We heard a lot about antioxidants, but what are they and why do we need them and where can we get them?
Free radicals are unstable atoms that attack other cells in their attempt to gain a missing electron that will make them more stable. This attack harms the cells’ delicate membranes, thereby making them a target for disease. This process is called oxidation and it is responsible for aspects of the aging process including wrinkles, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to the unstable cells. After being neutralized, those free radicals will no longer attempt to damage cells, and therefore become less harmful to the body.
Antioxidants can be found in a host of foods.
Four particularly important antioxidants:
