VigourCells™ Part 3
What's in VigourCells™?
The network antioxidants that are in VigourCells or boosted from taking VigourCells are:
A. Alpha - Lipoic Acid
B. CoQ10
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin E
i) Tochopherols
ii) Tocotrienols
E. Glutathione
A. What role does Alpha - Lipoic Acid play in overall health?
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) plays several important roles in overall health due to its unique properties as a versatile antioxidant and cofactor in energy metabolism. Here are some key roles of alpha-lipoic acid in promoting overall health:
Antioxidant Protection: Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize a variety of free radicals in both aqueous (water-soluble) and lipid (fat-soluble) environments. Its unique structure allows it to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10, enhancing their antioxidant activity and extending their lifespan in the body. Alpha-lipoic acid's broad-spectrum antioxidant properties help protect cells, tissues, and organs from oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), thereby reducing the risk of oxidative stress-related diseases and promoting overall well-being.
Support for Mitochondrial Function: Alpha-lipoic acid plays a crucial role in mitochondrial energy metabolism as a cofactor in several enzyme complexes involved in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells. Alpha-lipoic acid helps facilitate the conversion of glucose and fatty acids into ATP through aerobic respiration, supporting cellular energy production and metabolic efficiency. By optimizing mitochondrial function, alpha-lipoic acid helps maintain cellular vitality, improve physical and cognitive performance, and enhance overall energy levels and vitality.
Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity: Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to improve glucose uptake and utilization in cells and enhance insulin sensitivity, making it beneficial for individuals with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. Alpha-lipoic acid helps regulate blood sugar levels by activating cellular signaling pathways involved in glucose uptake and metabolism, increasing glucose transporters' expression on cell membranes, and enhancing insulin-mediated glucose disposal. By supporting healthy glucose metabolism, alpha-lipoic acid may help reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications, improve glycemic control, and promote metabolic health.
Neuroprotective Effects: Alpha-lipoic acid has neuroprotective properties that make it beneficial for maintaining brain health and cognitive function. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mitochondrial-supportive effects in the brain, protecting neurons from oxidative damage, reducing neuroinflammation, and preserving mitochondrial function. Alpha-lipoic acid's neuroprotective effects may help mitigate age-related cognitive decline, prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and support overall brain health and resilience.
Skin Health: Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to promote skin health and reduce the signs of aging by protecting against oxidative stress, enhancing collagen synthesis, and improving skin texture and tone. Alpha-lipoic acid's antioxidant properties help neutralize free radicals generated by UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental stressors, preventing premature aging, wrinkles, and skin damage. Additionally, alpha-lipoic acid supports cellular repair mechanisms and enhances skin hydration and elasticity, contributing to a youthful and radiant complexion.
Overall, alpha-lipoic acid plays a multifaceted role in promoting overall health by providing antioxidant protection, supporting mitochondrial function, improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, exerting neuroprotective effects, and enhancing skin health. Including alpha-lipoic acid-rich foods in the diet, such as spinach, broccoli, organ meats, and tomatoes, and considering supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid supplements may help support optimal alpha-lipoic acid levels and promote overall well-being.
B. What role does Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) play in overall health?
CoQ10 plays several essential roles in overall health due to its involvement in cellular energy production and antioxidant defense. Here are some key roles of CoQ10 in promoting overall health:
Cellular Energy Production: CoQ10 is a coenzyme that plays a crucial role in the electron transport chain, a series of biochemical reactions in mitochondria that generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells. CoQ10 helps shuttle electrons between enzymes in the electron transport chain, facilitating the production of ATP. Adequate CoQ10 levels are essential for maintaining cellular energy production, especially in organs and tissues with high energy demands, such as the heart, liver, kidneys, and muscles.
Antioxidant Protection: CoQ10 also functions as a potent antioxidant in the body, helping neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative damage to cells, lipids, proteins, and DNA. CoQ10's antioxidant activity helps protect cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, which are implicated in aging, chronic diseases, and degenerative conditions. CoQ10 works synergistically with other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione, to provide comprehensive antioxidant defense throughout the body.
Heart Health: CoQ10 is particularly important for cardiovascular health due to the high energy requirements of the heart muscle. CoQ10 helps maintain the energy production necessary for proper heart function, including contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle. Additionally, CoQ10's antioxidant properties help protect the heart from oxidative damage, reduce inflammation, and support vascular health. Supplementing with CoQ10 has been shown to improve symptoms of heart failure, reduce blood pressure, and enhance exercise tolerance in individuals with heart conditions.
Support for Aging and Longevity: As we age, CoQ10 levels in the body decline, which may contribute to age-related decline in cellular energy production and increased oxidative stress. Supplementing with CoQ10 may help counteract age-related decline by supporting mitochondrial function, enhancing cellular energy production, and providing antioxidant protection. Some research suggests that CoQ10 supplementation may help promote healthy aging, improve quality of life, and extend lifespan in certain populations.
Neuroprotective Effects: CoQ10 has neuroprotective properties that may help protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. CoQ10's antioxidant activity helps protect brain cells from oxidative damage, reduce inflammation, and support mitochondrial function in the brain. Some studies have shown that CoQ10 supplementation may improve cognitive function, slow disease progression, and enhance quality of life in individuals with neurodegenerative disorders.
Overall, Coenzyme Q10 plays a vital role in promoting overall health by supporting cellular energy production, providing antioxidant protection, supporting heart health, promoting healthy aging, and exerting neuroprotective effects. Including CoQ10-rich foods in the diet, such as organ meats, fatty fish, whole grains, and nuts, and considering supplementation with CoQ10 supplements may help support optimal CoQ10 levels and promote overall well-being.
C. What role does Vitamin C play in overall health?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, plays numerous crucial roles in overall health due to its involvement in various physiological processes. Here are some key roles of vitamin C in promoting overall health:
Antioxidant Protection: Vitamin C is a potent water-soluble antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body. By scavenging free radicals, vitamin C helps protect cells, tissues, and organs from oxidative damage and inflammation. Vitamin C also regenerates other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, glutathione, and alpha-lipoic acid, enhancing their antioxidant activity and extending their lifespan in the body. By maintaining the redox balance, vitamin C promotes overall cellular health and resilience.
Collagen Synthesis: Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, the main structural protein in connective tissues, skin, bones, cartilage, and blood vessels. Collagen provides strength, structure, and elasticity to tissues and plays a crucial role in wound healing, tissue repair, and skin health. Vitamin C is required for the hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues in collagen synthesis, facilitating the formation of stable collagen triple helices. Adequate vitamin C levels are necessary for maintaining healthy skin, preventing scurvy, and promoting overall tissue integrity.
Immune Function: Vitamin C plays a vital role in supporting immune function and defending against infections. It enhances the activity of various immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and lymphocytes, involved in innate and adaptive immunity. Vitamin C promotes the production of cytokines, antibodies, and interferons, modulates inflammatory responses, and enhances the phagocytic activity of immune cells. By supporting immune cell function and communication, vitamin C helps strengthen immune defenses, reduce the severity and duration of infections, and promote faster recovery from illness.
Iron Absorption: Vitamin C enhances the absorption of non-heme iron, the form of iron found in plant-based foods and iron supplements, by reducing ferric iron (Fe^3+) to ferrous iron (Fe^2+) in the intestinal lumen. This conversion increases the solubility and bioavailability of iron, facilitating its uptake by intestinal cells and subsequent release into the bloodstream. Vitamin C also forms stable complexes with iron, preventing its oxidation and precipitation in the gastrointestinal tract. By enhancing iron absorption, vitamin C helps prevent iron deficiency anemia and supports overall iron status and red blood cell production.
Antihistamine Activity: Vitamin C exhibits antihistamine properties that help reduce histamine levels and alleviate allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, and inflammation. Vitamin C stabilizes mast cells, inhibits histamine release, and promotes the degradation of histamine by enhancing the activity of histamine-degrading enzymes such as diamine oxidase (DAO). By modulating histamine metabolism and reducing histamine-mediated allergic responses, vitamin C may help alleviate allergy symptoms and improve respiratory health.
Overall, vitamin C plays a multifaceted role in promoting overall health by providing antioxidant protection, supporting collagen synthesis and tissue repair, enhancing immune function, facilitating iron absorption, and exerting antihistamine activity. Including vitamin C-rich foods in the diet, such as citrus fruits, berries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, and spinach, and considering supplementation with vitamin C supplements may help support optimal vitamin C levels and promote overall well-being.
Di) What role does Vitamin E (tocopherols) play in overall health?
Vitamin E tocopherols play several important roles in overall health due to their antioxidant properties and involvement in various physiological processes. Here are some key roles of vitamin E tocopherols in promoting overall health:
Antioxidant Protection: Vitamin E tocopherols are potent lipid-soluble antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell membranes and lipid-rich tissues. By scavenging free radicals, vitamin E tocopherols help protect cells, tissues, and organs from oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, which can lead to cellular dysfunction, inflammation, and aging. Vitamin E tocopherols work synergistically with other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, glutathione, and selenium, to provide comprehensive antioxidant defense throughout the body.
Cell Membrane Stability: Vitamin E tocopherols play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and stability of cell membranes, particularly those rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). As lipid-soluble antioxidants, vitamin E tocopherols help protect cell membranes from oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, which can disrupt membrane structure and function. By preserving membrane fluidity and permeability, vitamin E tocopherols support cellular integrity, signalling, and communication, contributing to overall cell health and viability.
Immune Function: Vitamin E tocopherols play a role in modulating immune function and inflammation by regulating immune cell activity, cytokine production, and inflammatory signalling pathways. Vitamin E tocopherols help maintain the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, thereby promoting immune tolerance and reducing the risk of chronic inflammation-related diseases. Vitamin E tocopherols also support the function of immune cells such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells, enhancing their ability to combat infections and foreign invaders.
Cardiovascular Health: Vitamin E tocopherols may help promote cardiovascular health by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, which are implicated in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Vitamin E tocopherols help protect LDL cholesterol from oxidative damage, inhibit plaque formation, and improve endothelial function by enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing vascular inflammation. By supporting vascular health and function, vitamin E tocopherols may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and promote overall heart health.
Skin Health: Vitamin E tocopherols play a role in promoting skin health and protecting against UV-induced damage and photoaging. As lipid-soluble antioxidants, vitamin E tocopherols help neutralize free radicals generated by UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental stressors, preventing oxidative damage to skin cells and DNA. Vitamin E tocopherols also support skin barrier function, hydration, and elasticity, reducing transepidermal water loss and promoting wound healing and tissue repair. By enhancing skin health and resilience, vitamin E tocopherols contribute to a youthful and radiant complexion.
Overall, vitamin E tocopherols play a multifaceted role in promoting overall health by providing antioxidant protection, supporting cell membrane stability, modulating immune function, promoting cardiovascular health, and enhancing skin health. Including vitamin E-rich foods in the diet, such as nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, leafy greens, and fortified cereals, and considering supplementation with vitamin E tocopherol supplements may help support optimal vitamin E levels and promote overall well-being.
Dii) What role does Vitamin E (tocotrienols) play in overall health?
Vitamin E tocotrienols play several important roles in overall health, similar to tocopherols, but with some unique properties and benefits. Here are some key roles of vitamin E tocotrienols in promoting overall health:
Antioxidant Protection: Like tocopherols, tocotrienols are potent antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell membranes and lipid-rich tissues. However, tocotrienols have been found to have higher antioxidant activity and greater bioavailability compared to tocopherols, particularly in lipid-rich environments such as cell membranes and mitochondria. By scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative damage, tocotrienols help protect cells, tissues, and organs from oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to overall health and longevity.
Cardiovascular Health: Tocotrienols have been shown to exert cardioprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure. Tocotrienols help inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, inhibit plaque formation, and improve endothelial function, promoting healthy blood vessel function and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. Tocotrienols also have anti-inflammatory properties that help modulate inflammatory pathways and reduce vascular inflammation, further supporting cardiovascular health.
Brain Health: Tocotrienols have neuroprotective properties that make them beneficial for maintaining brain health and cognitive function. Tocotrienols cross the blood-brain barrier and exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects in the brain, protecting neurons from oxidative damage, reducing neuroinflammation, and preserving mitochondrial function. Tocotrienols also support the production of neurotrophic factors, promote synaptic plasticity, and enhance memory and learning abilities. Some research suggests that tocotrienols may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and support overall brain health and cognitive function.
Liver Health: Tocotrienols have been shown to support liver health by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid accumulation in the liver, which are associated with liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. Tocotrienols help protect liver cells from oxidative damage, promote the breakdown and clearance of fats from the liver, and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrogenic factors. Tocotrienols also support liver regeneration and repair mechanisms, enhancing liver function and reducing the risk of liver disease progression.
Cancer Prevention: Tocotrienols have been investigated for their potential anticancer properties and their ability to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in various types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancer. Tocotrienols exert anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and modulating signalling pathways involved in tumor progression and metastasis. Tocotrienols also enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments and reduce their side effects on healthy tissues, making them promising adjunctive therapies for cancer prevention and treatment.
Overall, vitamin E tocotrienols play a multifaceted role in promoting overall health by providing potent antioxidant protection, supporting cardiovascular health, enhancing brain function, promoting liver health, and exerting anticancer effects. Including tocotrienol-rich foods in the diet, such as palm oil, rice bran oil, barley, and wheat germ, and considering supplementation with tocotrienol supplements may help support optimal tocotrienol levels and promote overall well-being.
E. What role does Glutathione play in overall health?
Glutathione as an ingredient is not included in VigourCells.
However, the natural production of Glutathione in the liver is boosted by the ingestion of VigourCells.
Glutathione plays several crucial roles in overall health due to its functions as a powerful antioxidant, detoxifier, and regulator of immune function. Here are some key roles of glutathione in promoting overall health:
Antioxidant Protection: Glutathione is often referred to as the body's "master antioxidant" due to its central role in neutralizing free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage cells, proteins, lipids, and DNA. Glutathione acts as a primary defense mechanism against oxidative stress, helping protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage and inflammation. By scavenging free radicals and regenerating other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, glutathione helps maintain the redox balance in cells and promotes overall cellular health and resilience.
Detoxification: Glutathione plays a critical role in detoxification processes in the liver and other tissues by conjugating with and neutralizing toxins, heavy metals, pollutants, and metabolic waste products. Glutathione acts as a cofactor for several detoxification enzymes, including glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), which catalyze the conjugation of glutathione with xenobiotics and facilitate their excretion from the body. By supporting detoxification pathways, glutathione helps protect organs such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs from toxin-induced damage and promotes overall metabolic health.
Immune Function: Glutathione is essential for maintaining optimal immune function and modulating immune responses. It plays a role in regulating lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and the activity of immune cells such as T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages. Glutathione supports the development and function of immune cells, enhances their ability to combat pathogens and foreign invaders, and helps modulate inflammatory responses. By promoting a balanced immune response, glutathione contributes to overall immune health, infection resistance, and immune tolerance.
Cellular Repair and Regeneration: Glutathione is involved in various cellular processes related to repair, regeneration, and maintenance of cellular integrity. It participates in DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis and folding, and membrane integrity, contributing to cell survival, growth, and proliferation. Glutathione also plays a role in the activation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways, promoting cellular resilience and adaptive responses to stressors. By supporting cellular repair mechanisms, glutathione helps maintain tissue homeostasis and resilience, preventing cellular dysfunction and degeneration.
Anti-cancer Effects: Glutathione's antioxidant and detoxification properties make it beneficial for reducing the risk of cancer development and progression. Glutathione helps protect cells from DNA damage, inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, and promote apoptosis (programmed cell death) of abnormal or damaged cells. Additionally, glutathione supports the activity of enzymes involved in the detoxification of carcinogens and the elimination of cancerous cells, thereby reducing the risk of tumor formation and metastasis. By enhancing the body's natural defense mechanisms against cancer, glutathione supports overall cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
Overall, glutathione plays a multifaceted role in promoting overall health by providing antioxidant protection, supporting detoxification processes, regulating immune function, promoting cellular repair and regeneration, and exerting anticancer effects. Maintaining optimal glutathione levels through dietary sources, supplementation, and lifestyle practices may help support overall well-being and reduce the risk of chronic diseases and age-related conditions.
❤️🌿 Rosemary
22 March 2024