March 3, 2023
CURCUMIN AND RESVERATROL ARE TWO OF THE MOST POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANTS EVER DISCOVERED
Antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds that play an important role in supporting human health. In addition to nutrients, you can obtain antioxidants from a variety of dietary sources, particularly fresh produce. Organic fruits and vegetables are the best sources of antioxidants, along with edible herbs and spices. And because of their importance in the human diet, you can now get your daily dose of antioxidants from dietary supplements. [1]
One of the main functions of antioxidants is to defend healthy cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. These unstable, highly reactive species are byproducts of normal cellular processes. When allowed to accumulate, free radicals attack important biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, causing extensive cell damage. [2] Because antioxidants are the only compounds that can neutralize oxidative stress, the body needs an ample supply of antioxidants to balance out its production of free radicals.
Aside from intracellular reactions, exposure to external elements such as toxic chemicals, heavy metals and other environmental pollutants, can also trigger free radical formation. [3] Because these types of stressors are unavoidable, living organisms are naturally equipped with an antioxidant defense system that allows them to thrive despite the presence of threats in their immediate environment.
The importance of this antioxidant defense system is evident in how the freshwater microalga, Haematococcus pluvialis, thrives in nature. This unicellular microorganism survives in harsh environments by producing an antioxidant known as astaxanthin. [4] A powerful free radical scavenger, astaxanthin’s ability to protect against oxidative stress is said to be unparalleled, eclipsing even that of vitamin C and other potent antioxidant carotenoids. [5]
Antioxidants play a similar role in plants, animals and humans. For instance, a study by researchers found that antioxidant enzymes give plants like cucumber a certain amount of tolerance to salt stress. [6] Under high salt stress, cucumbers produce free radicals as part of their normal stress response. At the same time, they adapt by increasing the activity of certain antioxidant enzymes that neutralize these harmful molecules. This adaptation ensures their survival.
In animals, antioxidants also contribute to survivability by protecting against oxidative stress caused by environmental stressors. One example of a stressor is excessive heat, which triggers the production of high levels of free radicals and increases the susceptibility of poultry to infections. [7] A study published in the journal Antioxidants found that boosting the antioxidant status of chickens by supplementing with antioxidants improves their overall health, stress tolerance and immune response. [8]
In humans, the protective function of antioxidants is also extremely valuable, especially for maintaining optimal health. Research shows that oxidative stress caused by free radical overproduction is linked to premature aging and serious health issues. [9][10] Because humans are constantly exposed to environmental triggers and are constantly generating free radicals as a consequence of normal bodily functions, the human body needs a robust antioxidant defense system to deal with oxidative stress.
The human antioxidant defense system is composed of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants that work together to protect healthy cells from free radical damage. [11] Enzymatic antioxidants are the major antioxidants found in your lungs, which provide considerable protection from the pollutants present in the air that you breathe. [12] These antioxidants work by stabilizing, degrading or inactivating free radicals through various chemical reactions. [13]
Meanwhile, non-enzymatic antioxidants like glutathione work alone or in cooperation with enzymatic antioxidants. Glutathione is the major soluble antioxidant in cells and is often called the “master antioxidant.” A powerful chemical naturally produced by your body, glutathione acts as a cofactor to several detoxifying enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. A cofactor helps catalyze biochemical reactions and transformations. [14]
Aside from glutathione, non-enzymatic antioxidants also come from your diet. Some examples of non-enzymatic antioxidants are vitamins A, C and E, and plant-derived polyphenols and pigments. [15] Polyphenols are a class of compounds with many health-supporting properties commonly found in plant-based foods. Besides serving as antioxidants, some polyphenols also give edible plants their characteristic color. [16]
Two of the most powerful Antioxidants you should add to your diet
Plenty of antioxidant polyphenols have been extensively studied by researchers, but none more so than curcumin and resveratrol. A yellow pigment found in turmeric (Curcuma longa) – arguably the most powerful medicinal herb known to man – curcumin is well-known for its many health benefits and its powerful antioxidant properties. [17]
According to studies, what makes curcumin such as potent antioxidant is its ability to protect against oxidative stress using several mechanisms. These include supporting the activity of various antioxidant enzymes, supporting the natural chelation of toxic metals and so much more. [18]
A study published in the International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology reported that curcumin not only helps neutralize free radicals but also helps rid the body of these harmful molecules by supporting the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). [19] Both GST and GPx are crucial to your body’s antioxidant defenses.
An enzymatic antioxidant, GST helps protect cells from oxidative stress by quenching reactive molecules with the help of glutathione. [20] Meanwhile, GPx helps get rid of cell-damaging compounds such as peroxides by catalyzing their detoxification, again with the help of glutathione. In this way, GPx as part of your antioxidant defense system helps protect the lipids in cell membranes from oxidative damage. [21]
Different types of free radicals produced inside your body can wreak havoc on your cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are oxygen-containing radicals that are formed by cellular reactions involving the consumption of oxygen. [22] Reactive nitrogen species (RNS), on the other hand, are molecules derived from nitric oxide that are known to target lipids, DNA and proteins. [23]
According to a study published in Molecules, overproduction of ROS and RNS can exhaust your antioxidant defense system and lead to a decrease in the activity of enzymatic antioxidants, such as catalase, GPx and superoxide dismutase. But a powerful antioxidant like curcumin can help lighten the burden on your antioxidant defense system by helping scavenge ROS and RNS and supporting the activity of enzymatic antioxidants. [24]
Another property of curcumin that makes it a great antioxidant is its ability to naturally chelate metals. Metals are well-distributed in the environment, and exposure to some can induce oxidative stress. [25] But a study published in the Journal of Molecular Graphics & Modelling found that curcumin can protect against this by acting as a natural metal-chelating agent. [26]
Like curcumin, resveratrol is a polyphenol with remarkable antioxidant activities. An antitoxin naturally produced by certain plants, resveratrol can be found in abundance in the skin of grapes, strawberries, peanuts and several medicinal herbs. Resveratrol is considered a powerful antioxidant because it can effectively scavenge a wide variety of cell-, lipid- and DNA-damaging molecules, including hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen dioxide and superoxide radicals. [27]
According to a study published in the journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, resveratrol is also capable of supporting the activity of various antioxidant enzymes while helping rid the body of free radicals. Investigations into resveratrol’s biological activities show that it can support the performance of superoxide dismutase, GPx, GST and glutathione reductase. [28]
Resveratrol’s effect on glutathione reductase is of particular note because this antioxidant enzyme is responsible for maintaining your body’s supply of reduced glutathione. [29] Reduced glutathione is found at high concentrations in cellular systems and serves as a critical cofactor in several antioxidant pathways. Reduced glutathione also plays a major role in supporting your body’s natural ability to detox. [30]
Health benefits of supplementing with Curcumin and Resveratrol*
Because of their ability to support your body’s antioxidant defense system, adding foods rich in curcumin and resveratrol to your diet or supplementing with these antioxidants can help you maintain the healthy functions of many organs and organ systems. Here are some of the amazing health benefits offered by curcumin and resveratrol:
• They support healthy cardiovascular function – As a potent antioxidant, curcumin can help protect your blood vessels from oxidative stress, which can damage your blood vessels. [31] Maintaining healthy blood vessels is important for supporting optimal blood flow to your heart, brain and other organs. According to a study published in the journal Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, supplementing with curcumin can also help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels that are already within the normal range. [32] Meanwhile, multiple studies show that resveratrol can also support a healthy heart by helping maintain healthy blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range. [33][34]
• They support healthy brain function – Research shows that the brain needs considerable protection from oxidative stress because of its high metabolic activity. [35] Curcumin and resveratrol, being powerful antioxidants, can help your brain combat oxidative damage. As shown in a 2018 study by UCLA researchers, supplementing with curcumin can support healthy cognitive functions, particularly attention and memory. [36] Clinical studies also show that supplementing with resveratrol has a positive effect on brain regions responsible for learning and memory. [37]
• They support healthy digestive function – According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, curcumin is good for your digestive system because it supports a balanced composition of gut microflora. In fact, curcumin was found to help beneficial gut microbes to thrive whose functions include supporting healthy digestion and optimal nutrient absorption. [38][39][40] Similarly, resveratrol has been shown to support a healthy gut microflora as well as your body’s natural production of mucins. Mucins are essential protein components of your intestinal barrier. [41]
• They support healthy immune function – All types of cells are susceptible to oxidative stress, even immune cells. In fact, studies show that oxidative stress can greatly impair immune cell function. [42] As part of your body’s natural defense, keeping your immune cells healthy is necessary to maintain optimal health. Potent antioxidants like curcumin and resveratrol can help protect your immune cells from free radical damage so they can effectively defend against external threats.
• They support healthy bones and joints – According to a study published in the journal BoneKey Reports, curcumin’s antioxidant activities can support healthy bones. [43] Meanwhile, resveratrol has been shown to support the activity of osteoblasts, which are cells that form bone tissue. [44] Because both compounds have incredible antioxidant properties, they can also bestow much-needed protection to your joint tissues, which are susceptible to oxidative stress and damage. [45] Therefore, supplementing with curcumin and resveratrol is a great way to support optimal bone and joint health.
• They support healthy, glowing skin – Your skin cells continuously produce free radicals as they fulfill their various functions. But research shows that these highly reactive molecules are immediately neutralized by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants to maintain balance and prevent skin damage. [46] Oxidative stress has not only been linked to premature skin aging, but also to many skin diseases. [47] You can easily maintain healthy, glowing skin by supporting a healthy antioxidant defense system with the help of powerful antioxidants like curcumin and resveratrol.
• They naturally uplift mood – Curcumin has long been used in Ayurvedic Medicine to support a positive mood. Research shows that its positive influence has a scientific basis: According to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, curcumin can naturally uplift mood by supporting healthy levels of certain brain chemicals involved in mood regulation. [48] Meanwhile, resveratrol has been found to reduce stressful feelings by helping maintain healthy levels of Sirt1, a protein involved in regulating mood-related behaviors. [49][50]
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any diseases.
Citation
(Dennis I, 2023). The Health Ranger: Curcumin and Resveratrol are two of the most powerful Antioxidants ever discovered. Retrieved on 04/04/23 online from https://www.healthrangerstore.com/blogs/natural-health/7-health-benefits-of-supplementing-with-curcumin-and-resveratrol
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