Oxidative stress is common and can result from many causes: diet, environment, chronic health conditions, and even genetic predispositions. Oxidative stress is not just from outside your body. We create oxidative stress just by being alive, and the higher your levels of physical activity, the more the oxidative stress, and the more quickly our antioxidants are used up. Over time, this stress can damage your heart, weaken your joints, create emotional and cognitive instability, and even cause cancer. The good news is, that with the right nutrients, rich in polyphenols and other antioxidant compounds, you can reduce oxidative stress, prevent it from causing harm, and experience optimal mind and body wellness. I believe that a regimen with validated antioxidants is critical for many reasons:
• Cancer prevention
• Pain relief and reduced inflammation
• Healthy aging and younger looking skin
• Physical endurance and exercise recovery
• Mental well-being and cognitive strength
• Strong heart, arteries, and better cholesterol balance
• Reduced allergy and asthma symptoms
• Strong immune responses
Stop Cellular Rust with Antioxidants
Oxidative damage is much like rust that fuses metal and ultimately disintegrates it. However, it is not inevitable. Oxidation happens when unstable molecules in the body—free radicals— pull electrons away from healthy tissues in an effort to regain stability. Free radicals, and the damage they cause, can come from many sources: an imbalanced diet, environmental pollution, excessive UV exposure, intensive exercise, or the aging process. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this cellular rust. Antioxidants. Antioxidants are extra-stable. They willingly donate an electron to a free radical without becoming unstable themselves. Think of antioxidants as a form of cellular rustproofing. Or, think of these nutrients as a way of repairing oxidative damage, much in the same way that applying a coating of lubricant helps rusty bolts and hinges work properly again.
Our Diets Need an Antioxidant Boost
Experts estimate that we need at least 1,000 mg of polyphenols daily for optimal wellness, but many of us miss that mark. However, soil depletion, food processing, and fruits and vegetables grown for shelf life rather than nutritional value means our food is not as nutritious as it once was. That’s why I think adding polyphenol-containing botanicals with strong antioxidant activity to your supplement regimen can help fill any nutritional gaps.
Clinically and Scientifically Validated Polyphenols Are Best
The name “polyphenols” is a broad term for a family of plant compounds that give fruits, vegetables, rhizomes, roots, and flowering herbs their color and protect them from bacteria, insect damage, oxidative stress, and other threats. In human diets, polyphenols act as antiinflammatories, immune boosters, and DNA protectors—just to name a few of their attributes. Adding them to a daily regimen may make all the difference for optimal health and wellness.
Curcumin from Turmeric
Curcumin, the key polyphenol from turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the most versatile nutrients in the world. Because of its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, curcumin is on the frontline of research for its ability to reduce depression symptoms, relieve arthritis pain and muscle soreness, treat fatty liver disease and prevent cancer. However, curcumin can be difficult for the body to absorb, so I urge you to choose your supplement carefully. The curcumin I prefer is blended with turmeric essential oil to enhance absorption by up to 700 percent and has been used in over 90 published studies because of its excellent bioavailability and effectiveness. The results of this specific curcumin speak for themselves—it matches prescription drugs in effectiveness in treating arthritis and major depressive disorder and has shown astonishing results for tumor reduction and cancer inhibition in leading-edge scientific studies. Much of this can be attributed to the curcumin’s ability to neutralize free radicals and stop harmful inflammation that damages brain cells, muscles, and healthy processes throughout the mind and body.
French Grape Seed Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs)
Grape seed is especially known for preventing heart disease because it protects blood vessel walls from free radical damage caused by the dangerous oxidation of Lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Grape seed extract also reduces blood pressure and has been shown to strengthen the structure of joints and bones. In cancer research, OPCs from French grape seed extract have been found to shrink tumor cells and prevent tumor recurrence. Combining French grape seed OPCs with other strong botanicals, including curcumin, has shown even better results. Because OPCs are especially powerful polyphenols, they have the ability to kill cancer stem cells—the “seeds” of tumors that conventional chemotherapy drugs often leave behind. I prefer a French grape seed extract that is standardized to high levels of absorbable OPCs. This specific extract delivers 99 percent polyphenols, so it is an connections between the hemispheres of the brain, fights bacterial infections, and suppresses inflammatory factors that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, studies on cancer have shown that EGCG from green tea promotes and preserves one of the body’s natural anti-cancer proteins called p53, so it can make daily repairs to DNA and stop tumors before they start. Polyphenol-Rich Antioxidants are the Perfect Insurance Policy There are many things that polyphenol-rich antioxidants can do: improve physical vigor and stamina, sharpen mental focus, strengthen immune resistance, and protect the heart and cardiovascular system—and that is just a few of the ways they help us live with optimal vitality. That is why I believe that adding these potent and proven antioxidants to your regimen every day is one of the best forms of natural insurance you can invest in.excellent concentrated source and is a first choice in groundbreaking studies.
Olive Leaf and Fruit Extract
While olive oil is incredibly healthy and should be consumed every day, olive leaves and fruit contain concentrated levels of polyphenols and other compounds, in even greater quantities than the oil, that protect your heart, brain, and overall well-being. These nutrients include oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, oleanolic acid, and mixed tocopherols. The beneficial actions of olive leaf and fruit components have led many researchers to take notice and recommend olive leaf and fruit supplements for healthy aging and a variety of conditions. The polyphenol hydroxytyrosol scavenges free radicals and activates superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione, two of the body’s own ‘master antioxidants.’ It is also a strong anti-inflammatory, so it has multiple ways of protecting against premature aging. Oleuropein from olive leaf has shown remarkable results in lowering blood pressure. One clinical study found that olive leaf extract was equal to a prescription drug – possibly better, considering the compound also significantly lowered triglyceride levels, something the drug didn’t do. Another study found that olive leaf extract lowered systolic pressure by as much as 13 points, diastolic pressure up to 5 points, and reduced LDL cholesterol levels as well. Researchers believe that olive leaf compounds protect the inner lining of blood vessels and act as a vasodilator, helping the heart pump blood with less effort.
Apples
Apples are an excellent source of a variety of polyphenol antioxidants. including OPCs. In supplemental use, apple polyphenols are typically extracted from unripe apples, while they are still plentiful in the fruit.Apple polyphenols have been shown to improve physical endurance and reduce fatigue, reduce abdominal fat, and improve cholesterol levels. They also show impressive results in reducing allergy symptoms, including skin irritation and rashes, inflamed sinuses, and runny noses. Additionally, apple compounds have been used in combination with other botanicals, including grape seed extract, for improving men’s libido and sexual performance.
Green Tea
Green tea is already considered one of the world’s healthiest beverages, so much so that its polyphenols, called catechins, are frequently standardized and used in research. One green tea compound in particular, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is often the focus of intensive study. In terms of healthy aging and overall wellness, green tea is a gold mine it reduces the effects of photoaging in the skin due to sun exposure and UV radiation, increases collagen production in the skin, fosters better connections between the hemispheres of the brain, fights bacterial infections, and suppresses inflammatory factors that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, studies on cancer have shown that EGCG from green tea promotes and preserves one of the body’s natural anti-cancer proteins called p53, so it can make daily repairs to DNA and stop tumors before they start.
Polyphenol-Rich Antioxidants are the Perfect Insurance Policy
There are many things that polyphenol-rich antioxidants can do: improve physical vigor and stamina, sharpen mental focus, strengthen immune resistance, and protect the heart and cardiovascular system—and that is just a few of the ways they help us live with optimal vitality. That is why I believe that adding these potent and proven antioxidants to your regimen every day is one of the best forms of natural insurance you can invest in.