What are antioxidants?
As anyone who has studied even the most rudimentary biology knows, almost all living organisms require oxygen to live. However, oxygen is a very reactive element and can equally cause damage to the very tissues it keeps alive. This process of oxidation occurs in both animals and plants.
Oxidation occurs with the transfer of oxygen bonded molecules through the tissues of the body. As these molecules pass by other non-oxygen bonded molecules, electrons (the negatively charged particles of the atom) can be scraped loose and cause reactions of their own. These "free radicals" will attempt to find other molecules that they can bond with which will cause a chain reaction which scrapes more electrons from more atoms with oxygen bonded into them. This discharge of negatively charged energy can disrupt the normal bonding functions of the atomic particles that make up the body's cell walls.
It has been shown that oxidation is a major cause of the aging process in the body. However, the living organisms this affects have devised ways by which this process can be slowed down or stopped. Minerals such as vitamins A, C and D along with certain naturally occurring enzymes have demonstrated the ability to remove this molecular wild card. These antioxidants work on the areas of DNA and proteins to repair the damage that can be caused by this "rusting" of the organic tissue.
A proper balance of iron binding proteins will allow the extra "free radical" oxygen electrons to be captured and safely synthesized. Zinc and selenium are other extremely important metals which will inhibit the increase of these damaging electrons.
Since the correct functioning of these antioxidant systems require coordinated interaction between various antioxidant agents in the body, a well balanced and varied diet is needed to maintain efficient supplies of these many mineral and chemical compounds.