Antioxidant Blend

A Closer Look

What is an Antioxidant?

The human body is subject to decay. Cells are continually being replaced not only as a matter of daily body function but even more so when tissues become damaged. The common cut and abrasion are the superficial evidence of damage. But within the body the cell-damaging, free-radical producing effects of cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, and airborne contaminants that we all confront when living an active lifestyle take a silent toll on the body. When these damaged cells are exposed to oxygen, it’s similar to the way a sliced apple turns brown from oxidation. As the body seeks to heal itself, excess oxidation occurs producing the phenomenon of ‘free radicals’ that actually damage other cells that weren’t harmed by the original injury. Damaged cells leave the body susceptible to disease. Hence the term: antioxidant. Antioxidants are naturally found in common sources such as spinach, carrots and vitamin C; and exotic plants such as green tea and milk thistle.

Featured Antioxidant Ingredients

Milk Thistle

Milk thistles are a special variety of the daisy family. The name "milk thistle" derives from two features of the leaves: they are mottled with splashes of white and they contain a milky sap. Milk Thistle has long been associated with better liver health and its medical use has been traced back more than 2,000 years. Nicholas Culpeper, a well-known 17th-century pharmacist, cited its use for opening "obstructions" of the liver and spleen and recommended it for the treatment of jaundice. Milk thistle is believed to have protective effects on the liver and improve its function. The active ingredient is a protective flavonoid called silymarin which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Milk thistle is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), and gallbladder disorders. The liver can become damaged by common things such as alcohol or even acetaminophin. Antioxidants found in milk thistle can assist the liver when repairing itself. Treatment claims also include lowering cholesterol levels, reducing insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes who also have cirrhosis, and reducing the growth of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers.

Green Tea

Green Tea has long been a standard part of a vibrant lifestyle in India, China, Japan and Thailand.  In traditional medicine in these countries, practitioners used green tea as a stimulant and to maintain heart health.  Other traditional uses of green tea include regulating normal body temperature and blood sugar, promoting healthy digestion, and supporting mental processes, all of which relate to energy levels.  Today Green Tea is being studied extensively to validate the many ways green tea may be useful to living healthy in today’s world.