We need iron to live. Without it, our red blood cells wouldn’t be able to carry oxygen through our blood. Iron plays essential roles in energy metabolism, hormone synthesis, growth, development, brain function, immune activity, and cellular function.[1, 2] However, you only need trace amounts of this important nutrient to maintain proper iron balance. Excess iron intake can quickly become dangerous. (more…)
The catalase enzyme is so critical to our health that it is found in nearly every living organism on the planet that is exposed to oxygen. This antioxidant enzyme can catalyze the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a by-product of cell metabolism, and while used in the body to fight pathogens and infections, it is harmful to all living organisms. As a result, living organisms need to break down hydrogen peroxide as soon as its usefulness is done. All living organisms produce the […]
You don’t have to look at many health food advertisements to see how many marketing messages focus on antioxidants and free radicals. Free radicals are depicted as a cause of human aging and disease while antioxidants are the ultimate defense. Although the ad wizards sometimes exaggerate the truth, free radicals do, in fact, corrupt important molecules like DNA, and antioxidants do reduce the damage they cause. Your cell's mitochondria release energy that they obtain from molecules in your food, but they also unleash electron-stealing free radicals — like reactive oxygen […]
Cysteine is an amino acid that the body is able to transform into antioxidants like glutathione.[1] N-acetylcysteine, also commonly called acetylcysteine, is a form of cysteine that has been specially modified.[2] While cysteine is available in many high-protein foods, such as chicken, turkey, pork, and dairy, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is not actually found in any food.[3] Rather, N-acetylcysteine is generally consumed as a capsule or administered intravenously.[4] (more…)
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide or SiO2, is a colorless, white, chemical compound. Silica is made of the most common elements on earth, silicon (Si) and oxygen (O2). It’s also the most abundant compound in the earth's crust, where it makes up 59% of the total composition.[1] Silica is used everywhere, from industrial applications to the food and beverage industry.[2] You’ll find silica in a lot of places — food, rocks, plants, medicine, cosmetics, toothpaste, and those little dry gel packs that are packed in with product packaging to […]
