How It Works: Antioxidants and Free Radicals
For years you've been told to eat your fruits and vegetables in order to be healthy, and now science is discovering why. Fruits, vegetables, and berries are important sources of antioxidants, which are showing great promise in the fight against aging and age-related diseases.
As our bodies age, they no longer heal and repair at the cellular level as well as they once did. With the combination of poor eating habits, stress, and environmental toxins, our cells are constantly being attacked by toxins known as free radicals.
Most of the free radicals attacking our cells from the inside come from a natural cause: eating. As the body metabolizes food, it breaks it down into individual components. Some of these components are free radicals, atoms that are missing an electron in their outer shell. These atoms attempt to stabilize by "stealing" an electron, typically from a healthy cell. This natural process is called oxidation. Your cells are literally "rusting" away from the constant attack of these unstable free radicals.
Our bodies protect themselves with the antioxidants that we get from food. Antioxidants block the oxidation process by neutralizing these free radicals. Your body cannot make antioxidants; it relies on getting them from food and supplements. The most effective antioxidant supplements are those that use natural sources, instead of synthetic vitamins, to derive their free-radical neutralizing ingredients.
Compare Antioxidant Products
| Category | Proleva | Juvenon | Protandim | Microhydrin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfaction | 92% | 83% | 80% | 73% |
| Price (per month) | $59.95 | $39.95 | $49.95 | $27.90 |
| Reputation | Great | Great | Good | Fair |
| Support | Great | OK | Excellent | OK |
| Guarantee | 90 days | 30 days | 30 days | None |
| Total Score | 93 pts | 87 pts | 81 pts | 72 pts |
1. Proleva (Top Rated)
The #1 rating went to Proleva. Proleva's antioxidant blend is derived entirely from highly concentrated fruit and berry sources. Proleva contains no synthetic vitamins, and had the highest ORAC rating of products tested. Customer support and results were among the best. They are one of the only products to offer a 90-day Money Back Guarantee. $59.95 for 1 month supply.
2. Juvenon
Juvenon is a joint effort between the University of California and renowned biochemist Bruce Ames. Juvenon contains just two synthetic ingredients, acetyl L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid. Juvenon is designed to prevent the decay of mitochondria in cells. It has shown encouraging results in laboratory tests, and is backed by a 30-day guarantee. $39.95 for 1 month supply.
3. Protandim
Protandim is designed to decrease oxidative stress at the cellular level. Protandim is composed of 5 botanical extracts that are designed to stimulate the body's own antioxidant defenses, instead of containing new antioxidants. $49.95 for 1 month supply.
Limitations: Protandim does not provide any additional antioxidants, nor has it undergone any published scientific testing.
4. Microhydrin
Microhydrin is an antioxidant formula derived from silica hydride. The silica produces hydrogen ions that are designed to bond with free radicals. It is currently only available online. Microhydrin is a fairly new product that is relatively inexpensive. $27.90 for 1 month supply.
Considerations: No money-back guarantee. Limited availability. Relatively new with less consumer feedback.