Dietary antioxidants refer to substances found in foods that help protect our bodies from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules produced naturally within our body or through exposure to environmental factors such as pollution, radiation and cigarette smoke. These unstable molecules can cause oxidative stress which leads to cellular damage and has been linked to various diseases including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radicals and preventing them from damaging cells in our body. They do this by giving up some of their electrons or by stabilizing the unstable molecules so that they no longer cause harm to healthy tissue. There are many different types of antioxidants found in food, including vitamins A, C and E as well as other compounds such as flavonoids and carotenoids.
Eating a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods can help to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress. Some examples of antioxidant-rich foods include fruits like berries, oranges and kiwi fruit as well as vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and carrots. Including a variety of these foods in your diet can help to provide the body with adequate levels of dietary antioxidants and support overall health and wellbeing.