Antioxidants are a class of molecules which prevents and reduces the damage done on the cell by hindering the oxidation of other molecules. Although oxygen being on the most essential component of human body, but due to its high reactive nature it is capable of becoming a part of damaging molecules called free radicals.
Free radicals are a natural biological response when our body is exposed to chemicals, certain environmental toxins. Free radicals are the molecules with unpaired electron and these incomplete molecules attacks other molecules to derive the missing electron and leads to a chain reaction and these reactions are called oxidation reactions, which results in poorly function of the cell and may even lead to cell damage.
Antioxidants being electron donors and therefore it can terminate the chain reactions by donating its electron but without turning into free radical themselves. In order to protect our body from the damaging effects of free radicals we should indulge antioxidant rich foods in our diet.
Antioxidants might help to prevent or delay certain kind of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. As a single antioxidant cannot protect your body so it is recommended to derive antioxidants by consuming wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
