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Before writing this article, I went on social media and asked a simple question:

“What is the most potent antioxidant produced in the body?”

To make it fun, I offered a free at-home inflammation test to the first person who answered correctly.

More than a hundred people responded.

The answers included uric acid, astaxanthin, superoxide dismutase, melatonin, vitamin C, CoEnzyme Q10, and, of course, glutathione.

People shared thoughtful guesses, but only one person finally got it right – a woman who completed my Gut Health & Microbiome Specialist Certification.

This revealed something important:

Most people, including many doctors and nutrition experts, do not know what the body’s most potent antioxidant is.

And here is the truth:

Your strongest antioxidant is not a vitamin, and it is not glutathione.
It is a special molecule made by your gut bacteria.

This antioxidant is called Indole-3-Propionic Acid, or IPA.

And the more scientists study it, the clearer it becomes that IPA may be one of the most powerful antioxidants in the entire human body, yet almost no one knows it exists.

What Is IPA?

Indole-3-Propionic Acid (IPA) is a rare and powerful antioxidant made by certain “good” bacteria in your gut. The main one is Clostridium sporogenes, a friendly microbe that depends on your diet and gut environment.

These bacteria take tryptophan, an amino acid found in:

• • eggs
  • turkey
  • salmon
  • nuts and seeds
  • chicken
  • beans and lentils

Then they convert that tryptophan into IPA.

Here’s what surprises most people:

Your body does not make IPA on its own.
Food does not contain IPA.
There is no IPA supplement.
Only your gut bacteria can produce it.

Think of IPA as a custom-made antioxidant your gut creates just for you.

Why IPA Is So Powerful

To understand why IPA matters, imagine tiny sparks forming inside your body throughout the day. These sparks are called free radicals. A few sparks are normal. Too many can start fires that damage your cells – a problem known as oxidative stress.

Antioxidants are your body’s firefighters, and IPA is one of the strongest firefighters available.

1. IPA fights the most dangerous free radical

The hydroxyl radical is the most damaging free radical, like a blowtorch inside the body.
IPA is one of the strongest hydroxyl radical scavengers ever discovered.

2. IPA stays active longer

IPA is stable and continues to work even when inflammation is high.

3. IPA protects your brain

IPA can cross into the brain and shield brain cells – like a helmet for your brain.

IPA Helps Reduce Brain Inflammation, and That Changes Everything

IPA helps lower inflammation in the brain, which is linked to:

• • memory problems
  • brain fog
  • mood issues
  • trouble focusing
  • aging-related decline

When brain inflammation drops, people often feel clearer, calmer, and more mentally sharp.

For many adults, this alone is a strong reason to learn their IPA level and support healthy IPA production.

4. IPA strengthens your gut lining

IPA helps keep the gut lining strong – like a tight screen door that keeps harmful substances out of the bloodstream.

5. IPA reflects your true gut health

A high IPA score means your gut bacteria are strong.
Low IPA usually means gut stress or imbalance – even without symptoms.

How the Body Makes IPA

IPA production depends on several key factors:

Healthy gut bacteria

Especially Clostridium sporogenes, the “factory workers” that make IPA.

Enough tryptophan

Tryptophan is the raw material found in eggs, turkey, salmon, nuts, seeds, chicken, and beans.

Prebiotic fibers

Prebiotic fibers act like fertilizer for your good gut bacteria. They help feed and strengthen the microbes that make IPA. These fibers include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), resistant starch, beta-glucans, and both soluble and insoluble fiber. When you eat more of these prebiotic fibers, your gut bacteria have the fuel they need to grow, stay active, and produce more IPA.

Polyphenols

Found in herbs, spices, berries, olives, tea, and coffee.
They act like coaches that help bacteria grow and stay active.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Reduce inflammation and support IPA-producing bacteria.

When these elements work together, your gut produces more IPA.

Why Most People Have Low IPA Today

Modern life makes it difficult for IPA-producing bacteria to thrive.

IPA levels drop when people:

• • lack omega-3 fatty acids
  • don’t eat enough prebiotic fiber
  • have gut imbalance (dysbiosis)
  • eat processed and ultra-processed foods
  • use antibiotics often
  • eat high-sugar diets
  • experience chronic stress
  • drink alcohol
  • are exposed to chemicals like glyphosate

Your gut is like a garden. Without nourishment, the good plants die, and weeds take over.

How to Measure Your IPA Levels

IPA is measured with an at-home dried blood spot Gut Health Test, not a stool test.

This test shows:

• • your IPA level
  • how well your gut is producing IPA
  • whether your gut is balanced or stressed
  • whether your gut is improving over time

Because IPA circulates in the blood, this test reveals what is happening inside your body.

Why 90 days?

Gut bacteria respond quickly to food and lifestyle changes, sometimes within 24 to 96 hours. But the changes we see in the blood, including IPA levels, take longer. Your blood reflects long-term habits, not just a good or bad day. This is why a 90-day follow-up test gives the clearest picture of real improvement.

It’s also important to understand that change does not have to happen overnight. Most people make progress through small steps, not big jumps. Over 90 days, tiny changes in your routine – eating a little more fiber, adding omega-3s, increasing polyphenols, improving sleep, lowering stress – start to build on each other. These baby steps become new habits, and new habits create a healthier gut.

Ninety days gives your microbiome time to adjust, your blood levels time to improve, and you time to build habits that actually last. That’s why 90 days is the perfect window to measure progress and see whether your choices are truly supporting stronger IPA production and better gut health.

What IPA Is Up Against: Free Radicals Explained

IPA protects you from free radicals, harmful molecules that damage cells and speed up aging.

Free radicals are like sparks – IPA helps put them out.

Understanding Free Radicals and Why Antioxidants Matter

Free radicals can burn and damage your cells, DNA, and brain tissue.

Antioxidants are the body’s spark extinguishers.

Free Radical Scavenger vs. Hydroxyl Radical Scavenger

A free radical scavenger neutralizes common free radicals. Examples include vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione.

A hydroxyl radical scavenger targets the most toxic free radical – the hydroxyl radical.

Examples include:

• • IPA (Indole-3-Propionic Acid)
  • melatonin
  • certain polyphenols (found in green tea, rosemary, turmeric, cacao, and berries)

IPA is one of the strongest hydroxyl radical scavengers known.

The 9 Most Powerful Antioxidants in the Body

IPA stands out because it is:

• • strong
  • stable
  • and made only by your gut bacteria

The Truth Most People Never Hear About IPA

Most health professionals have never heard of IPA – including:

• • physicians
  • chiropractors
  • nutritionists
  • registered dietitians
  • health coaches
  • personal trainers

It’s not their fault. IPA isn’t taught in most programs. Even fewer professionals know about the Gut Health Test that measures it.

When I teach about IPA and the Gut Health Test, one of the most common questions I’m asked is:

“How did you learn this when so many health professionals have no idea?”

The answer is simple.

I have been a student of the gut microbiome since 2010, learning from world-leading gastroenterologists. I’m also someone who never settles and constantly challenges what I believe to be true.

I knew about IPA years ago, but we had no way to measure it.

That changed when Zinzino created the Gut Health Test, which finally made it possible to measure IPA with a simple at-home dried blood spot test.

This is a game-changer:

• • No guessing
  • No assumptions
  • Clear data
  • Clear action

Now we can:

• • measure IPA
  • identify what needs support
  • create a personalized plan
  • and track real results

Any professional working in health and wellness could add this to their service – once they know it exists.

And now, you know something most experts don’t.

The Big Takeaway

Your strongest antioxidant is not glutathione, vitamin C, or vitamin E.

It is Indole-3-Propionic Acid (IPA) – made only by your gut bacteria.

IPA:

• • protects your brain
  • strengthens your gut
  • guards your cells
  • reduces inflammation
  • reflects your true gut health

A healthy gut makes IPA. And IPA helps build a healthier you.

Call to Action: Learn Your IPA Level Today

If you want to know your IPA level:

• • order the Gut Health Test
  • get the full report
  • and receive a 30-minute session to walk you through your results

You can:

• • Click the link provided with this article
  • Contact the person who shared this with you
  • Or reach out to me directly:
    Email: robert@dietfreelife.com
    Or schedule a free consultation

Knowing your IPA level is one of the most meaningful steps you can take to protect your long-term health.

References

1. 1. Badawy, A. A. (2017). Tryptophan metabolism, disposition, and utilization in health and disease. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 44, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.12.011
   2. Chyan, Y. J., Poeggeler, B., Omar, R. A., Chain, D. G., Frangione, B., Ghiso, J., & Pappolla, M. A. (1999). Potent neuroprotective properties against Alzheimer β-amyloid by indole-3-propionic acid. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 96(4), 1082–1087. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.96.4.1082
   3. Dodd, D., Spitzer, M. H., Van Treuren, W., Merrill, B. D., Hryckowian, A. J., Higginbottom, S. K., Le, A., Cowan, T. M., Nolan, G. P., Fischbach, M. A., & Sonnenburg, J. L. (2017). A gut bacterial pathway metabolizes aromatic amino acids into nine circulating metabolites. Nature, 551, 648–652. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24661
   4. Halliwell, B., & Gutteridge, J. M. C. (2015). Free radicals in biology and medicine (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
   5. Lozupone, C. A., Stombaugh, J. I., Gordon, J. I., Jansson, J. K., & Knight, R. (2012). Diversity, stability and resilience of the human gut microbiota. Nature, 489(7415), 220–230. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11550
   6. Ma, Q. (2013). Role of Nrf2 in oxidative stress and toxicity. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 53, 401–426. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-011112-140320
   7. Packer, L., Witt, E. H., & Tritschler, H. J. (1995). Alpha-lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 19(2), 227–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-5849(95)00017-r
   8. Patterson, A. M., et al. (2019). Microbiota-derived metabolite indole-3-propionic acid protects intestinal barrier function. Cell Reports, 29(1), 76–90.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.078
   9. Reiter, R. J., Tan, D. X., Mayo, J. C., Sainz, R. M., Lopez-Burillo, S., & Manchester, L. C. (2000). Melatonin as an antioxidant: Biochemical mechanisms and pathophysiological implications in humans. Journal of Biomedical Science, 7(6), 444–458. https://doi.org/10.1159/000025527
   10. Selma, M. V., Espín, J. C., & Tomás-Barberán, F. A. (2009). Interaction between phenolics and gut microbiota: Role in human health. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57(15), 6485–6501. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf902107d
   11. Thursby, E., & Juge, N. (2017). Introduction to the human gut microbiota. Biochemical Journal, 474(11), 1823–1836. https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20160510
   12. Valdes, A. M., Walter, J., Segal, E., & Spector, T. D. (2018). Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. The British Medical Journal, 361, k2179. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2179
   13. Wikoff, W. R., Anfora, A. T., Liu, J., Schultz, P. G., Lesley, S. A., Peters, E. C., & Siuzdak, G. (2009). Metabolomics analysis reveals large effects of gut microflora on mammalian blood metabolites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(10), 3698–3703. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0812874106

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Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, Omega Balancing Coach™, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.

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