Antioxidants play an important role in maintaining your physical health. The significance of antioxidants can be judged by the fact that they may help in preventing the cancer, heart diseases and also protect ones body against free radicals and their harmful effects.
Antioxidants help cut the effects to oxidation to a minimal level, this is a normal process that occurs every day in our bodies and gets accelerated with the consumption of alcohol, tobacco or stress as well.
The biggest feature that makes the intake of antioxidants really necessary and important is the fact that human body is exposed to free radicals as they are present in the air that is breathed in or even in the foods. Free radicals start the harmful chain of reactions that cause the damage to the membrane of the cells and that is really dangerous.
Antioxidants may help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Other naturally occurring antioxidants include flavonoids, tannins, phenols and lignans. Plant-based foods are the best sources. These include fruits, vegetables and their juices, whole-grain products, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, and even chocolate.