subject: What Are Antioxidants & Why They Are So Important [print this page] What Are Antioxidants & Why They Are So Important
Antioxidants are abundant in the food that we eat and some can be produced by the body. By including fruits and vegetables in our diets you can reduce the damage to your cells from free radicals. Antioxidants can prevent disease, treat diseases that are present, and extend and improve life. Antioxidants work synergistically with enzymes in the body and are interdependent on one another. Antioxidants ability to protect the body is based upon the levels of concentration, its reactivity toward free radicals and reactive oxygen species, and the status of other antioxidants with which it interacts. Therefore making sure the body maintains suitable levels of antioxidants will keep your body young and free from disease. Common antioxidants include uric acid, vitamin A, C, & E, glutathione, and melatonin.
