Antioxidants 101

Whether it's here on That's Fit or on just about any health-conscious website, you're sure to read something about antioxidants. Ten years ago, most people didn't have a clue what an antioxidant even was, let alone why we needed them in our diet, but these days every product on the market seems to be fortified with these free-radical fighters.

So, we all know what antioxidants are ... but do we, really? Well, the Cliffs Notes version of the story goes something like this ...

When our cells bur fuel for energy, they use oxygen. This process creates free-radicals, which can attack and damage our healthy cells. Antioxidants work to neutralize these free-radicals before they can react and cause such harm. What this means for your overall health is a plethora of benefits, including promoting healthier skin, protecting memory, and strengthening the immune system.

The best news of all is that antioxidants can be sourced from a number of tasty fruits and vegetables, as well as teas and coffee (as well as a number of fortified foods, as stated earlier). Grape juice, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates, and blackberries are especially rich in antioxidants, as are more exotic fruits such as the mangosteen.