive and kills the microbes inside the cells that caused this blockage, and then re-starts the blocked oxidative energy metabolism. This is how vitamin C protects us against cancer and infections if we use enough of it.”

Increasing the amount of balanced redox signaling molecules in the cells and tissues helps recharge and activate the antioxidants that are already in the cells, making them much more efficient. This enhances the natural protection mechanisms of the cell, naturally powering up the antioxidant barriers that are already in place, enabling the healthy cells and tissues a better defence shield.  

Now...you don't want to use just any 'ole ascorbic acid type supplement. Ascorbic acid is generally made from genetically modified corn syrup...SO DON'T EVEN GO THERE!

Your choice of vitamin C and MSM need to be from nature (not processed into a pill) organic, pure and potent to feel the effects of redox signaling. Alkalisation with other minerals is also important to help the body detox, repair and rebuild systems.

Combining MSM & natural Vitamin C (lemon peel) creates a synergy that forms reduction-oxidation or redox pairs.Our proprietary Dynamic Enhancement process, using Tesla Scalar Vortex, stabilises redox molecules for optimal benefit. (Add link to blog about scalar vortex)