So What's the Deal with Antioxidants?

Photo by: Vegan Liftz

When it comes to health, we often hear a lot of talk about how good antioxidants are for us. While this may seem like common knowledge, what is not so common is exactly why antioxidants are good for us. What do they do, and how can we get the most out of understanding them? Though it may seem complicated, understanding exactly what antioxidants do for our bodies is actually quite simple.

First Thing’s First: Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress refers to the fact that oxygen is technically bad for us. Luckily, our bodies have produced a way to manage our oxygen intake, however the byproduct is free radicals. Oxidative stress is perfectly natural, and we need a healthy amount of it to live. However, when too much oxidative stress occurs, too many free radicals are created, and that’s when our bodies start to suffer. Unlucky for our bodies, most day-to-day lifestyles cause a lot of oxidative stress on the average person. It can be caused by lack of sleep, dehydration (don’t get us started on how dehydrated most people are), poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption. Simply being exposed to a lot of sun can generate oxidative stress!

How Exactly Do Antioxidants Help?

It helps to think of your body like a sea-saw that needs to be balanced. You want a healthy amount of oxidative stress, but too much will become a detriment to your system. This is where antioxidants come in - they help maintain that balance! It’s even in the name - antioxidants halt oxidation and neutralize excessive production of free radicals. While our bodies have their own antioxidant defense system, it weakens as we age. Since most of us probably don’t get enough sleep, drink enough water, or have the most perfect diet, having a daily dose of antioxidants is an invaluable way of ensuring we never put our bodies through more oxidative stress than they need to endure.

The Power of Molecular Hydrogen

We are truly excited at the prospect of molecular hydrogen for health. Studies have shown molecular hydrogen to be one of the most powerful antioxidants available. What makes molecular hydrogen so beneficial is that it functions as both as an antioxidant you can add to your body as well as boosting your body’s own antioxidant defense system. In other words, it works on two fronts, making it super effective. We often get antioxidants from our diets, including a healthy amount of fruits, vegetables, and various other kinds of foods. Adding molecular hydrogen to your health regimen is just as simple. The most straight-forward way is through “hydrogen water.”

Enter Hydrogen Water

You might be scratching your head thinking “but isn’t there already hydrogen in my water?” Yes, this is true, but the hydrogen molecules that have bonded with oxygen to create the water are bound for life. They’ve already got a job! “Hydrogen water” refers to water that has abundant molecular hydrogen - hydrogen molecules that are not stuck with oxygen and can act on their own to battle free radicals. One of the most common ways to add molecular hydrogen to your water is by way of expensive hydrogen bottles or ionizer devices. At KOR, we wanted to create a better way to produce hydrogen-rich water for people to enjoy on the go while not breaking the bank. Our new KOR+ bottle does exactly this - its special filter is made from various trace minerals that instantly infuse molecular hydrogen into your water as you drink it. This way, you get your daily dose of super-charged antioxidants whenever you need it, balancing your oxidative stress and making you ready to take anything your day has in store!