"Antioxidant" gets used as if it means a single thing, but the real story is more interesting — and more useful. The body's antioxidant defences work as a regenerating network, not a collection of independent nutrients, and the most powerful antioxidants are the ones the body makes itself. Our antioxidants collection supplies both the dietary players and the precursors for the body's own defences.

The network — why they work as a team

Antioxidants hand electrons down a chain to neutralise free radicals, and in doing so they "use themselves up" — but they regenerate one another. Vitamin C regenerates vitamin E after it has quenched a radical in a cell membrane; glutathione in turn regenerates vitamin C. That's why a single mega-dose of one antioxidant is rarely the answer — they cover different compartments (water vs fat) and keep each other in play.

• Glutathione — the master antioxidant. Made inside the cell from cysteine (often supplied as NAC), glycine and glutamate, and recharged by the selenium-dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Central to both antioxidant defence and detoxification. See Liver Support.
• CoQ10 / ubiquinol — the fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes and is concentrated in the energy-producing mitochondria. See Energy.
• Polyphenols (resveratrol, sulforaphane, curcumin) — counter-intuitively, much of their benefit comes not from directly mopping up radicals, but from a mild "good stress" that switches on Nrf2, the master gene-switch that turns up the body's own antioxidant and detox enzymes. They train the defences rather than just adding to them.
• Selenium — the essential cofactor of glutathione peroxidase, tying the mineral side to the network.

Who may benefit

Anyone supporting the body's defences against oxidative stress — active individuals, those with high environmental load, and anyone focused on healthy ageing. See also Anti-aging.

Frequently asked questions

What is oxidative stress? An imbalance between free radicals and the antioxidants that neutralise them — a normal by-product of living that tips into damage when defences are outpaced.
Don't I get enough from food? A colourful whole-food diet is the foundation; targeted antioxidants and glutathione precursors add support where demand is high.
Which one should I take? Because they work as a network, the better question is usually which compartment or pathway you're supporting — a practitioner can help match it.

Browse our full antioxidants collection below. Always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.