Often called “the building block of life”, the cell was discovered in 1665 by British scientist Robert Hooke. Nearly 200 years later, scientists identified the cell as the fundamental functional, structural and biological unit for all known living organisms.

The human body contains somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 trillion cells. It’s an unfathomable number, but we know that these microscopic units are essential for maintaining life. Cells make up tissues, such as bone tissue and muscle tissue. Tissues in turn compose organs, which of course, carry out the body’s vital processes and functions. Cells also make up the skin and glands; they line the blood vessels and make up muscles. Cells also compose the brain, spinal cord and nerves. In essence, cells provide the framework of the entire body.

It’s plain to see how extraordinary and crucial these minuscule wonders are for each of us. And yet, each day billions of our cells are attacked, damaged and even killed by harmful invaders, including oxygen and peroxides also known as free radicals. This unremitting attack on cells, known as oxidative stress, is the primary mechanism of the aging process. The free radical assault on our cells is a natural function, however, poor diet, internalized toxins, lack of exercise, dehydration and poor sleep negatively affect the body’s natural defense mechanisms. If not mitigated by the body, oxidative stress can lead to chronic inflammation, a root cause of many debilitating diseases and premature aging.

Your body already contains the information to effectively combat oxidative stress. Built-in functions can counteract damage and replace dead cells with new ones. Completely eliminating these forces is not possible, however significantly reducing oxidative stress by increasing antioxidants in the body has been proven to slow the aging process and improve many health issues. There are two types of antioxidants. Direct antioxidants are available from nutrient-rich, whole foods such as carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkins, apricots, squash, mangos and many others. While direct antioxidants are no doubt available from a good diet, they are not nearly as effective at removing free radicals as indirect antioxidants, a network of enzymes made by the body designed to defend against oxidative stress.

The primary indirect antioxidant and regulator of longevity is a protein messenger enzyme called Nrf2. Nrf2 communicates with our DNA and delivers a wake-up call to our genes, telling them to increase what our body is already programmed to do—fight aging and oxidative stress at the source of aging, free radicals. When activated, Nfr2 enters the nucleus of the cell and turns on hundreds of genes known as survival genes. Survival genes are defensive, stress-responsive, cytoprotective genes that enable cells to survive in the face of several different kinds of stress and injury, especially oxidative stress.

Many supplement companies have spent millions of dollars developing oxidative stress products with mixed results. I have devoted the past 40 years dedicated to finding the key to eliminating chronic inflammation because I know what effect it would have on reducing disease. We have now unlocked the secret to activating Nrf2 and defending cells against oxidative stress like never before. Our peer-reviewed formula contains five natural ingredients proven to eliminate 1 million free radicals every second which results in a reduction of oxidative stress levels by an average of 40 percent in just 30 days. This exciting work slows the rate of cellular aging and can reduce the risk of degenerative diseases for everyone.

Dr. Joe McCord is the LifeVantage Director of Science, four-time nominee by the Nobel Prize Committee, discoverer of the anti-aging enzyme Superoxide Dismutase and recipient of the Elliott Cresson Medal from the Franklin Institute. Visit ABCLiveIt.com for an informational video. For more information on LifeVantage products, visit MyLifeVantage.com/kenknerr or call Independent Distributor Ken Knerr at 610-914-8956. See ad on this page.