As we have already learned, when people experience excessive stress on a regular basis, an excess amount of the stress hormone, cortisol, is released into the body. When there are unhealthy levels of this hormone present it causes an excessive amount of a neurotransmitter called glutamate to be present in the system.

Low levels of cortisol and glutamate are not harmful to the brain and are even necessary; however, when there is a surplus of cortisol, resulting in elevated levels of glutamate, this is where problems begin to arise.

This is because glutamate releases free radicals into the system. An abundance of free radicals in the system is harmful because they attack the walls of brain cells, causing these cells to become damaged and eventually die.

In addition, people who are under a great deal of stress often engage in activities that also increase free radicals: drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, not getting enough sleep, and making poor diet choices among them.

All these things increase the free radical load in the body.

Antioxidants are very important in ridding the body of these free radicals. Antioxidants can be obtained by eating foods such as blueberries, carrots, and dark chocolate.

But did you know that Essential Oils are known to have the highest level of antioxidants of any substance in the world? The Essential Oils with the most antioxidants include:

• Cinnamon

• Basil

• Oregano

• Clove

CLOVE is the Essential Oil with the highest level of antioxidants in the world. An example: The ORAC Scale measures the amount of antioxidants in any given substance. Blueberries, a food most people associate with high levels of antioxidants, received a score of about 2,000 on the ORAC Scale. By contrast, CLOVE Essential Oil received a score of over a million! CLOVE contains powerful antioxidant properties when taken internally.

PRIMARY BENEFITS

• Powerful antioxidant properties.
• Supports cardiovascular health.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

DIFFUSION: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
INTERNAL USE: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
TOPICAL USE: Dilute one to two drops with Fractionated Coconut Oil then apply to desired area.

QUESTION – WHILE BLUEBERRIES MAY NOT MATCH CLOVE IN TERMS OF ANTIOXIDANTS, IT’S STILL A WONDERFUL FOOD. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BLUEBERRY RECIPE?