Acai berry
What it is: It is a fruit with the highest ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value that contains significant amount of vitamin Ε and anthocyanins, as well as coenzyme Q10. Actually, a study carried out in 2006, has shown that acai berry had the highest ORAC value against superoxide radicals from any other plant that had been tested by then. How it works: It provides you with strong antioxidants, flavonoids, and anthocyanins against free radicals and overall benefits for the body.In which products you can find it:
Alpha Lipoic Acid
What it is: It is a powerful antioxidant that maintains its activity in the aquatic environment of the cell, as well as in the lipid parts of the membrane. It is found in spinach, meat, liver and beer yeastHow it works: : Alpha lipoic acid is used by the body for carbohydrate metabolism and energy production. Furthermore, it contributes to the reduction of neuropathic pain, relieving symptoms such as burning, tingling, discomfort, numbness and loss of sensation, and in the protection against the development neurogenerative lesions. It contributes to relieving and preventing the side effects of diabetes mellitus, such as diabetic neuropathy and eye lesion. It has the capacity to regenerate oxidized forms of vitamin C, vitamin Ε, coenzyme Q10 and glutathione; therefore, an antioxidant grid is created, which is important for the proper functioning of the cellular processes.In which products you can find it:
Astaxanthin
What it is: : It belongs to the carotenoid family, it has an intense orange color; that’s why it gives its distinctive color to the foods that are rich sources of it, such as shrimps, lobster, etcHow it works: It is a powerful antioxidant, and has been related to healthier skin, greater stamina, heart health, reduced joint pain and vision enhancement.In which products you can find it:
Beta Carotene
What it is: It is an organic pigment with intense red-orange color. It belongs to the carotenoid family, and is a precursor (inactive form) of vitamin Α. It is mainly found in fruit and vegetables, such as carrot, pumpkin and sweet potato.How it works: Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that protects against free radicals and helps the immune system as well as the avoidance of the development of chronic diseases.In which products you can find it:
Bilberry Fruit
What it is: : It is a fruit with a smooth, circular outline at the end, opposite the stem, and dark color. How it works: Bilberry is rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.In which products you can find it:
Copper
What it is: It is a metal, and its chemical symbol is Cu. Copper is a basic trace element involved in a variety of processes in the human bodyHow it works: The main function of copper is to catalyze reactions that are responsible for the function of many enzymes. It has antioxidant activity and boosts the immune system and the function of the central nervous system.In which products you can find it:
Grape Seed Extract
What it is: The grape is the fruit of the vine. Grapes grow in bunches of 6 to 300 berries and they can be of black, dark blue, yellow, green, white or pink color. How it works: : The grape medically fights fluid retention. It is rich in potassium and vitamins and is also a very rich source of tannins and procyanidins, which seem to have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. In which products you can find it:
Kale Leaf
What it is: Collard greens, or kale cabbage belongs to the Brassica Oleracea family, where we find broccoli, cauliflower, green vegetables and Brussels sprouts. It is a good source of antioxidants, the most important of which are carotenoids and the rich in sulfur sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Moreover, it contains large quantities of vitamins A, B and K and has the highest vitamin C concentration of all vegetables. How it works: : It is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) as top in content of antioxidant, anti-cancer and phytochemicals. It shields the defense of our body, strengthens the nervous and skeletal systems and improves cell regeneration. Moreover, it relieves from stomach upsets, helps heart function and, due to high content of lutein and zeaxanthin – antioxidants of the family of carotenoids – it contributes to the reduction of the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.In which products you can find it:
L-Taurine
What it is: Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic compound, widely distributed in animal tissues. It is an important component of bile and can be found in the colon. It represents up to 0.1% of the total body weight. How it works: : Taurine plays various biological roles, such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidant activity, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization and modulation of calcium signaling. It is necessary for normal cardiovascular function and the growth of skeletal muscle, the retina and the central nervous system.In which products you can find it:
Lutein (from Marigold)
What it is: It belongs to the group of carotenoids. Its dietary sources are corn, red grape, kiwi, courgette, leafy greens, orange, tomato and carrots. How it works: Lutein is an antioxidant that seems to play an important role in eye health and vision. In which products you can find it:
Manganese
What it is: : It is a chemical element with symbol Mn.How it works: Manganese ions act as co-factors for a wide variety of enzymes with many functions. Moreover, it is a neurotoxin in larger quantities.In which products you can find it:
N-Acetylcysteine
What it is: It is a derivative of cysteineHow it works: It seems to have an effect on mucus secretions as a mucolytic agent to reduce the viscosity of the mucus secretions.In which products you can find it:
Selenium
What it is: : It is a chemical element with symbol Se. it belongs to the non-metals and it is one of the most important trace elements of the body. Rich sources of selenium in foods are nuts and mushrooms.How it works: In the body it is essential for the action of antioxidant enzymes and it contributes to the good functioning of the immune system and the thyroid gland. In which products you can find it:
Stabilized Rice Bran
What it is: Rice bran is the outer covering of the rice grain and is often removed during processing. How it works: Rice bran is quite high in B vitamins such as thiamine, niacin and Β6, all of which play a vital role in energy production, cardiovascular health and avoiding depression. Moreover, it contains over 100 known antioxidants, among which are tocotrienols, tocopherols, alpha-lipoic acid (which also recycles antioxidants, such as those of vitamins C and Ε when depleted), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and many carotenoids. It is also known to contain the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase and catalase.In which products you can find it:
Vitamin A
What it is: : It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is formed in the body from carotenoids (provitamins). The richest sources of vitamin Α are red, orange and green fruits, as well as fish, liver and egg yolk.How it works: Vitamin A contributes to the normal metabolism of iron, the maintenance of normal mucosa, the maintenance of skin health, the maintenance of normal vision, and the smooth functioning of the immune system.In which products you can find it:
Vitamin C
What it is: : Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. The body cannot compose it; that’s why it is necessary to be taken by foods. Its main sources are fruit and vegetables. How it works: Vitamin C has multiple benefits for the body, mostly due to its antioxidant activity. It is widely used to boost the immune system and to protect the cells from oxidative stress.In which products you can find it:
Vitamin E
What it is: It belongs to fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamin E can be found in seed oils, nuts, avocado and sweet potato.How it works: Vitamin E mainly acts as an antioxidant, protecting the cell membranes from the action of free radicals. In which products you can find it:
Watercress Leaf
What it is: : It has the scientific name Nasturtium officinale. Its origin is from Europe and today it is found in many parts of the earth, close to lakes, streams, rivers and ravines. It is eaten fresh in various salads, and boiled as vegetable in soups, etc. How it works: Watercress contains quite high quantities of the antioxidant carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as vitamins (Α, B1, B2, C and Ε) and minerals (iodine, calcium, iron, phosphorus and sulfur). It boosts the defense of the body even more and helps treat respiratory disorders such as common cold and cough. In which products you can find it:
Zinc
What it is: It is a chemical element with symbol Zn, also known as tin. It is mainly found in shellfish and to a much smaller extent in animal proteins, legume, beans, nuts (especially pecans and walnuts), wholegrain cereal, pepitas, sunflower seeds and sesame.How it works: Zinc is a necessary element for the maintenance of any form of life. It is an important mineral for the body, as it is contained in hundreds of thousands of proteins of the body, as well as in brain cells, salivary glands, prostate, intestine and the immune system.In which products you can find it: