​WHY ARE ANTIOXIDANTS IMPORTANT? 
Antioxidants are substances that are naturally made by the body and they prevent the following: premature aging, reduce the risk of developing cancer, protect your heart, protect your eyes from degeneration, prevent Alzheimer’s disease, prevent arthritis, and lower the risk of infection. They do these things by neutralizing harmful substances in our bodies called free radicals.

WHAT ARE FREE RADICALS?
Free radicals are oxidized molecules in our bodies that damage our cells and can come from within the body or from the environment. The body must maintain a balance between the free radicals that it produces and the antioxidants that defend against them. When the body is unable to maintain that balance, unchecked free radicals can cause damage to the body's tissues.

Free Radicals from Within the Body
Free radicals are formed in the body during normal metabolic processes like when the body is injured, inflamed, or fighting an infection. During these times, the body needs extra antioxidant support to deal with the increased free radical production.

Free Radicals from the Environment:
Free radicals can come from exposure to pollution, X-rays, alcohol, tobacco smoke, fried foods, heavy metals, industrial solvents, pesticides, certain drugs, paracetamol, and radiation. Exposure to any of these substances on a regular basis increases your body’s need for antioxidant support.

Why do we want to Limit Free Radicals?
Free radical are associated with many age-related diseases and degeneration of the body. “Research suggests that free radical damage to cells leads to the pathological changes associated with aging. [2]” For example:

The human body is in a constant fight to keep from aging. Research cited in the July 2010 issue of Pharmacognosy Review cites research that shows that “…. nutritional antioxidants will retard the aging process and prevent disease. [2]”

Choosing A Nutritional Antioxidant Supplement
When choosing an antioxidant supplement, you want to make sure it:

• Has a high ORAC value. Antioxidant strength is measured in units called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) and the higher the ORAC score, the stronger the antioxidant support. The average person in the US. consumes about 1,200 ORAC units daily.
• Is made from whole foods and not synthetically manufactured.
• Contains antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier and the blood-eye barrier for protection of the brain and eyes. Astaxanthin and lutein are antioxidants that are capable of this.
• Contains glycine, which the body can use to make its own antioxidant; glutathione

All of these factors can be found in Fs & Vs Immune Blend , an antioxidant drink mix containing 28 dried fruits and vegetables with an ORAC value of at least 3000 per serving (10.83 g). 

How do you know if you have an antioxidant imbalance?  At his mid-town Manhattan office, Dr. John Phelts, D.C. performs a simple sniff test to determine if you need antioxidant support.  Then he makes recommendations based on the test results.  If you would like to be tested call our office in the 10017 and 10016 zip code at (212) 286-2012

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4310837/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/