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Regular living, like eating food and going outside in the sun, sets off a process in your body called oxidation. As your body breaks food down for energy or copes with the radiation from sunlight, it also releases damaging molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals are normal, but damage from levels that are too high may contribute to illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants are the natural substances (found in vitamins, minerals, and flavinoids) that fight the damage free radicals can cause, protecting your body from harm.
Though regular life will naturally expose you to free radicals, pollution is another major source of these harmful molecules, with pesticides, air pollution, and other environmental toxins all contributing to higher free radical levels in your body. Eating foods that are high in antioxidants helps counteract the effects of living in more polluted environments.
Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts (like blueberries, pecans, artichokes, and raspberries) are all great sources of antioxidants; another good source is tea, both green and black. Multiple studies have shown that the benefits of antioxidants comes more from eating natural foods than from taking supplemental pills. Eating organic foods may provide you with more antioxidant power--a study released in 2007 showed that organic tomatoes had higher antioxidant levels than those that were conventionally grown.
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