Antioxidants, Polyphenols, and Alpha CRS®+

Contributed by Dr. Damian Rodriguez, DHSc, MS

“Antioxidants” is one of the hot terms in contemporary nutrition, and for good reason. Recently touted as the key to healthy aging, antioxidants help to keep the heart and the cardiovascular system, as well as the brain and the nervous system functioning optimally. What are these mysterious substances and should I be supplementing to get more into my daily diet?

What is an antioxidant?

The term “antioxidant” is actually a misnomer, as it refers not to a substance, but a behavior. At its core, an antioxidant is simply a chemical (natural, synthetic, or even manufactured by our own body) that can help protect against cell damage by counteracting the destructive action of free radicals—highly reactive molecules with a single unpaired electron in their outer ring. While your body has its own endogenous (internal) mechanisms to produce antioxidants, it is not enough to meet your body’s requirements; the rest must come from your diet. Also, your own natural production of antioxidants declines as you age, so it becomes progressively more important to acquire them through diet. Due to their free radical scavenging properties, antioxidants are believed to be one of the most important aspects of nutrition for lifelong vitality and wellness.*

Antioxidants play a role in halting aging through free radical scavenging, helping to prevent the progression of oxidative stress by acting as electron donors. By sacrificing their own electrons, while themselves remaining stable and not becoming another free radical, antioxidants delay or inhibit the cellular damage from continuing to progress. By helping to prevent individual bouts of oxidative stress from progressing, dietary antioxidants may be one of the most important components of our health and wellness.*

What are polyphenols?

Polyphenols, generally referred to as a subset of antioxidants, are plant-based molecules that have antioxidant properties. In the human diet, they are the most common source of natural antioxidants. Currently over 8,000 different polyphenols have been identified, categorized into four distinct groups (phenolic acids, lignans, stilbenes, and flavonoids) based on the number of phenolic rings in their chemical structure. Flavanoids are the most common group, with over 4,000 different compounds already discovered. Along with their known antioxidant properties, flavonoids are known to support healthy liver function, circulatory health, enzyme function, and normal reactions to stress. As a subset of antioxidants, polyphenols are among the most important substances we consume for vitality and wellness.*

Alpha CRS®+

Alpha CRS+ is a proprietary combination of several of the most powerful natural polyphenols to protect against cellular damage and oxidative stress.* Proanthocyanidins from grape seed, baicalin from scutellaria root, quercetin from the Japanese Pagoda Tree, boswellic acids from Frankincense, resveratrol from Japanese knotweed, ellagic acid from pomegranate extract, and curcumin from turmeric root combine to counteract free radical action and support healthy cellular function. Along with providing an exogenous (external) source of antioxidants, Alpha CRS+ also includes silymarin from milk thistle which supports the body’s endogenous production of antioxidants. All of your cellular vitality support, in one easy-to-use dietary supplement.*

Along with promoting cellular health, Alpha CRS+ has a number of other benefits. Due to their ability to combat the aging process from a cellular level, antioxidant substances are great for skin health. Containing a standardized extract of Gingko bilboa, Alpha CRS+ supports mental clarity and function. The included tummy tamer extract blend helps prevent stomach upset when taken with meals. Alpha CRS+ is also specially formulated to work synergistically with xEO Mega® and Microplex MVp™ as a comprehensive dietary supplement to support vitality and wellness.*

Cellular health and energy are just a few capsules away. Four capsules per day, two with a morning meal and two with your regular evening meal, is all you need to provide the antioxidant support to battle oxidative stress. Look, feel, and live younger, longer.*