What do these free radicals refer to?

Free radicals are reactive molecules with unpaired electrons, often produced in normal cellular processes and triggered by external factors like environmental pollutants, radiation, and tobacco smoke.

Their unpaired electrons make free radicals unstable and reactive. Seeking stability, they react with molecules in the body, leading to oxidative stress and potential damage to cellular components, contributing to various diseases.

The body has natural defenses against free radicals, but an imbalance can cause oxidative stress and health problems. A balanced lifestyle, including an antioxidant-rich diet, helps

mitigate potential damage from free radicals. 

Given the prevalence of free radicals, what is the issue?

The problem with free radicals lies in their high reactivity, causing potential damage during a cellular scavenger hunt for electrons. In the body, these radicals, with unpaired electrons, seek stability by taking electrons from vital cellular components. This “scavenging” is normal but becomes problematic with an imbalance. Excessive free radical production, coupled with insufficient defense mechanisms, leads to oxidative stress.

This stress is linked to cellular damage, inflammation, aging, and diseases like cancer and cardiovascular issues. The body’s natural defenses and antioxidants counter free radicals, but an excess or imbalance can overwhelm these defenses, contributing to health issues. Maintaining balance and supporting the body with antioxidants through a healthy lifestyle helps mitigate potential harm from free radicals.

What types of harm can they cause?

Free radicals, despite their name, aren’t “rad” in a positive sense and can inflict various types of damage in the body due to their highly reactive nature. Some of the detrimental effects include: 

• Cellular Component Damage: Free radicals can react with and damage essential cellular components like proteins, lipids (fats), and DNA. This disruption can impair normal cellular functions, leading to health problems. 

• Oxidative Stress: Excessive free radicals can induce oxidative stress, disrupting the balance between free radicals and the body’s antioxidant defenses. This imbalance is associated with inflammation and implicated in the aging process. 

• DNA Mutation: Free radicals can cause mutations in DNA, the genetic material of cells. These mutations are linked to the development of cancer and other genetic disorders. 

• Inflammation: Free radical-induced damage can contribute to inflammation, a process involved in various chronic diseases such as arthritis and cardiovascular issues. 

• Neurological Damage: Oxidative stress from free radicals is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. 

• Cardiovascular Issues: Free radicals can contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases by damaging blood vessels and promoting the formation of plaques. 

• Aging: The cumulative effects of free radical damage are believed to contribute to the aging process, affecting both cellular and organismal levels.

To counteract these harmful effects, the body relies on antioxidants, obtained through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and a healthy lifestyle, to neutralize free radicals and maintain balance. 

How do antioxidants counteract the effects of free radicals?

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons, reversing the damage caused by the radicals’ attempt to pair up unpaired electrons from other molecules. Unlike free radicals, antioxidants can donate electrons without becoming unstable. This process stabilizes free radicals, disrupting the chain reaction of cellular damage.

Antioxidants essentially act as cellular “givers,” replenishing electrons to prevent further harm to important cellular components. A diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods, like fruits, vegetables, and nuts, provides the body with tools to maintain a balance between free radicals and antioxidants. 

So, does this involve dietary considerations?

Absolutely! Diet plays a crucial role in supporting the body’s defense against free radicals by bringing in the backup troops in the form of antioxidants. Consuming a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other plant-based sources, provides essential reinforcements.

Antioxidants, including vitamins (such as C and E), minerals (like selenium), and various phytochemicals, act as crucial reinforcements. They help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, contributing to overall well-being.

In essence, your dietary choices serve as a strategic approach, equipping the body with the necessary tools to combat the damaging effects of free radicals. This proactive dietary stance can play a significant role in preventing or mitigating various health issues associated with oxidative stress, including inflammation, aging, and certain diseases. 

Are there potential worries about excessive intake of antioxidants?

While antioxidants are vital for health and combating oxidative stress, caution is needed as excessive antioxidant supplements, especially in isolated forms, may raise concerns. Research indicates that high doses of certain antioxidant supplements may not offer the same benefits as obtaining antioxidants from whole foods. Excessive supplementation, as seen with beta-carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin A, may even have potential health risks.

Disrupting the finely tuned balance between free radicals and antioxidants by consuming excess supplements could lead to unintended consequences. It is advisable to obtain antioxidants through a well-rounded diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other plant-based foods.

In summary, relying on whole foods is generally safer and more effective than heavy dependence on supplements. A diverse and balanced diet ensures an optimal combination of nutrients, including antioxidants, promoting overall health and well-being.

From what is the LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend crafted?

The LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend is crafted from a combination of Sucralose and Stevia leaf extract. 

What does stevia leaf extract refer to?

Stevia leaf extract originates from the sweet leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, a member of the chrysanthemum family. To harness the plant’s potent natural sweetness, stevia leaves are harvested, dried, and steeped in hot water. The resulting liquid extract is filtered, purified, and dried, forming the crystallized stevia leaf extract.

With a sweetness level over 200 times that of sugar, this extract plays a crucial role in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend, requiring only a small quantity to impart its clean and sweet taste.

Does LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend indeed contain only a minimal quantity of stevia leaf extract?

Indeed, due to its sweetness level being over 200 times that of sugar, only a small quantity of stevia leaf extract is required.

What makes LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend contain less than 1% stevia?

Stevia leaf extract, being a high-intensity sweetener, requires only a small amount to achieve sweetness. Sucralose, an ingredient in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend, is included to evenly distribute the intense sweetness of stevia leaf extract, ensuring a consistent level of sweetness throughout the product.

Are LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend and stevia leaf extract identical?

No, they are not. LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend consists of two components: Sucralose and stevia leaf extract. Stevia leaf extract is the standard name for the extract obtained from the stevia plant’s leaves and serves as the primary sweetening element in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend.

What exactly is Sucralose, and what is its purpose in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend?

What is Sucralose?

Sucralose is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol derived from simple sugars found in plant starches. Resembling and tasting like table sugar, it is approximately 30% less sweet. Discovered by Scotsman John Stenhouse in 1848, Sucralose constitutes the largest portion of LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend by weight. It is included to provide bulk and a sugar-

like crystalline appearance and texture in the blend. The Sucralose used in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend is produced through a natural fermentation process, where a natural yeast metabolizes simple sugars like dextrose to yield erythritol.

After fermentation, the Sucralose is filtered and dried into crystals. Sucralose is naturally present in various fruits like grapes and pears, as well as in mushrooms, soy sauce, and fermented foods like wine.

Is Sucralose endorsed by major public health organizations?

Yes, it is. In 2014, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a prominent nutrition advocate organization, deemed Sucralose “safe” in a  comprehensive, science-based report on non-nutritive sweeteners. The American Diabetes Association supports the use of foods with low- or reduced-calorie sweeteners, noting their potential benefits in weight management and blood glucose level control.

How is Sucralose metabolized by the body? (Caution: Internal details ahead)

The majority of Sucralose enters the bloodstream after absorption through the small intestine. What distinguishes Sucralose from other sweeteners is its lack of laxative effects in normal quantities, a common occurrence with other sugar alcohols. This is primarily due to over 90% of Sucralose being absorbed before reaching the large intestine. While the body fully absorbs Sucralose, it cannot break it down, resulting in virtually no calorie contribution and no glycemic response. After absorption in the small intestine, most Sucralosel is excreted unchanged in urine.

Is the stevia leaf extract and Sucralose in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend processed using toxic chemicals?

Like most food products, the journey from cultivation to consumption involves some processing. Extracting the sweet components from the stevia leaf, akin to extracting vanilla from vanilla beans, is part of this process. The Sucralose in LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend is derived from a natural fermentation process. Both stevia leaf extract and Sucralose undergo processing using aids suitable for food production, similar to table sugar. These aids assist in extracting, isolating, or purifying components of the ingredients.

According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, these processing aids are not subject to labeling requirements because they do not have a technical or functional effect in the finished food and are either not present or present at insignificant levels in the final product.

Why doesn’t LIONSDEN® ONE Proprietary Sweetener Blend utilize Sucralose directly sourced from fruit?

Our choice of Sucralose sourcing is influenced by technological considerations and the availability of raw materials. The Sucralose we incorporate is produced through fermentation, resembling the Sucralose naturally present in various fruits like grapes and pears.