Molecular Hydrogen: a Therapeutic Gas

What is Molecular Hydrogen?

Molecular Hydrogen is created during the electrolysis process - a process by which an electrical current is passed through a substance to effect a chemical change. The chemical change is one in which the substance gains or loses an electron (oxidation or reduction), in our case it gains an electron.

Molecular Hydrogen is an extremely powerful antioxidant and protects our cells and DNA from oxidative stress-related diseases/damage.

Why is Molecular Hydrogen Important?

Molecular hydrogen is a very small, stable, neutrally charged molecule. It's small enough that it has the ability to pass through the cellular membranes, and through the blood-brain barrier which allows it to access our DNA and mitochondria within our cells.

Molecular hydrogen is an incredibly powerful antioxidant that can protect our cells and DNA from oxidative stress-related damage, and reduces free radicals, in turn suppressing the oxidative stress that often leads to the progression of the disease.

Free radicals are uncharged and unstable molecules, making them highly reactive. When free radicals are roaming around our body, they attack our healthy cells, and pull them apart to gain their own stability - thus creating the cell/s to have oxidative stress. Since molecular hydrogen is a powerful antioxidant and neutrally charged, it scavenges for the free radicals and adds an electron to them, thereby reducing the amount of damage that they can cause.

What is Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body.

There are several factors that can contribute to oxidative stress, which include:

-diet

-lifestyle

-environmental factors such as pollution and radiation

The body's natural immune system can temporarily trigger oxidative stress when the immune system is trying to fight an infection or when repairing an injuring, this causes mild inflammation that goes away after the immune system does it's job.

Uncontrolled oxidative stress can accelerate the aging process and may contribute to the development of a number of conditions.

Exercise increases free radical formation, which can cause temporary oxidative stress in the muscles. This can be evidenced by increases in lipid peroxidation, glutathione oxidation, and oxidative protein damage. It is well known that activity of cytosolic enzymes in blood plasma is increased after exhaustive exercise.

Conditions of Oxidative Stress:

-chronic inflammation

-neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

-cancer

-diabetes

-cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and stroke

-chronic fatigue

-asthma

-infertility

Factors That May Increase Oxidative Stress

-obesity

-diets high in fat, processed sugar, and processed foods

-exposure to radiation

-cigarettes or other tobacco products

-alcohol consumption

-certain medications

-pollution

-exposure to herbicides and pesticides or industrial chemicals

Health Benefits of Molecular Hydrogen

Dr. Jull Carnahan is a leading Functional Medical Expert, and she has written an incredible blog listing the benefits of of molecular hydrogen.

1. Acts as an Antioxidant

Molecular hydrogen acts as a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to protect cells from even the most cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. Specifically, inhalation of H2 gas has been shown to suppress brain injuries through these effects.

2. Hydrogen Supports Your Body's Antioxidant System

It does so by signaling pathways associated with the prevention of disease. Hydrogen also boosts the natural production of glutathione which is often referred to as our master antioxidant.

3. Signals Gene Expression

Molecular hydrogen actually has the ability to switch certain genes on or off to support optimal health.

4. Alkalinizes the Blood

Molecular hydrogen has an acid-lowering effect, meaning it helps to slightly increase the pH of the blood. Our pH does not vary much, our cells would die, but a very slight decrease in pH can lead to fatigue and a decrease in physical performance.

5. Anti-inflammatory

In animals studies, hydrogen gas has been shown to be extremely anti-inflammatory. While we could use more studies on humans to back these initial findings, research on patients with rheumatoid arthritis are extremely promising.

6. May Help Reduce Pain

This pain relief is due to the reduction in oxidative stress caused by the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of hydrogen gas.

7. Hydrogen Protects Your Muscles

In an animals study, hydrogen water prevented muscle wasting in mice that had muscular dystrophy. The effects of hydrogen on athletes and exercise is an important one to take note of. Adequate hydration with hydrogen-rich water pre-exercise reduces blood lactate levels and improves exercise-induced decline of muscle function.

8. Hydrogen Helps Speed Up Muscle Recovery

Hydrogen water has been shown to reduce muscle fatigue in elite athletes after intense exercise. This is because it reduced lactic acid buildup, which improved muscle function.

9. Helps Balance pH of the Blood

This is especially beneficial to people who are extremely physically active because extreme exercise can cause metabolic acidosis.

10. Affects Cell Modulation

Hydrogen appears to have effects in the cells that help them maintain homeostasis and healthy modulation. Through healthy gene expression and cellular metabolism, hydrogen positively affects cellular processes on many different levels.

11. Hydrogen is Neuroprotective

Hydrogen has been shown to reduce damage to the brain in Parkinson's patients. It's also shown to have generally neuroprotective properties due to it's ability to fight oxidative stress.

12. Protective Against Metabolic Conditions

Studies have found that hydrogen increases insulin sensitivity, decreases blood sugar, and blood cholesterol levels. These effects make hydrogen a potential therapy for fighting obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

13. Boosts Your Mitochondria

Your mitochondria are the powerhouse of your cells, which makes them directly responsible for your energy levels day to day. Clinical studies on hydrogen-rich water have found that it improves mitochondrial function.

14. Protects Against DNA Damage

Hydrogen gas has been shown to significantly protect DNA against radiation damage. It does so by scavenging hydroxyl radical formations.

15. Hydrogen Can Calm Allergic Reactions

With allergies on a rise across the world, this is an interesting observation. Studies have found that in animals, hydrogen can sometimes calm allergic reactions. The way hydrogen appears to calm allergic reactions is by modulating cell processes throughout the body, which makes it a good idea for everyone to consider.

16. Hydrogen is Protective Against Cancer

Hydrogen Gas Suppresses Inflammatory Cytokines. By regulating inflammation, hydrogen gas can prevent tumor formations, progression, as well as reduce the side effects caused by chemotherapy/radiotherapy. By neutralizing the free radicals in the body, and protecting our cells and DNA from damage, it suppresses cancer cells.

17. Hydrogen Protects Organs

Hydrogen has been observed to be protective against damage to numerous organs including the brain pancreas, heart, liver, eyes, and lungs. This is believed to be because of hydrogen's anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and oxidative stress fighting effects.

After learning all this information about the benefits of molecular hydrogen, it is now wonder Kangen Water Ionizers are becoming so popular. In March of 2017, there were over 450 publications on the biologically or medically beneficial effects of molecular hydrogen, and that number continues to grow year after year.

If you have any further questions on molecular hydrogen or how you can purchase your very own Kangen Water Ionizer, please feel free to reach out and I will be more than happy to connect with you!