Antioxidants are compounds from plant foods, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, and bioflavonoids, that fight off cell-attacking free radicals, or the unstable molecules your body produces when it’s exposed to environmental toxins. Antioxidants are most concentrated in the skin of fruits and veggies, so look for rich colored produce, which indicates high antioxidant levels. There are many forms of antioxidants with different effects on your body, so include a variety of fruits and veggies in your diet. In fact, the entire superfruit concept is predicated in antioxidant action because these uber-fruits house elevated antixoidant activity. Leaders include acai, pomegranate and mangosteen, but a new wave of exotic fruits is entering the marketplace, from maqui to goji. But that doesn’t mean you should overlook old standbys like blueberries, raspberries and even apples which, after all, keep the doctor away.
Antioxidants’ health benefits include boosting immunity, slowing the aging process, and fending off serious diseases like cancer and coronary heart disease. The antioxidant theory of aging is gaining traction because accelerated aging is linked to free radical generation. Think wrinkles. Think joint pain. That’s the result of the body’s cells oxidizing. Antioxidants can help with that.
