If you’re health-conscious, you probably already know the importance of antioxidants in protecting your body from oxidative stress, which can lead to health complications, premature ageing, and disease.

What is Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress happens when there are too many free radicals in your body and not enough antioxidants to neutralise them. These free radicals can damage your cells, leading to long-term health conditions, premature ageing, and disease.

Free radicals are molecules missing an electron. They lose electrons due to various factors like unhealthy food, stress, and environmental pollutants. They steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage. Antioxidants are substances that have an extra electron to ‘donate’ to free radicals, rendering them harmless.

But not all antioxidants are created equal.

The Two Types of Antioxidants

There are primary antioxidants and secondary antioxidants. Primary antioxidants are made by your body.

Secondary antioxidants are the ones your body can’t make on its own, you need to get them from food. Acai berries, blueberries, seafood, whole grains and good quality dark chocolate are all excellent examples of secondary antioxidant sources. 

Superoxide dismutase (S.O.D.) is a primary antioxidant. The thing is, as you age, your body starts producing less and less of it.

That’s where high quality, bioavailable supplementation comes into play. That’s really the only way to get more SOD.

What is Superoxide Dismutase?

SOD is the ultimate antioxidant. It doesn’t just fight free radicals; it fights superoxide — the supervillain of oxidation. 

Superoxide is a free radical missing three electrons and can cause more damage quickly.

Joel Edwards at Organic Lifestyle Magazine, delves a little deeper into how S.O.D. works its magic against superoxides: "Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is both an enzyme and an antioxidant that protects against the free radical, superoxide. SOD changes this free radical to hydrogen peroxide. Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide is still a free radical. SOD then works in concert with another antioxidant, catalase, to change hydrogen peroxide from an unstable free radical to water, a stable compound."

In other words, SOD turns superoxide into pure water.

Why Supplement with SOD?

When you’re young, your body has no trouble producing enough SOD, but as you get older it gets harder and harder to keep up. That’s one of the reasons that our bodies start to break down and show signs of ageing.

Plus, we have more free radicals causing influences in our lives now than ever before. Some can be avoided, like processed foods, sugar and cigarettes, but others, like environmental toxins in the air and water, are harder to keep away from.

Dale Kiefer at Life Extension Magazine reveals a key motivation for SOD supplementation: “Primary antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase are our first and most important line of defense against highly reactive, potentially destructive oxygen-derived free radicals. Researchers believe that SOD decreases with aging, and evidence suggests that boosting falling SOD levels may help guard against disease and extend life span.”

It just makes sense to supplement with this super antioxidant.

The Trouble with Supplementation

There are two problems with supplementing SOD. First, as noted in Life Extension Magazine, “SOD is a large molecule that, when orally consumed, is not readily absorbed by the body.” The second issue is that it’s really delicate. It’s easily destroyed by acids — including stomach acid.

So where do you find a quality Superoxide Dismutase supplement that your body can actually use?

It’s a Bird... it’s a Plane… No, it’s Oceans Alive!

Is drawing the comparison to a superhero really appropriate here?

We think so.

Oceans Alive is made up of two heirloom strains of marine phytoplankton, specifically identified as superior sources of bioavailable nutrition for the human body.

These two strains of phytoplankton are loaded with many of the nutrients your body needs on a daily basis, including SOD.

Unlike other sources of SOD, Oceans Alive is able to deliver this essential antioxidant right to your cells, bypassing the digestive system altogether.

How?

The marine phytoplankton cells in Oceans Alive are 5 times smaller than red blood cells. They’re so small, their essential amino and fatty acids pass right through the blood-brain barrier. The tiny cells of this single-celled organism are also easily absorbed into your bloodstream, so the nutrition gets everywhere it’s needed.  

What Makes Oceans Alive a Superior Source of SOD?

First of all, marine phytoplankton is thought to be one of the most potent sources of naturally occurring SOD available. Oceans Alive is a premium and nutrient-dense solution that combines two carefully selected, pristine phytoplankton strains in a trace mineral solution for maximum freshness.

Wellness Mama gives you the bottom line on this marine phytoplankton combination: “Not all phytoplankton is created equal. Some forms of phytoplankton can be contaminated, diluted or inactive. It is important to find a Phytoplankton containing the Nannochloropsis Gaditana strain of marine phytoplankton from a reputable source that has been genetically selected to be the highest quality. Ideally, this phytoplankton should also contain the “Gala” strain as well, named after the Galapagos Tortoise, as this strain is the highest in Superoxide Dismutase (correlated to longevity).” Only Oceans Alive meets these high standards.

Fun fact: Why did they name the phytoplankton strain after the tortoise? Easy. Galapagos Tortoises typically live for over 150 years. This is thought to be the result of their naturally high superoxide dismutase levels.

Boost Your SOD

Activation Products is proud to manufacture Oceans Alive and supply it internationally. Get the benefits of Oceans Alive, including the SOD boost, by clicking here. 

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