The Free Radical Battle: Why Antioxidants are Vital for Optimal Health

The health community is obsessed with antioxidants. What can they do for you?

Antioxidant-filled raspberries in a white cup Antioxidants protect your cells against the harmful effects of free radicals that cause oxidative stress. Protecting your cells and reducing long term cell damage is key to achieving optimal health. Keeping your antioxidant levels high will raise your energy levels, improve clarity of thinking, aid in post-workout recovery, and much more.

Given the polluted environment, our natural diet may not provide enough antioxidants to fight the high volume of free radicals and oxidative stress that bombard our bodies daily. For this reason, it is important to supplement our antioxidant intake. Of all antioxidants, there is none more powerful than glutathione (GSH).

Below, we outline the fundamentals of free radicals and oxidative stress, illuminate the importance of antioxidants, and tell you everything you need to know about ACG Glutathione.

Infographic explaining the importance of antioxidants and free radicals

What are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are atoms within the body that are missing electrons in their outer shell. Because of this, these atoms are not stable and are highly reactive. These atoms move through the body stealing electrons from other atoms, spreading instability as they go. According to the free radical theory of aging, free radicals will break cells down over time.

What is Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals in the body than antioxidants can neutralize. Over time, oxidative stress can lead to a myriad of health issues including chronic inflammation. As the body matures and ages, it loses its ability to fight the effects of free radicals. The result is more free radicals, more oxidative stress, increased cellular degeneration and premature aging.

Symptoms of oxidative stress include:

  • Fatigue
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Respiratory problems
  • Hardening of blood vessels
  • Decreased eyesight
  • Wrinkles
  • Grey Hair
  • Headaches
  • Sensitivity to noise
  • Memory loss
  • Brain fog

Antioxidants Reduce Oxidative Stress

Antioxidants are molecules within the body that carry extra electrons. Antioxidants like glutathione provide extra electrons to free radicals. Free radicals are then neutralized and no longer cause oxidative stress. Reducing oxidative stress daily is the key to aging gracefully and retaining optimal health.

Glutathione: The King of Antioxidants

Man smiling without oxidative stress

Glutathione is known as the king of antioxidants. Glutathione, or GSH, is one of the most critical molecules of the entire body. This antioxidant can be found in every cell of the human body. Glutathione is made up of three amino acids – glutamate, glycine, and cysteine. The liver is the primary reservoir for glutathione and its potent antioxidant activity is essential for the liver’s role in detoxifying harmful compounds that enter our body.

Glutathione plays an important role in antioxidant defense, nutrient metabolism, and is key in a vast number of cellular processes. These processes include gene expression, DNA and protein synthesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis, signal transduction, cytokine production, immune response, and protein glutathionylation.

As the most important intracellular antioxidant, GSH regulates all other antioxidants while preventing damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species, such as free radicals and peroxides.

Glutathione is by far the most important and effective antioxidant. Low glutathione levels are linked to premature aging, exhaustion and poor overall health. Put simply, glutathione improves quality of life.

Making sure our bodies have adequate glutathione levels is essential. So where can we get additional glutathione? We can increase glutathione levels through proper diet and effective glutathione supplementation.

Foods that can Help Raise Glutathione Levels

Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant that can be found in many foods, including:

  • Cruciferous Vegetables
    • Broccoli
    • Cauliflower
    • Brussels Sprouts
    • Bok Choy
  • Allium Vegetables
    • Garlic
    • Onions
  • Eggs
  • Nuts
  • Berries
  • Grapes
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Kale
  • Legumes
  • Lean Protein
  • Whey

We may be able to glean small amounts of glutathione through food, but the digestive tract is hard on this tripeptide. Often, glutathione is destroyed by stomach acid before it ever reaches its destination. Therefore, we highly recommend adding a glutathione supplement to your daily regimen.

There are a few types of glutathione supplements on the market, but not all of them will raise your glutathione levels with equal efficacy.

glutathione supplement to combat oxidative stress and free radicals

Effective Glutathione Supplementation

When taken in pill or powder form, glutathione is ineffective. Stomach acid destroys glutathione before it can be utilized by the body. Glutathione is absorbed most effectively when taken via Intra-oral spray.

ACG Glutathione Extra Strength Intra-oral spray is absorbed rapidly, delivering a far greater amount of bioavailable glutathione into the cells than capsules or pills.

Recommended by Integrative Healthcare Practitioners in over 40 countries, ACG Glutathione Extra Strength has a long history of providing proven results.

With a fresh mint taste, simply spray and be on your way.