Antioxidants are crucial to optimal health. Why? Because they fight free radicals. Free radicals are compounds that can have severe and far-reaching impacts on your well-being. For example, when your levels of free radicals become too high, your body experiences oxidative stress, a phenomenon known to contribute to the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Let’s explore the health-protecting power of antioxidants, how they help prevent and delay disease, and what you can do to increase your intake of antioxidants.
What are antioxidants?
An antioxidant is a type of molecule that fights free radicals. Free radicals include unstable nitrogen and oxygen-containing compounds that trigger a process called oxidative stress, which, when present in excess, can damage your cells. Your body creates antioxidants to defend against free radicals, but it’s not always enough. Quality supplements and foods like fruit, vegetables, and other whole, plant-based foods are critical to support your body’s natural detoxification process.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are molecules formed as byproducts of cellular respiration (using oxygen to create energy) and from environmental sources. While some free radicals perform essential functions – for example, your immune system uses free radicals to ward off infection – it’s vital to keep levels of free radicals in check. Without antioxidants, free radicals in your body would cause significant damage incredibly quickly.
Here are some environmental sources of free radicals:
- Pollution and poor air quality.
- Toxic metals, such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.
- Elevated blood sugar levels
- High levels of omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid found in processed vegetable oils, sunflower, safflower, canola, and soybean oil.
- Viral and bacterial infections.
- Cigarette smoking and excess consumption of alcohol.
- Pesticides
Think of antioxidants as the antidote to free radicals. For optimal health, you want to maintain an equilibrium between the two. When your levels of antioxidants and free radicals become off-balanced, you experience oxidative stress, and prolonged bouts of oxidative stress can have adverse outcomes.
The dangers of oxidative stress
Free radicals are highly reactive and can trigger oxidative stress, which leads to cell dysfunction and cell death. Because your brain needs a tremendous amount of oxygen to function, oxidative stress affects the central nervous system more than any part of the body. For this reason, oxidative stress is a proven trademark of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, neuroprotective antioxidants are believed to provide a promising treatment option for people with these conditions looking to slow the progression and minimize the extent of brain cell death.
Increasing your intake of antioxidants
If you are ready to reroute the trajectory of your health, increasing your intake of antioxidants may be one piece of the puzzle. There are two main types of antioxidants:
- Water-soluble antioxidants protect your body in the fluid found inside and outside your cells.
- Fat-soluble antioxidants typically act inside your cells’ membranes.
Many fruits, vegetables, and other natural, whole, and plant-based foods are abundant in antioxidants. Therefore, when planning and prepping your meals, aim to include the following antioxidants:
- Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables.
- Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that safeguards cell membranes against the adverse effects of oxidative stress. Pecans, pistachios, almonds, spinach, and pumpkin are all excellent sources of vitamin E.
- Flavonoids are a group of antioxidants found in kale, berries, onions, tea, and dark chocolate.
If you live with or are at risk of neurodegenerative disease, you might benefit from incorporating antioxidant-rich supplements into your daily routine. Using my first-hand experience as a neurologist, I developed a range of high-impact, high-quality supplements, many of which contain all-important antioxidants. Here’s a quick look at four of my antioxidant-boosting dietary supplements.
Antioxidant supplement: Neuro C Pro
As mentioned above, vitamin C is a crucial and highly potent antioxidant. It plays a leading role in your body’s collagen production, which is key to healthy cell growth and repair. It also protects our gums, bones, teeth, and blood vessels. My vitamin C pro supplement may help mitigate the harmful effects of environmental pollution and reduce the risk of infection by supporting the immune system.
Antioxidant supplement: Neuro E
Vitamin E is another heavyweight antioxidant. It’s also one of the most scientifically sound ways the body fights against free radicals’ harmful, aging effects. Vitamin E is found in four forms – alpha, beta, gamma, and delta – each offering unique and necessary antioxidant capabilities. My formula contains all four forms of vitamin E, supporting your neurological health. Vitamin E can also enhance cardiovascular, ocular, and immune health as a bonus.
Antioxidant supplement: Neuro De/tox
A deficiency in glutathione and changes to glutathione-dependent enzyme activities have increasingly been shown to contribute to diseases, including Huntington’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
After working closely with thousands of patients living with neurodegenerative conditions, I’ve discovered that the only way to combat low glutathione levels is to address the root cause of the deficiency. And that’s precisely what my Neuro De/tox supplement aims to do.
I formulated De/tox to support healthy glutathione levels by directly stimulating the nuclear receptors that trigger oxidative stress and inflammation responses. The potent active ingredients – green tea leaf extract, pomegranate extract, sulforaphane, and Meriva© curcumin – aid the body’s natural detoxification process.
Antioxidant supplement: Neuro Lipoic Acid
Neuro Lipoic Acid (ALA) can help if you suffer from or are at risk of memory-related issues. ALA ensures a healthy blood sugar balance by regulating cellular energy. My advanced Neuro Lipoic Acid supplement formula contains vitamins E and C, two powerful antioxidants.
A holistic approach to health
Antioxidants are essential health-protecting molecules that help prevent or delay neurodegenerative disease. But when it comes to our well-being, there’s no one-fix-all solution. We are multifaceted, and our journey toward living our best lives is equally complex.
If you are ready to rethink your health, get in contact with us. Our multidisciplinary team is here to help you achieve a lifestyle you might not think possible, and it all starts with a phone call.