New Antioxidant Research for Brain and Heart Health
Powerful new evidence for antioxidants in heart and brain health.
Plants and animals alike have powerful, innate tools for protecting cellular health; among them are the powerful free-radical scavengers, antioxidants. Recent science reveals that many antioxidant compounds play additional, major roles in supporting cell physiology and function. Research, for instance, is now showing that a number of plant anthocyanins, compounds often associated with antioxidant benefits, support various aspects of mitochondrial function within cells, a likely mechanism for their heart-protective benefits.(1) Emerging research furthermore indicates that a number of plant-based compounds directly contribute to the maintenance of telomere length, a reliable predictor of aging and the risk of age-associated chronic diseases.(2)
Whatever their mechanisms may be, ingredients falling under the antioxidant umbrella continue to show clinical benefits. New research on olive polyphenols, N-acetylcysteine, pine bark extract, and CoQ10 indicate that these ingredients support heart health, the vascular system, and the brain.
References:
1. Liobikas J et al., “Anthocyanins in cardioprotection: A path through mitochondria,” Pharmacological Research. Published online March 30, 2016.
2. Freitas-Simoes TM et al., “Nutrients, foods, dietary patterns and telomere length: Update of epidemiological studies and randomized trials,” Metabolism, vol. 65, no. 4 (April 2016): 406â415
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