When our cells are stressed, they produce a molecule called Nitric Oxide. This molecule blocks the receptor site that Oxygen belongs in during the respiratory process — the process of turning sugar in our blood into cellular energy. Usually, through rest and the consumption of anti-oxidants, the body is able to dispose of excess Nitric Oxide. However, when stressed the body does not have the capacity to remove enough Nitric Oxide. This leads to molecules known as “reactive oxygen species” being leaked into the cell. This is known as “Oxidative Stress.” Reactive oxygen species are toxic and trigger mechanisms for inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer’s, osteoarthritis, and more.