Everyone needs antioxidants to help prevent damage to their body. Free radicals are ubiquitous and are constantly attacking your body from the outside (sunlight, pollution, electromagnetic radiation, etc.), and due to normal metabolism and living—attacking you from the inside. Free radicals are unstable molecules that through chain reaction cause millions of free radicals that damage your proteins, cells, tissues, and organs. They cause aging, degenerative changes, inflammation and disease. They cut your lifespan short. Antioxidants prevent damage by protecting the very proteins, cells, tissues, and organs that are targeted by free radicals. The antioxidants prevent or minimize damage.

Protect your health

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants remove free radicals.

Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which protect our cells against the effects of free radicals and prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body cells use oxygen, breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in many diseases. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer etc are all contributed by oxidative damage. Antioxidants have been scientifically proven to prevent dementia, blindness, heart disease, degenerative diseases and a variety of cancers.

Protect your gains

Antioxidants are a group of compounds that "fight" free radicals, which are harmful to the immune system and other physiological functions. Some of the best-known antioxidants include beta carotene (closely related to vitamin A), vitamin C and vitamin E.

Research studies have shown that antioxidants can reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress and enhance recovery in several ways. They bind with and deactivate free radicals produced during exercise before they can cause damage to muscle cells. They strengthen and protect muscle cell membranes against free-radical damage. They also repair disruptions in muscle cell membranes caused by free radicals.

The latest research suggests that five servings of fruits and vegetables a day are sufficient to gain these benefits. However, there is no research available to indicate sufficient intake for a 250-pound bodybuilder who works out two hours a day six days a week and has 8% bodyfat. To cover your bases, double the natural-source recommendations and take a supplemental form of at least vitamin E (400-800 international units) and vitamin C (500-1,000 milligrams). (by Tim Scheet)

Antioxidant supplements have many health benefits:

- Antioxidants prevent aging
- Antioxidants prevent heart disease
- Antioxidants prevent a variety of cancers
- Antioxidants are proven to help prevent the development of cancer
- Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements prevent age-related macular degeneration.
- Antioxidants prevent blindness
- Antioxidants prevent and restore hearing loss
- Antioxidants strengthen the immune system
- Antioxidants help prevent age-related loss of energy
- Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage - the common pathway for aging and a variety of diseases.
- Athletes have a keen interest because of health concerns and the prospect of enhanced performance and/or recovery from exercise.

A recent study conducted by researchers from London found that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection.

Most commonly known antioxidants:

Vitamin A and Carotenoids: carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!)

Vitamin C: citrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes

Vitamin E: nuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil

Selenium: fish & shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and garlic