“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

We couldn’t resist! 
Besides, has anyone said it better?

Modern life, with its advancements in science and medicine, pretty much guarantees we’ll live a long life.  How well we live this life though, is still mostly up to us.  Interestingly, for all of our acquired wisdom, most things about our basic design remain constant; like our bodies’ need for healthy food and sunshine, activity and rest. 

Paradoxically, plenty of those genius and futuristic conveniences we’ve built into present-day life promote less-than-healthy quick fixes and easy outs. (Think app to DoorDash to chalupa in hand.) Let’s face it—that may be all the hunting and gathering we do in a given week!  But hey, even the healthiest among us fall prey to environmental pollutants, blue light exposure, and, of course, the great equalizer himself… Father Time.

Anyway, since one way or another it looks like we’re in this thing for the long haul, let’s make our health an honest priority ASAP with a little help from F*OX>VCS™.  Just two capsules a day gives you a body-wide blast of uber-potent antioxidants and neuroprotective nutrients from A to Z!  Here’s how:

Astaxanthin

One of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, astaxanthin is a stone cold free radical scavenger.  Free radicals happen, and are a normal part of cell metabolism, but ultimately become hazardous waste products that need to be taken to the curb, STAT! Thankfully, astaxanthin is just the one for the job.  If we refer to free radicals as household trash, then the reactive oxygen species (ROS) type of free radicals is a downright dumpster fire.  Astaxanthin happens to be thousands of times more effective and efficient than other, lesser antioxidants, like vitamin C.  (Sorry, C!)  Putting out that ROS fire is critically important, especially as we age.  Oxidative stress/cell damage due to the reactive oxygen species is implicated in the development of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, among others. The subject of ROS is well-researched by scientists and is widely accepted to be the cause of numerous disease processes, and even aging, itself.

Astaxanthin is thought to increase blood flow and the supply of oxygen to the brain, which may improve our cognitive function in general.  Sounds about right, since astaxanthin has a key to the kingdom, so to speak, by being able to freely cross the blood-brain barrier to do its good works. (Functioning as a gatekeeper, the blood-brain barrier regulates the entry of various substances to our central nervous systems.)

But wait—there’s more! 
Astaxanthin can help protect our eyes from blue light and UV damage, as well as reducing the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.  Astaxanthin’s known anti-inflammatory effects may help minimize symptoms of eye fatigue and dryness, too.

Lutein

A naturally occurring carotenoid antioxidant found in green and yellow plants and veggies, lutein is closely associated with your being able to read this small print!  Casually called, “the eye vitamin”, lutein is found in super high concentrations in raw kale and turnip greens.  Somewhat surprisingly, however, is that your fancy kale Caesar salad may not be quite enough to do the trick.  Studies indicate more lutein is better, so supplementation on top of adequate dietary intake may be what it really takes to lessen the likelihood of developing eye disease.

Lutein deposits itself in the lens, retina, and macula of the human eye, and helps our eyes by blocking ultraviolet and blue light from being absorbed by the retina.  As an antioxidant, lutein helps protect the retinal vessels from the kind of oxidative damage that, over time, is a contributing factor to age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, one of the leading causes of blindness nationwide. 

Zeaxanthin

A carotenoid very similar to lutein, zeaxanthin is found in orange-colored fruit, like oranges themselves, and veggies like bell peppers and squash.  Zeaxanthin only occurs in small amounts in these food sources though, which is where zeaxanthin and big sis lutein, differ. But really, in the case of Zea and Lulu, one thing is crystal clear—these two are peas in a pod.  Working together, zeaxanthin and lutein demonstrate a markedly higher effect in improving visual acuity, for one thing, and are thought to reduce the occurrence of eye diseases, like cataracts and macular degeneration, for another. Zeaxanthin is the only other carotenoid (besides lutein, of course) found in the eye.  Well… almost.  Meso-zeaxanthin, a stereoisomer of zeaxanthin, is also present in the eye.  Meso-zeaxanthin is generated from our lovely dietary carotenoid, lutein.  And to really complete the picture, studies suggest that meso-zeaxanthin can be derived from astaxanthin, as well.

More generally speaking, zeaxanthin and lutein act as antioxidants, fighting off cell damage and protecting our eyes from oxidative stress.  Zeaxanthin may also help with the discomfort and temporary blindness caused by bright lights.  (It’s called ‘photostress’, just so you have a name for it when you tell your story about how the paparazzi swarmed you at Target last week!)

Citicoline

A neuroprotective nutrient nearly identical to the natural choline our own bodies produce in small amounts, citicoline is a choline precursor our bodies convert into acetylcholine.  Acetylcholine is a compound that functions in the brain and body as a neurotransmitter; playing a role in learning, focus, and memory, in addition to controlling involuntary muscle movements.  Low levels of acetylcholine are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, among other brain and nervous system disorders. 

On the sunny side of the street, citicoline helps increase
our dopamine and norepinephrine levels— the neurotransmitters that make us feel happy and alive— giving us the kind of brain boost we crave at any age!  By also helping increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, citicoline has been used extensively for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders, or CVA (stroke.)  Further, the use of citicoline has been investigated for the treatment of depression, Parkinson’s disease, and mild to moderate dementia. 

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is a supplemental form of the non-essential amino acid, cysteine.  (Non-essential amino acids are produced by our bodies, and don’t have to come from food sources.)  NAC is a building block of protein, and has been used by doctors to help fight a number of inflammatory conditions, and is thought to be particularly useful in reducing pain and swelling in patients with heart and lung diseases.  But where NAC really shines is in its role as a precursor to the antioxidant, glutathione.  Glutathione is known as a do-all antioxidant, from playing a part in neutralizing dangerous chemicals in the liver, to regenerating vitamins C and E, to regulating cell growth and more.  Glutathione levels decline with age, leaving us more susceptible to oxidative stress.  It should be noted that low levels of glutathione have been observed in patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

The takeaway:  If your glutathione levels are adequate, it’s highly likely you’ll be healthy and long-lived!  NAC, by promoting glutathione production, helps ward off oxidative stress and naturally improves overall immune function, which lessens the incidence of ailments of all types.  Medical literature suggests NAC supplementation improves blood pressure, supporting good heart health, and can improve cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.  In more recent times, NAC supplements are thought to have even reduced the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Use your noodle, make the smart move, fire on all cylinders!  Take F*OX>VCS™!