At Elevate 2009, we introduced an updated Max Code. The 11 principles outlined in the Code help Max International stay on course as we seek to be an A Company. We talk a lot about being an A Company because it’s who we want to be at our core. We want to contribute to something bigger than ourselves. Our primary reason for existing is to make a positive difference for individuals and society.

As we move forward as a company and grasp the opportunities before us, we have to guard against distraction, against quick gains that might sacrifice our ultimate goals. It may be tempting to follow the quick and easy path to success, but what if that path ultimately proves to be a dead end?

We have to constantly monitor our course, which is why The Max Code is the standard by which we will judge ourselves.

You can now find the Max Code on our website here. We want you to help us live up to these principles. It’s also important that you continue to bring new people to Max who believe in these same principles.

Thank you for helping us be an A Company!

Mike Larkins
President
Max International

Manic-depressive illness, or bipolar disorder, results in wide shifts in mood, energy and behavior. This brain disorder is different from the normal ups and downs everyone experiences. The severe changes seen with bipolar disorder usually emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood. Researchers in this study explained that lingering depression is common in bipolar disorder and that current drug treatments do not work well.

Study authors also noted that those with bipolar disorder often lack the antioxidant glutathione, which protects cells from toxins. Researchers gave 75 participants with bipolar disorder 1 gram of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) per day along with their usual medications. Scientists believed NAC helps the body produce glutathione in the brain and hoped the nutrient might help reduce depression symptoms. After eight weeks, depressive symptoms in the NAC group began to improve significantly and continued to improve through 20 weeks. Participants then stopped taking NAC for the next four weeks, during which time symptoms returned.

From Nutrition:2008

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. But how does glutathione do it so efficiently in cells? First of all, glutathione (GSH) contains a hydrogen ion that is easily removed.  It contributes this ion to a free radical such as HO+ Now we have H2O and GS+ When two GS+ molecules combine we end up with GSSH and 2 water molecules. Both are neutral and the cell is happy .

Other antioxidants such as resveratol, Vit C, E, etc. become free radicals themselves after giving up their hydrogen ion and must therefore be neutralized. NOT efficient! Glutathione is found in every cell including plants as well as animals. That’s because it is thousands of times more effective than other antioxidants.

The highest concentrations of this antioxidant are found in the liver, spleen, and skin. The liver is the great detoxifyer in the body and GSH plays an important roll in removing toxins as well as antioxidants. GSH is vital to our immune system because it activates and protects the white blood cells that are our first line of defense against disease. Finally, glutathione is instrumental in regenerating other antioxidants and is an important ingredient in antioxidant enzymes.

Glutathione supplements are all the rage now, but many people are wondering what exactly is glutatione? This molecule which resides in every cell of your body has been know and studied for many years. However, not until recently has the full spectrum of its activity been understood and appreciated. Glutathione is a tripeptide which is a protein molecule consisting of three amino acids. The three important amino acids in glutathione are glutamate, l-cysteine, and glycine. While glutamate and glycine are available in abundance, l-cysteine is limited by dietary intake. This makes l-cysteine the limiting factor in the production of glutathione.

The reason glutathione makes such a good antioxidant is that it contains a sulfhydryl group. This makes it easy to give up a hydrogen ion to neutralize an oxidant.

Now you know what glutathione is. In future posts we will discuss the several functions and activities of glutathione and why it is so important in promoting anti aging.

What are antioxidants anyway? How do they work? Why do we need them? These are questions people are asking all the time. Antioxidants have become a hot topic and for good reason. Antiaging research has shown that antioxidants are one of the most important elements in increasing longevity and preventing disease. Just think of it–according to the CDC the top five health killers in America are all affected by lifestyle. By improving our lifestyle we can improve our life.

In order to understand the definition of antioxidants we must first learn about free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are lacking an electron. Oxygen is a major free radical which is why antioxidants got the name. These free radicals are voracious feeders that try to grab an electron from anywhere they can get it to bring themselves back into balance. Unfortunately, the molecule they grab it from becomes “wounded” and thus unable to carry out its function. If this happens in your body it results in cell damage or defective chemical processes.

Enter antioxidants. These are molecules that freely provide an electron to a free radical thus neutralizing the free radical before it can cause damage. Free radicals come from many sources. They are a by product of cellular metabolism, the process whereby the cells produce energy from “food.” If it weren’t for antioxidants our cells would be torn apart and we would quickly die. When God put us together he thought of everything. Inside our cells are four enzymes that quench free radicals thus protecting the integrity of the cell and its processes. Glutathione is the A #1 antioxidant of the four. It is able to recycle itself to provide a continuous supply of electrons to free radicals. When all is said and done the most powerful antioxidant in the world in not in a fruit or berry… it is in your body!