Breathe in. Breathe out. There. You just supplied your body with much-needed oxygen, some of which will make its way to your cells. When your cells use the oxygen, however, they leave some free radicals behind. Antioxidants are a cleaning crew, of sorts -- they clear away all those unwanted visitors.

When it comes to getting your antioxidants, are you turning to produce and other natural sources? Or are you looking to processed foods?

As so often happens in the food industry, when a health-related item becomes somewhat trendy, everything from soda to candy will be labeled to match the trend. You may not have to think back too far to remember a time when you had never heard of antioxidants. But now that they're in the public eye, you can find a wide variety of products with labels touting their antioxidant power.

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Diet Coke Plus is supposed to include quite a few vitamins and minerals right in with your favorite soda. But the FDA and the Coca Cola company are in the middle of a he-said/she-said type of battle. Coca Cola stands by its product, but the FDA says it doesn't meet their standards.

In my opinion, the whole concept of getting vitamins and minerals from soda is ridiculous. If you want a diet soda, then go ahead and treat yourself. But know that it's a treat. Soda just shouldn't be considered part of your daily nutrition no matter how many vitamins and minerals are added into the mix. It's the liquid equivalent of those glorified candy bars that are considered health food because they have a little extra protein thrown in.

You're much better of getting your vitamins and minerals from natural sources, such as fruits and vegetables.

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While the area I live in may have made my exposure to this fruit a little slower than it was for most people, it's still a relatively new addition to the regular fruits and veggies on grocery store shelves. In a short span of time the bizarre-looking pomegranate has moved from exotic to mainstream.

The world of nutrition has its trends just like anything else, and pomegranates certainly had their day (or couple of years) in the sun. Pomegranates have been linked to health benefits for erectile dysfunction, cancer risk reduction, lung health, and other issues. And they certainly are good for you... not to mention tasty. (Though pomegranate juice can negatively interact with certain medications (such as some blood pressure meds), so check with your doctor.)

But when a food item becomes trendy, there is a bit of a halo effect; anything that has that item listed on the package automatically seems healthier and better for you. Health by association, if you will.