How Free Radicals Impact Aging and Healthspan

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Free Radicals: Basics and How To Fight Them for Longevity

Devan Ciccarelli is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Women's Fitness Specialist who writes on health and lives in Florida with her two kids.

Your body produces free radicals for practical reasons, but problems arise when they get out of balance.

So how do we keep them in check? And more importantly, how do we protect our bodies from the damage they can cause over time so we can age better? Let’s explore the science.

What are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are unstable molecules your body produces during normal processes like metabolism and immune response. In small amounts, they help fight infections and heal wounds.

But these molecules don’t just come from inside your body. Pollution, UV radiation, smoking, alcohol, and chronic stress can also raise free radical levels.

When free radicals build up faster than your body can manage, they create oxidative stress. That stress can harm your healthspan — the number of years you live in good health.

How Free Radicals Speed Up Aging

Free radicals steal electrons from healthy molecules like DNA, proteins, and fats. This chain reaction causes cell damage that affects how you look, feel, and function as you age.

Oxidative stress also triggers chronic inflammation. Over time, that inflammation drives diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Free radicals even damage mitochondria — the tiny power plants in your cells. Compromised mitochondria generate more free radicals, creating a vicious cycle that accelerates aging and drains your energy.

Antioxidants: Your Body’s Defense System

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons. This breaks the chain reaction that leads to oxidative stress and helps restore balance.

Your body produces powerful antioxidants on its own, including glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. You also get antioxidant support from fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and polyphenols.

Glutathione: The Master Antioxidant

Glutathione helps defend against oxidative stress and regenerates other antioxidants. It binds to free radicals, supports detox, and protects cells.

But glutathione doesn’t last long. It has a short half-life — just eight minutes in the bloodstream — making long-term support difficult. It also gets depleted quickly as you age and when you’re under stress, whether from illness, poor nutrition, or environmental toxins. 

Ergothioneine: The Longevity Antioxidant

Ergothioneine (EGT) is an amino acid found in mushrooms and a few other foods. It acts as an antioxidant, calms inflammation, and even crosses the blood–brain barrier.

Unlike many antioxidants, EGT accumulates in high-oxidative stress areas like the brain, liver, kidneys, and red blood cells. That’s rare, and it may signal that EGT has an adaptive mechanism to minimize long-term damage.

Studies show low EGT levels are linked to higher rates of cognitive decline and chronic disease. Higher levels, on the other hand, may support healthy aging — which is why researchers call it a “longevity vitamin.”

MitoPrime® delivers a highly bioavailable, fermented form of ergothioneine. It’s been shown to raise blood ergothioneine levels by 2.3x and stay active longer, with a 32-day half-life vs. 8 minutes for glutathione. It also scavenges free radicals 34x more effectively than glutathione.

With support for mitochondrial energy, endurance, and metabolism, MitoPrime® offers a modern solution to oxidative stress.

From Science to Self-Care

Free radicals can speed up aging and zap your energy — but you’re not powerless. By giving your body antioxidants like L-ergothioneine, you can help protect your cells, support longevity, and keep your vitality strong for years to come. It’s science-backed self-care you can start today.