Power in numbers �� "Team up" antioxidants for best results

Today, most health-conscious people are familiar with the terms antioxidants and free radicals. Loosely defined, a free radical is a highly reactive molecule that can bind to and destroy body components. In fact, it is free radical or "oxidative" damage that makes us age. Free radicals have also been shown to be responsible for the initiation of many diseases including the two biggest killers of Americans -- heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants, in contrast, are compounds that help protect against free radical damage. Antioxidant nutrients have been shown to be very important in protecting against the development of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases. In addition, they are also thought to slow down the aging process.

Take the full spectrum of antioxidants

It appears that a combination of antioxidants provides greater antioxidant protection than any single antioxidant. Therefore, in addition to consuming a diet rich in plant foods, especially fruits and vegetables, I recommend using a combination of antioxidant nutrients rather than high dosages of any single antioxidant. Mixtures of antioxidant nutrients appear to work together harmoniously to produce the phenomena of synergy -- in other words, 1 + 1 = 3.

The two primary antioxidants in the human body are vitamins C and E. If you are taking a high-potency multiple vitamin and mineral formula, many of the supportive antioxidant nutrients such as selenium, zinc, and beta-carotene are provided for. Therefore, your primary concern may be simply to be sure that your multi provides beneficial levels of vitamins C and E.

For vitamin C (ascorbic acid), I recommed 500 to 1,500 mg, and for vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), I recommend 400 to 800 I.U.

Flavonoids: super-antioxidants

Flavonoids are a group of plant pigments that are largely responsible for the colors of many fruits and flowers. They act as powerful antioxidants in providing remarkable protection against oxidative and free radical damage.

Over 4,000 flavonoid compounds have been characterized and classified according to chemical structure. Recent research suggests that flavonoids may be useful in the treatment and prevention of many health conditions. In fact, many of the medicinal actions of foods, juices, and herbs are now known to be due to their flavonoid content. For people under the age of 50, I recommend grape seed extract as a flavonoid supplement. For people over age 50, Ginkgo biloba is a good choice.

OPCs

One of the most effective groups of plant flavonoids are the oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs or PCOs for short) found in extracts from grapes or the bark of the French maritime pine. Most of the clinical research on OPCs has been in the treatment of varicose veins, capillary fragility (easy bruising and rupture of small blood vessels), and disorders of the retina including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. However, based on the relatively recent demonstration of potent antioxidant activity, the list of clinical uses of OPC extracts will surely increase.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) may be the most important plant-derived phytomedicinal available. In addition to acting as a super antioxidant, GBE offers significant benefits to many elderly people with impaired blood flow to the brain or cerebral insufficiency. The symptoms of cerebral insufficiency include short-term memory loss, vertigo, headache, ringing in the ears, and depression. These symptoms are often referred to as symptoms of aging.

GBE has been extensively studied and appears to work primarily by acting as an antioxidant as well as by increasing blood flow to the brain, resulting in an increase in oxygen and nutrients being delivered to the brain. Preliminary research indicates, GBE may offer significant protective action against the development of Alzheimer's disease, hearing loss, and strokes.

Note: A few case reports indicate that, when combined with drugs that inhibit platelets or clotting, GBE may increase bleeding tendencies.

Michael T. Murray, N.D., is widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine. In addition to maintaining a private medical practice, Dr. Murray is a noted writer, educator, and lecturer. He is currently the editor of the Natural Medicine Journal. Visit Dr. Murray's website at: www.doctormurray.com.

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