Of all the threats to health and wellbeing, free radicals are possibly the largest threat to modern health. Free radicals in the form of AGEs have been identified as the underlying cause of diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and many of the other lifestyle diseases we face. Free radicals in the form of toxins and chemicals can damage the liver and, therefore, impair overall health and wellbeing. Free radicals in the form of toxins and chemicals in your food, cosmetics, and cleaning materials can damage the skin, the circulatory system, and the rest of the body. Antioxidants are essentially compounds that eliminate free radicals, allowing them to be removed from your body to protect the body from damage. The most important antioxidants include:

1. Glutathione
2. CoQ10
3. Quercetin
4. Catechins
5. Lutein

Glutathione

Glutathione is possibly one of the most important antioxidants in the body. It is so important that your body is able to produce its own source of glutathione. Glutathione is produced from cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Although glutathione can be produced by the body, due to the increase in toxins in our water, food, and the products we use in our homes, it may be necessary to supplement your levels of glutathione. Stress also increases free radical damage in the body, and if you are suffering from prolonged stress, then a glutathione supplement may be one way of mitigating the free radicals and oxidative damage caused by stress.

CoQ10

Another vital antioxidant that is produced by your body is called ubiquinone or CoQ10. You need CoQ10 to be able to produce energy for your body. Sadly, energy production results in the production of free radicals as a by-product of that energy production. CoQ10 functions both as an ingredient to produce energy and as an antioxidant to help eliminate the free radicals caused by energy production. Your body produces its own CoQ10, but levels of CoQ10 decline as you get older. Stress and other factors like toxins may also deplete your CoQ10 levels. It may therefore be necessary to supplement your own levels of CoQ10 by taking a top quality CoQ10 supplement.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a really powerful antioxidant found in particularly high levels in fruits and vegetables like apples, onions, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, and cherries. Studies and research show that the antioxidants in quercetin may be valuable for reducing the risks of allergies, asthma, heart disease, cholesterol, hypertension, and even some forms of cancer, by eliminating the free radicals that cause damage. Free radicals can damage the cellular membranes of cells, they can damage tissue, and they can damage the DNA within the cells. A quercetin supplement may help you to eliminate free radicals by supplementing the body’s free radical defense.

Catechins

Another powerful natural antioxidant that eliminates free radicals and that promotes health are the catechins found in products like green tea. Green tea contains a number of polyphenols, catechins, and other compounds that can help to protect the body from harm. Studies suggest the compounds in green tea may even offer a new way to help reduce or prevent diseases like cancer. Although green tea consumptions may offer a great way to support your diet with the antioxidant and antitumor properties of green tea, consuming tea is not really conducive to measuring the levels of the compounds you are getting on a daily basis. A top quality Green Tea supplement may offer a more reliable way of adding the catechins and other compounds to your diet in sufficient quantities.

Lutein

Lutein is a form of the carotenoid vitamins. The body often uses vitamins A, C, and E as antioxidants, as well as using them to support various functions in the body. Lutein is found abundantly in food like spinach, kale, broccoli, kiwi, grapes, zucchini, and some types of squash. Lutein is best absorbed after a fatty meal to ensure optimal absorption and usage of this vital antioxidant. Oxidative damage is one of the leading causes of cataracts. Cataract surgery is the most performed procedure in the world and, in various studies, Lutein supplementation has been shown to reduce the development of cataracts. A good lutein supplement is one of the best ways of supplementing your diet with this valuable antioxidant.

Antioxidants Are Vital for Protecting Your Body

Irrespective of whether the body produces them, or whether they come from your diet or supplementation, one thing is certain: You need to ensure your diet is high in antioxidants to offer you the protection you need to remain healthy.