Redox signal molecules are essential for the protection of cells, damage detection and repair or replacement of damaged cells. At birth these cells function for 100 %, that's why babies and young children have so much energy and they can heal so quickly. Around the age of about 12 years, efficiency starts to decrease until by the time we're about 70 years old, they only work at about 10 %. This is why we get tired faster and It takes longer to heal from illness or injuries as we get older. Don't forget redox signal molecules are produced in pairs. To be able to function properly both are needed.

The first molecule, the reduced species (RS) is responsible for Antioxidant Activation. It would be hard to find someone who hasn't heard of antioxidants. Their ability to neutralize free radicals is almost legendary and complement companies that stumble over themselves to reveal the ORAC value (oxygen radical absorption capacity) of their product. They got it half right. Antioxidants are important in the fight against free radicals. The other half of the story is that without sufficient redox signal molecules to activate antioxidants, a person might as well eat M & M's. By the time most of us worry enough about our health to take anti-oxidant supplements, we will only have enough redox signal molecular efficiency to activate a small part of it. Antioxidants without RS to activate them are about as useful as a light bulb without power source.