Jumpstart Your Fitness: By knowing your antioxidants

Finally! Something that's getting all the hype and actually deserves it: antioxidants. So you know they're great, and you know they're in the grocery store on labels galore in big bright letters, but do you know how and why?

The first key to understanding antioxidants is understanding "oxidants." Also called "free radicals," oxidants are cells that have been damaged and are missing an electron due to negative influences like smoking, fatty processed foods, and stress. These damaged cells (oxidants) are also called free radicals because they float around aimlessly in your body damaging other cells that they come in contact with (by trying to "steal" an electron back) and in the process turn them into free radicals/oxidants as well. It's a vicious nasty circle.Now, antioxidants are just that: the antidote to oxidants. Antioxidants cancel out oxidants/free radicals by giving them the missing electron they're seeking, thereby returning them back to normal functional body cells.

Although healthy natural habits certainly help, it's impossible to avoid free radicals completely. That's why getting regular antioxidants in your diet is so important -- to wage war against the constant influx of environmental damages we face everyday. When it comes to finding antioxidants they're in all sorts of things (just keep your eyes peeled for them on the labels of your favorite health foods) but there are some foods that are natural antioxidant powerhouses. And different kinds of antioxidants do different things, from specifically fighting cancer to attacking damage caused by smoking and pollution. Called "the magnificent seven," these are the 7 antioxidants you're looking for and where to find them:

• Selenium: Brazil nuts, snapper, and shrimp
• Vitamin E: Sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, and peanut butter
• Vitamin C: Papaya, bell peppers, and broccoli
• Carotenoids: Carrots, butternut squash, spinach
  
• Isothyocyanates: Broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower
  
• Polyphenols: Dark chocolate, red wine, tea, and coffee
  
• Coenzyme Q10: Lean beef, chicken breast, and fish

Happy hunting!