The immune system is the army that protects us from invaders. It extends throughout all body systems and is linked to our brain and affected by our state of mind. It protects us from bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Its basic strategy is simple: recognize the enemy and attack. The immune system is perhaps the "most important" body system when considering living well and maintaining good health. A healthy immune system can meet all challenges.

Free radicals are highly reactive forms of oxygen that damage cells throughout the body. As your body creates energy at the cellular level, oxygen is metabolized, changing its structure. In this process, the oxygen molecule loses one electron, turning it into a free radical. Free radicals also are created through detoxifying rancid fats and chemicals, such as drugs, food additives, and preservatives; and by cigarette smoke, pollutants, sunlight, radiation, and emotional stress.

The antioxidants found in green tea are polyphenolic catechins. The best known of these are epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Each of these molecules is an increasingly potent antioxidant. EC cannot neutralize as many free radicals as EGC, which cannot neutralize as many free radicals as ECG, which cannot neutralize as many free radicals as EGCG.

In laboratory studies presented at a September 1997 meeting of the American Chemical Society, EGCG proved to be 100 times more effective at neutralizing free radicals than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E.

Research does suggest that this antioxidant power may translate into helping to maintain immunity. In animal studies conducted in Japan in the early 1990s, green tea polyphenols increased activation of macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. All of these are white blood cells, which are the "foot soldiers" of the immune system.

Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published articles on green tea. The March 1996 issue of the FDA Consumer states that "recent studies do show some evidence that polyphenols—chemicals in tea with antioxidant and other biochemical properties—may, in fact, have value in protecting against some serious ailments." (FDA Consumer 30, no. 2 [1996])

Grape seed extract contains powerful antioxidants known as oligomers of proanthocyanidins (OPCs). Some studies say that OPCs are 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than vitamin E. Grape seed is one traditional source of OPCs, although they are present throughout the plant world.

In a review of the benefits of the OPCs found in grape seed extract, Bombardelli and Morazzoni (Fitoterapia 66, no. 4 [1995]) note that OPCs’ antioxidant effects are generally credited for their other benefits. The authors note that these include an antimutagenic effect; that is, they inhibit the mutation of DNA. The authors point out that chronic degenerative diseases are believed to be a result of environmental mutagens (substances that cause mutation). OPCs may be able to counter these mutagens.

OPCs also have "cosmetic" value. They protect collagen and elastin, which are an important part of the makeup of skin. It is the interlacing of collagen and elastin which gives skin its strength, elasticity, and smoothness. When these two substances are damaged, the skin loses elasticity—the result can be wrinkles. OPCs help restore damaged collagen and elastin and protect them against further damage. You could say that OPCs are an oral cosmetic to keep skin healthy.

Although little known, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant and a powerful tool in maintaining immunity. It has been used since the 1960s as a mucolytic—that is, a substance that breaks up mucus, especially in lung tissue—and has also been used for years in hospital emergency rooms to counteract acetaminophen poisoning.

Clinical trials in Europe have indicated that NAC may also offer protection against the flu and flulike symptoms.

NAC provides benefits because it helps increase the levels of one of the body’s most important and most powerful antioxidants: glutathione. The body itself produces glutathione to help it deal with the free radicals generated as part of our own metabolism. N-acetylcysteine is used by the body to create more of this powerful and indispensable antioxidant.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a "new" antioxidant that may turn out to be the most important of all antioxidants. First of all, it is the only antioxidant that is both water-soluble and fat-soluble. This means that it can access all parts of our cells, which have both water-soluble and fat-soluble components. This enhances its ability to destroy free radicals throughout the entire cell.

Alpha-lipoic acid also works with other antioxidants to boost their levels. When you take alpha-lipoic acid, you are also increasing your levels of vitamins C and E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10.

Alpha-lipoic acid is especially powerful as an anti-aging substance. Aging can be described as a process that reduces the number of healthy cells in the body. The major factors in reducing healthy cells are free radical damage and glycation.

Selenium is an antioxidant mineral. It works together with other antioxidant enzymes to fight free radicals. Selenium is very important because it forms part of the structure of the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which in turn recycles glutathione. Selenium may also protect against cancers and cardiovascular disease.

Rosemary extract is increasingly under scrutiny for its antioxidant properties. Like other antioxidants, it inhibits and fights free radicals. Recent studies show that rosemary extract, and its constituents carnosol and ursolic acid, enhances the activity of enzymes that can detoxify carcinogens: animal studies show that the extract results in an increase in glutathione-S-transferase, one of these enzymes. Other animal studies have indicated a beneficial effect on the promotion of skin and mammary tumors.

Lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid found in abundance in tomatoes, has been found to be twice as effective as beta carotene and 100 times more effective than vitamin E in counteracting the free radical singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen is a dangerous free radical. Lycopene first received attention when it was discovered that it significantly reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer.

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