Not all Antioxidants are Created Equal!

The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more vibrant lives owe much to the efforts and research of certain pioneers who braved ridicule, for without them, many of us now wouldn't be aware of the general benefits of taking antioxidant supplements.

To take a particular notable example, great scientist and humanitarian Linus Pauling (the only man to win 2 unshared Nobel Prizes, one in Chemistry and one for Peace) urged people to supplement with Vitamin C after he became convinced of its myriad of benefits. Pauling personally used Vitamin C for the last three decades of his life, lived to the ripe old age of 93, and was instrumental in helping this vitamin become as popular as it is now.

Although we should remain forever grateful to luminaries like Pauling, we must continue to embrace advances in our collective knowledge.

While health conscious people now know what an antioxidant supplement is, and how it protects cells in the body from becoming the victim of widespread free radical damage, many of us still don't realize that there are wide variations in the potency and efficacy of antioxidants. In short, not all antioxidants are created equal!

Common vitamins like C and E have, in recent years, been shown to have very weak antioxidant properties compared to other substances.

For instance, researchers have discovered that green tea extract is an antioxidant a hundred times more powerful than Vitamin C, and over twenty times more so than Vitamin E! Current studies are showing that green tea may be beneficial in stopping certain types of cancers.

Did you know that grape seed extract is one of the few antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier, and, hence, also protect brain cells from free radical damage?

If you want to get more efficacy out of your Vitamin C and E, research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant supplement in its own right), can help "recycle" C and E, enhancing and prolonging their benefits. Moreover, alpha-lipoic acid is now being studied for its potential beneficial effects on such debilitating health conditions as: diabetes, cataracts, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.

Have you heard about the so-called "paradox of the French?" This saying refers to the "puzzling" phenomenon that French people eat a great deal of fatty foods, smoke cigarettes, yet still suffer lower rates of cardiovascular disease than we do here in the Western world.

Some experts attribute this to the fact that the French consume a lot more wine than we do. Wine, in particular red wine, has been shown to contain a special antioxidant known as resveratrol. Besides its potent antioxidant supplement properties, resvertatrol has now been shown to help lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, and has even shown a great deal of preliminary promise in stopping the progression of cancer.

As a last example, research has revealed that N- Acetylcysteine is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to fortify the body by protecting it against various toxins -- toxins such as chemicals and byproducts found in such things as cigarette smoke and herbicides. It may also improve immune function and retard aging.

If you haven't heard of some of these antioxidant supplements, don't be surprised. The big money from the pharmaceutical companies have a strong incentive to suppress this kind of information from getting out to the public at large. After all, they make billions of dollars only when people get sick and need a prescription, not when people take care of themselves and avoid the major killers like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.

Truth seekers, however, should strive to emulate heros of the past like Linus Pauling and become the new torch bearers so that we can continue to improve the state of health for people everywhere with the latest breakthrough antioxidant supplements.

Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, which offers unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keeping you abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our FREE newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Supplements Info Site

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Selenium: Activates Antioxidant Glutathione for Protection of Cells

Selenium is a type of trace mineral which supports healthy... Read More

7 Vitamins Every Arthritis Sufferer Should Know About

A deficiency of vitamins can lead to a variety of... Read More

The Immune-Boosting Power of Colostrum

Bovine Colostrum is the form of "milk" taken from dairy... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - NO Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is a free form gas produced by the... Read More

Appreciating the Importance of Folic Acid

Folic acid is actually just one of the many vitamins... Read More

Amended Bitter Orange - Ephedra in Disguise? So Why Do People Still Take It ?

If you read my last article about bitter orange, it... Read More

Researching Glyconutritionals (a.k.a. Glyconutrients)?

The Greek word "Glyco" means, "Sugar". Most people think of... Read More

Minerals for a Normal Life

Minerals are essential nutrients that serve the body in many... Read More

The Perfect Supplement

I wanted to write this article because of my sincere... Read More

Some Vitamin Supplements to Enhance Your Ironman Training Diet

There are a host of choices for supplementing your Ironman... Read More

Kanhaiya Amla Powder

AMLA ( EMBLICA OFFICINALIS ) FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTYAMLA, proudly... Read More

Glyconutrients: A Breakthrough Discovery

The science of Glycobiology, touted by the Massachusetts Institute of... Read More

Do Natural Thyroid Boosters Work?

How Well Does Thyrin-ATC and Other Natural Thyroid Products Work?Hypothyroidism... Read More

Treatment of Heart Disease with Coenzyme Q10

Since its discovery in the late 1950â??s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)... Read More

Weight Lifting Supplement

Weight Lifting Supplement ? what is it?The term "weight lifting... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - HMB

HMB stands for beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate. It is a metabolite of... Read More

Eight Glyconutrients

Glyconutrients- the latest development in the health industry. What are... Read More

Tips on Taking Colostrum

When selecting a brand of Colostrum, you should be sure... Read More

All-Natural HGH Releasers- Does Neugenisis Really Work?

I began a quest to examine over 25 "leading products"... Read More

Ways to Maximize Vitamin Absorption

1. Do not refrigerate vegetables and fruits (raw and uncut)... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - L-Lysine

Lysine is an essential amino acid therefore it must be... Read More

The Effects of an no2 Supplement on Your Body

Our system uses a free-form gas called Nitric Oxide as... Read More

Beneficial Effects of Vitamins and Minerals To Your Blood

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the health... Read More

Fatigue After WLS: Iron Deficiency May Be the Cause

I've been feeling a tired and slow lately. Just don't... Read More

4 Answers To Living Life On Lifes Terms

1. What supplements do you take?A multivitamin, Glucosamine-MSM-Chondroitin, Odorless Garlic,... Read More

What are Phytochemicals (Phytonutrients)?

Don't be overwhelmed by this big word, ... Read More

Truth About Omega 3

Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More

Selenium Can Lift Your Spirits

In July of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture... Read More

Omega 3 Fish Oil That Will and Omega 3 Fish Oil That Wont

At the moment we are in the grip of an... Read More

Natural Human Growth Hormone: Hope or Hoax?

You may feel 30, but your body keeps reminding you... Read More

Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Products

Currently, there are no known side effects for most hyaluronic... Read More

Acid Amino Arginine ? An Acid With Many Benefits

When you buy acid amino arginine you can look forward... Read More

Will Your Vitamins Be Banned?

Imagine this scenario by the end of next August...You contact... Read More