The Power of Antioxidants

“Suppose that I told you there was a pill that would keep your heart strong, your mind sharp, and your body youthful well into your seventies, eighties, nineties, and even beyond? Suppose that I told you there was a pill that could extend your life and improve your sex life? Suppose I told you there was a pill that could prevent cancer? How about a pill that could keep your skin supple and wrinkle-free…I’m talking about antioxidants, a family of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that I have been studying for the better part of my seventy years.” Dr. Lester Packer, The Antioxidant Miracle. Some antioxidants are produced by the body and others must be provided through food or supplements.

“Although there are literally hundreds of antioxidants, only five appear to be network antioxidants: Vitamins C and E, glutathione, lipoic acid and CoQ10. Vitamins C and E are not produced in the body but must be obtained through food. Glutathione, lipoic acid, and CoQ10 are produced by the body, but levels of these antioxidants decline as we age. That is why we need to supplement all of them.” Dr. Packer also says the best way to supplement glutathione, the cell’s primary antioxidant, is usually through the use of lipoic acid, not necessarily glutathione itself.