What do Antioxidants Do?

What do antioxidants do? The answer is simple. Antioxidants are substances that can be found in our foods that help eliminate free radical molecules that damage your body’s cells. Your body’s cells use oxygen, which can produce free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules that have an unpaired electron. These free radicals cause damage that is thought to lead to serious illnesses like heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes and cancer. You might say that antioxidants are the good guys in the battle against the harmful free radicals. They act as scavengers to help repair the damage the free radicals leave behind, and then they act to prevent further damage.

A recent study done by London researchers found that those who eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day help to reduce their risk of a stroke by 25 percent. For those wondering, “What else do antioxidants do?” They help to enhance the immune system’s defense against the diseases caused by free radicals. It is essential for people to incorporate antioxidants in their diet, and many people already do without realizing it. This is a list of some antioxidants and the foods they’re found in:

Vitamin A—this antioxidant can be found in carrots, squash, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, and peaches
Vitamin C—citrus fruits like limes, oranges and grapefruits contain this antioxidant. Vegetables such as broccoli and green peppers also have vitamin C.
Vitamin E—whole grains, nuts and seeds have loads of vitamin E. As does vegetable oil.
Selenium—this antioxidant can be found in red meats, eggs, fish, shellfish and garlic.

Other antioxidants like flavonoids can be found in red wine, cranberries, tea, and pomegranates, while lycopene is common in watermelons, and lutein is often found in kiwi and spinach. Next time you wonder, “what do antioxidants do?” just know they work for you to give you all the benefits of great health.

What Do Antioxidants Do?