Photo by mellowfood
How often do you read or hear someone talking about antioxidants? They’re all the rage. Foods and supplements high in antioxidants are held in high esteem, and for good reason.
Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules, better known as free radicals. Free radicals are produced through the process of oxidation, which is the interaction between oxygen and other molecules. A rusty car bumper is an example of damage from oxidation.
Your body produces free radicals when your cells use oxygen, as is the case when breaking down food and exercising. Exposure to environmental toxins like smoke and radiation also produce free radicals. Free radicals are implicated in a number of diseases including cancer and heart disease.
Antioxidants to the rescue!