What is an antioxidant?

Antioxidants are substances that bind with reactive ions in your body, thereby inhibiting free radical damage. Examples of antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A. Free radicals are formed by our body’s natural metabolism, as well as external and environmental stresses (i.e., smoking, pollution, chemicals). Antioxidants protect our bodies from these damaging effects. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the importance of antioxidant nutrients in our daily diets and has established Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for antioxidant vitamins including C, E, and A.  Research studies have shown that specific antioxidants, called oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), found in grape seed extract are significantly more potent than vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. In fact, clinical studies found that ActiVin^® grape seed extract is 2.4 times more potent that vitamin E, 4.8 times more potent than vitamin C and 7.3 times more potent than beta-carotene.

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced as the result of internal and environmental stresses, such as smoking, exposure to pollution and chemicals, excess sunlight and through physiological processes of metabolism. Free radicals can destroy cell membranes and DNA. Numerous scientific studies have shown that free radicals may be an important factor in many chronic and degenerative diseases, including certain types of cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

Why are antioxidants beneficial to health?

Antioxidants can reduce the number of free radicals, which may help to promote health and protect against disease.

Which foods are naturally high in antioxidant nutrients?

Fruits and vegetables are naturally high in antioxidants, and many foods today have been fortified with antioxidant nutrients.

How many antioxidant nutrients do most people need?

The FDA has established RDAs, which include recommended amounts of antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. Dietary allowances have not been established for herbal antioxidants.

What are the differences in benefits between green tea extract and grape seed extract?

ActiVin or grape seed proanthocyanidins are Sustained release antioxidants, and thus these antioxidants remain in the body upto 7-10 days following ingestion. While green tea
antioxidants remain in the body upto 7-12 hr maximium.  You need a lot of green tea
extract to perform like ActiVin®. But, even with lot of green tea it is not possible to perform like a sustained release antioxidant.